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Cottage food laws · NJ
Selling homemade food in New Jersey
New Jersey was the last state in the country to legalize cottage food, but it's now workable: get a $100 permit (2-year term) from the state Department of Health, keep gross sales under $50,000/year, and you can take orders online, by phone, or by mail as long as the food itself is handed to the customer in person within New Jersey - no U.S. mail or common-carrier shipping of the product itself.
Program
New Jersey Cottage Food Operator Law
Registration
Cottage Food Operator Permit from NJ Dept of Health ($100 fee, 2-year term)
Annual sales cap
$50,000 (gross annual)
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy
- Dried herbs & mixes
- Granola and snack mixes
You can't sell
- Potentially hazardous foods needing refrigeration
- Meat and poultry products
- Low-acid canned vegetables
Where you can sell
- Direct to consumer at home
- Farmers markets
- Online ordering with in-person pickup/delivery
Selling online
Online ordering is allowed, but products must be handed to the customer in person - no mail, no common-carrier shipping, and no sales across state lines
What your labels must include
- Operator name & permit number
- Municipality and state
- Required disclosure statement (see below); also required on a placard displayed with the permit at any non-residential point-of-sale
- Ingredient list in descending order by weight
- Allergen disclosure
- Net weight