Apply for a cottage food permit

Register as a cottage food operation in your state to sell honey legally from home without a commercial kitchen or full food-processing license. Most U.S. states have cottage food laws that allow small-scale sales of non-potentially-hazardous foods like raw honey.

Why It Works

Cottage food permits are designed for home-based producers and carry far fewer requirements than commercial food licenses. Annual revenue caps typically range from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on the state, which covers most hobbyist and sideliner beekeepers. Permit fees are usually $0-$100.

Tips

• Check your state's cottage food law for allowed sales channels: many permit farmers markets and direct-to-consumer sales but restrict online or retail store sales
• Labeling requirements under cottage food laws usually include producer name and address, net weight, ingredient list, and a "Made in a home kitchen" disclaimer
• Some states (e.g., California, Texas, Florida) have expanded cottage food laws with higher revenue limits and broader sales channels
• Keep records of every sale, as your state may require annual revenue reporting to maintain your permit