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Cottage food laws

Rhode Island Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Rhode Island? 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 Manufacture
Annual sales cap
$50,000
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personHome pickup/delivery (in-state)Online
Registration / to start
Cottage Food Manufacturer registration with RI Dept of Health ($65/yr) + approved food-handler course
Allowed foods
Shelf-stable baked goods only
Not allowed
Jams, candies, sauces and everything else not a shelf-stable baked good; TCS foods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Making anything other than shelf-stable baked goods (jams, candies, sauces) requires a licensed commercial kitchen
Administered by
Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) · R.I. Cottage Food law (eff. Nov 2022)

Source: Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Unusually narrow: covers ONLY shelf-stable baked goods. $50,000 cap, $65 annual registration, food-handler course required. Effective November 2022.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Manufacture) 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 Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).
What foods can I sell under Rhode Island's cottage food law?
Shelf-stable baked goods only Not allowed: Jams, candies, sauces and everything else not a shelf-stable baked good; TCS foods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Rhode Island?
Making anything other than shelf-stable baked goods (jams, candies, sauces) requires a licensed 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 Rhode Island?
Cottage Food Manufacturer registration with RI Dept of Health ($65/yr) + approved food-handler course

Food-business permits in Rhode Island's biggest counties

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

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