foodservicenerd
Cottage food laws

Louisiana Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Louisiana? 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
Annual sales cap
$30,000 for most cottage foods; breads/cakes/cookies/pies have NO cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupRetail stores/restaurants (for non-baked cottage foods only)
Registration / to start
No retail food permit required; labeling required
Allowed foods
Breads, cakes, cookies, pies, cream/custard pastries (pasteurized milk), candies, dried mixes, honey, jams, pickles/acidified foods, sauces, syrups, spices
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods beyond scope, meat products, low-acid canned goods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding $30,000 (non-baked), hiring helpers for baked goods, or selling baked goods via retail requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) · La. R.S. 40:4.13; HB 828 (2022)

Source: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

HB 828 (2022) set $30,000 cap; breads/cakes/cookies/pies are exempt from the cap but must be direct-to-consumer with no hired help. Other cottage foods can go wholesale but hit the $30,000 cap.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $30,000 for most cottage foods; breads/cakes/cookies/pies have NO cap. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
What foods can I sell under Louisiana's cottage food law?
Breads, cakes, cookies, pies, cream/custard pastries (pasteurized milk), candies, dried mixes, honey, jams, pickles/acidified foods, sauces, syrups, spices Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods beyond scope, meat products, low-acid canned goods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Louisiana?
Exceeding $30,000 (non-baked), hiring helpers for baked goods, or selling baked goods via retail 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 Louisiana?
No retail food permit required; labeling required
← All states