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Cottage food laws

Massachusetts Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Massachusetts? 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
Residential Kitchen (Cottage Food)
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickup
Registration / to start
Permit from local board of health with inspection; fees vary by town (~$50–$150/yr)
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies), jams/jellies, confections/candies, other shelf-stable foods
Not allowed
Cheesecakes, custard/cream/meringue pies, cream-cheese frostings, pickles, fermented foods, acidified sauces, meat/fish, low-acid canned goods, refrigerated dairy/juices
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Selling TCS/acidified foods, wholesale/retail resale, or through brokers requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Local board of health (with MA Dept of Public Health framework) · 105 CMR 500 (residential kitchen)

Source: Local board of health (with MA Dept of Public Health framework). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Administered locally: each city/town board of health inspects and permits. No income cap; only household members may help; direct-to-consumer only.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts has a cottage food framework (Residential Kitchen (Cottage Food)) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. There is no sales cap. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Local board of health (with MA Dept of Public Health framework).
What foods can I sell under Massachusetts's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies), jams/jellies, confections/candies, other shelf-stable foods Not allowed: Cheesecakes, custard/cream/meringue pies, cream-cheese frostings, pickles, fermented foods, acidified sauces, meat/fish, low-acid canned goods, refrigerated dairy/juices
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Massachusetts?
Selling TCS/acidified foods, wholesale/retail resale, or through brokers 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 Massachusetts?
Permit from local board of health with inspection; fees vary by town (~$50–$150/yr)
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