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Cottage food laws · WV
Selling homemade food in West Virginia
West Virginia needs no license, no inspection, and no cap for standard shelf-stable homemade foods. A 2025 law adds a new permitted category for riskier items like fermented and brined foods starting mid-2026, which will require a permit and kitchen inspection.
Program
West Virginia Cottage Food Law
Registration
No permit, inspection, or licensing fee for non-potentially-hazardous foods; a 2025 law (effective June 2026) requires a permit, kitchen inspection, and water testing only if you sell expanded 'potentially hazardous' items like fermented or brined foods
Annual sales cap
No statewide cap
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy
- Dried herbs & mixes
- Fermented and brined vegetables (permit required starting June 2026)
You can't sell
- Raw meat and poultry products
- Refrigerated perishable foods without the expanded permit
Where you can sell
- Direct to consumer
- Farmers markets
- Online with in-state delivery/pickup
Selling online
Online sales are allowed for in-state delivery or pickup; no interstate shipping
What your labels must include
- Producer name & address
- "This product is homemade and exempt from state licensing and inspection" statement
- Ingredient list
- Allergen disclosure
- Net weight