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Cottage food laws

Pennsylvania Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Pennsylvania? 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
Limited Food Establishment (LFE)
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupOnlineWholesale/retailInterstate (permitted)
Registration / to start
Register with PA Dept of Agriculture ($35/yr); business plan + home inspection required; submit ≥60 days before operating
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods that don't require refrigeration of the finished product
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, low-acid canned goods without approval
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Making TCS foods or products outside LFE scope requires a full food-establishment license
Administered by
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) · PA Limited Food Establishment framework

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

No explicit 'cottage food' statute — uses Limited Food Establishment registration ($35/yr, inspection). No cap, and one of the few frameworks permitting interstate and wholesale sales.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania has a cottage food framework (Limited Food Establishment (LFE)) 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 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA).
What foods can I sell under Pennsylvania's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods that don't require refrigeration of the finished product Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, low-acid canned goods without approval
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Pennsylvania?
Making TCS foods or products outside LFE scope requires a full food-establishment license At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Pennsylvania?
Register with PA Dept of Agriculture ($35/yr); business plan + home inspection required; submit ≥60 days before operating
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