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Cottage food laws · ME
Selling homemade food in Maine
Maine is known for its food sovereignty approach: many home producers can sell shelf-stable foods directly to customers without a state license. Rules can vary by town, so it's worth checking your local ordinance, and don't count on online sales without confirming locally first.
Program
Maine Homemade Food Exemption (Food Sovereignty)
Registration
No state license required for direct-to-consumer sales under Maine's homemade food exemption; some towns have local food sovereignty ordinances with their own rules
Annual sales cap
No statewide cap specified
Online sales
Restricted
You can sell
- Baked goods without cream/custard fillings
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy & chocolate
- Dry mixes & granola
- Maple syrup & honey
You can't sell
- Most potentially hazardous/perishable foods
- Meat products (special local rules may apply)
- Dairy-based products
Where you can sell
- Direct, face-to-face sales from home
- Farmers markets
Selling online
Maine's exemption is built around direct, face-to-face transactions; online ordering with in-person pickup may be workable but varies by municipality, so confirm locally
What your labels must include
- Business name & address
- Ingredient list
- Allergen declaration
- Net weight
- "Not inspected by the state" statement