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Cottage food laws

Connecticut Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Connecticut? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food Operation
Annual sales cap
$50,000
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupCraft fairs/festivals
Registration / to start
$50 registration with Dept of Consumer Protection; state-approved food-safety training and premises inspection required
Allowed foods
Non-TCS baked goods (no cream/custard fillings), jams/jellies/preserves, hard candy, fudge, granola, dry herb/tea blends, dry mixes, roasted coffee
Not allowed
TCS foods, meat/dairy/fish, acidified foods (pickles, salsa, hot sauce), kombucha; wholesale/third-party sales
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding $50,000, selling to wholesale/retail/restaurants, or making TCS/acidified foods requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) · Conn. PA 18-141 (amended 2022)

Source: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

2022 change raised cap from $25,000 to $50,000; premises inspection required.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Connecticut food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Operation) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $50,000. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
What foods can I sell under Connecticut's cottage food law?
Non-TCS baked goods (no cream/custard fillings), jams/jellies/preserves, hard candy, fudge, granola, dry herb/tea blends, dry mixes, roasted coffee Not allowed: TCS foods, meat/dairy/fish, acidified foods (pickles, salsa, hot sauce), kombucha; wholesale/third-party sales
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Connecticut?
Exceeding $50,000, selling to wholesale/retail/restaurants, or making TCS/acidified foods requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Connecticut?
$50 registration with Dept of Consumer Protection; state-approved food-safety training and premises inspection required
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