Cottage food laws · NY

Selling homemade food in New York

New York's Home Processor exemption has no revenue cap, so you can grow as big as the market allows once you register with the state. Online sales are explicitly allowed by the Department's own FAQ, but only for in-state customers - shipping or delivering out of state is not permitted under this exemption.

Program

New York Home Processor Exemption

Registration

Registration/license as a Home Processor with NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets

Annual sales cap

No statewide cap

Online sales

Allowed (see notes)

You can sell

Baked goods
Jams, jellies, preserves
Candy
Dried herbs & mixes
High-acid canned goods (with proper process)

You can't sell

Potentially hazardous foods needing refrigeration
Meat and poultry products
Low-acid canned vegetables without additional process review

Where you can sell

Direct to consumer at home/farm stand
Farmers and green markets
Craft fairs
Home delivery within New York State

Selling online

NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets' official Home Processor FAQ answers this directly: "Internet sales are allowed within New York State only. Shipping products out of state is not permitted." So a website/online checkout is fine as long as every order ships or is delivered to a New York address - no interstate shipping, no exceptions.

What your labels must include

Producer name & full address
Home-kitchen identity statement - "Made at Home by [Name]," "Made in the Home Kitchen of [Name]," or "Made in a Home Kitchen" (min. 1/16-inch font)
Common/usual name of the product
Ingredient list in descending order by weight
Net quantity/weight