Skip to main content
foodservicenerd
Cottage food laws

New Hampshire Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in New Hampshire? 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
Homestead Food Operation
Annual sales cap
No hard cap (sales level affects venues/licensing tier)
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupRetail/wholesale (with Class H Homestead license)
Registration / to start
Below threshold (~$35,000): sell direct with no state license; above/retail sales: Class H Homestead license ($150) + requirements
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods: baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, other shelf-stable items
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Selling to retail/wholesale or making TCS foods requires the licensed Homestead tier / commercial kitchen
Administered by
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · N.H. RSA 143-A (Homestead Food)

Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

2023 law removed the prior $20,000/$35,000 revenue cap; a ~$35,000 sales level still distinguishes unlicensed direct sales from operations needing a Class H Homestead license for retail/wholesale.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire has a cottage food framework (Homestead Food Operation) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at No hard cap (sales level affects venues/licensing tier). You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
What foods can I sell under New Hampshire's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods: baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, other shelf-stable items Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in New Hampshire?
Selling to retail/wholesale or making TCS foods requires the licensed Homestead tier / commercial kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in New Hampshire?
Below threshold (~$35,000): sell direct with no state license; above/retail sales: Class H Homestead license ($150) + requirements

Food-business permits in New Hampshire's biggest counties

Local food-permit cost, plan review and the health-department contact for the counties people look up most.

Merrimack County
← All states
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified October 2026