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Cottage food by state

Maryland cottage food law: what you can sell and how

Maryland lets cottage food businesses sell shelf-stable homemade foods anywhere in the state, including by mail and to grocery stores, with no license, up to $50,000 a year.

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Updated November 2026 by the Madeline's team, who set these tools up for makers and farms.

The short version

No license. Make non-potentially hazardous foods in your home kitchen and sell them within Maryland: from home, at markets and events, by personal delivery, by mail, and online to Maryland customers. Annual revenue up to $50,000. Selling to retail food stores is allowed after the Department of Health reviews your labels and food safety training.

Maryland rules at a glance

  1. Who regulates

    Maryland Department of Health, under COMAR 10.15.03.27.

  2. License

    None for cottage food products. County and municipal rules, including zoning, still apply.

  3. Sales limit

    $50,000 in annual revenue from cottage food products.

  4. Where you can sell

    In Maryland only: from your residence, farmers markets, public events, personal delivery, mail delivery and online sales to Maryland customers. No interstate sales.

  5. Retail stores

    Allowed after you submit a request with your label and proof of an approved food safety course from the past three years, and MDH approves in writing. Review can take up to eight weeks.

  6. Labels

    Include, in 10-point type: "Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations". Labels for store sales also need your phone, email and the date made.

  7. ID number

    You can request a unique identification number from MDH to use on labels instead of your address.

Check the source

  • Official source

    Maryland Department of Health: Cottage Food Businesses

    Rules change. Confirm the current figures and forms with the state before you start selling.

    Open the official page

  • Cottage food to commercial kitchen

    What changes when you outgrow the limits.

    Read the guide

  • Free tool

    Cost per jar calculator

    Price your cottage food products from what they really cost.

    Use the calculator

  • Food label requirements

    What a packaged food label needs, including allergens.

    Read the guide

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How it works

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Questions

Do I need a license for cottage food in Maryland?

No. Cottage food businesses selling allowed products don't need a food license.

What is the Maryland cottage food limit?

$50,000 in annual revenue.

Can I ship cottage food in Maryland?

Yes, by mail to customers in Maryland. Sales outside Maryland are not allowed.

Can I sell cottage food to a grocery store in Maryland?

Yes, after MDH reviews your labels and food safety training and approves in writing.

Get a plan and a price

Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.

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