Home Food Laws by State: 2026 Tracker
Every state's cottage food and home kitchen rules, checked against official sources. Last verified: October 29, 2026.
Recent changes
| Date | State | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Maryland | Yearly cottage food limit rose from $50,000 to $100,000 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Indiana | New homestead law lets home cooks sell prepared foods and meat products directly to customers |
| 2026 | West Virginia | Perishable home foods allowed with a state permit and inspection |
| 2026 | Idaho | Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act covers homemade shelf-stable and perishable foods |
| 2026 | Oregon | Cottage food limit rose to $52,700 for 2026 |
| May 12, 2026 | California (Contra Costa) | Home kitchen (MEHKO) program made permanent |
| Apr 2026 | California (Long Beach) | City approved its own MEHKO program |
| Feb 10, 2026 | California (Santa Clara) | MEHKO program end date removed |
| Sep 1, 2025 | Texas | Refrigerated foods allowed (no meat), with state registration |
| Jul 1, 2025 | Georgia | Cottage food license no longer required |
Coming up
| Date | State | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Oklahoma | Yearly sales limit rises to $250,000 |
| Dec 31, 2026 | California (Santa Cruz) | MEHKO pilot end date; county decision on continuing pending |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Colorado | Tamale Act: state registration and some perishable foods allowed |
| Aug 1, 2027 | Minnesota | Cottage food shipping allowed within Minnesota |
All states
| State | Home-cooked meals | Permit needed | Sales limit | Sell online | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No permit; county review | None | Yes, in Alabama | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Alaska | Yes | No | None | Yes, in Alaska | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Arizona | Yes | Free registration | None | Yes, in Arizona | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Arkansas | No | None | None stated | Yes | Oct 29, 2026 |
| California | Yes, in approved areas | Yes (county) | $75,000 to $150,000 cottage food | Yes | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Colorado | Limited from Jan 1, 2027 | None now; registration from 2027 | Check rules | Direct to consumer | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Connecticut | No | Yes, $50/yr license | $50,000 | In-state transactions only, no shipping | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Delaware | No | Yes, $30/yr | Not stated | Not allowed | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Florida | No | No | $250,000 | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Georgia | No | No | None | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Hawaii | Guide coming soon | ||||
| Idaho | Yes, most foods | Check with your health district | Check rules | Sales within Idaho only | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Illinois | No | Local registration | None | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Indiana | Yes (since July 2026) | No | $1.5 million | Direct to customers | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Iowa | Limited, with license | No (cottage food) / $50 license (perishable) | $50,000 with license | Yes, in Iowa | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Kansas | No | None for shelf-stable foods | None stated | Yes, direct to consumers | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Kentucky | No | Yes, registration | Check with the state | Check with the state | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Guide coming soon | ||||
| Maine | No | Yes, $20/yr license | Not stated | Check with the state | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Maryland | No | None for direct sales | $100,000 | Check with the state | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | No | Yes, local board of health | None found | Yes, internet and mail | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Michigan | No | No | $50,000 ($75,000 for items $250+) | Yes, in Michigan | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Minnesota | No | Yes, MDA registration | $78,000 | Orders yes; in-state shipping from Aug 1, 2027 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Mississippi | No | None | $35,000 | Not allowed (advertising only) | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Missouri | No | None | None | Yes, within Missouri | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Montana | Under Local Food Choice Act | $40 registration or none (LFCA) | None found | Check rules | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Limited (perishable with in-person delivery) | Yes, NDA registration | None stated | Mail for shelf-stable foods | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Nevada | No | Yes, registration | Check rules | Check rules (changes reported for July 2027) | Oct 29, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | No | None for local sales; $150 license for online | None in statute | With license | Oct 29, 2026 |
| New Jersey | No | Yes, $100 permit | $50,000 | Check rules | Oct 26, 2026 |
| New Mexico | No | None | Not stated | Yes, within New Mexico | Oct 29, 2026 |
| New York | No | Free registration | None stated | Yes, in New York | Oct 26, 2026 |
| North Carolina | No | Kitchen inspection | None stated | Check rules | Oct 26, 2026 |
| North Dakota | Yes, most foods | None | None | Delivery allowed; interstate except poultry | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Ohio | No | No | None stated | Check rules | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Perishable, no meat | No | $250,000 (from Nov 1, 2026) | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Oregon | No | None (optional $25 ID) | $52,700 (2026) | Yes, online and mail | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | No | Yes, $35 + inspection | None stated | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | No | Yes, $65/yr registration | $50,000 | Orders yes; in-person delivery in RI | Oct 29, 2026 |
| South Carolina | No | None | None stated | Check rules | Oct 29, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Limited (some foods with training) | None | None stated | In-person sales required | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Tennessee | No | None | None stated | Within Tennessee | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Texas | Perishable, no meat | No (registration for refrigerated foods) | $150,000 | Yes | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Utah | Yes | Local health permit for meals | Check local rules | Check local rules | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Vermont | With Home Caterer license | None up to $30,000 | $30,000 exempt | Check with the state | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Virginia | No | No | None | Yes, in Virginia | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Washington | No | Yes, $355 permit + inspection | $35,000 | Orders yes, no shipping | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Washington, DC | Check with DC Health | Yes, $50 per 2 years | Check with DC Health | Yes, within DC | Oct 29, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Yes, with WVDA permit | None for shelf-stable; permit for perishable | None stated | Within West Virginia | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | No | None for baked goods | None stated | Direct to consumers | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Yes | No | Check rules | Yes, delivery in Wyoming | Oct 26, 2026 |
Showing 51 of 51 entries.
California: where MEHKO is allowed
In California, home-cooked meals are legal only where a county or city opted in.
| County | MEHKO status |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Allowed |
| San Diego | Allowed |
| Santa Clara | Allowed |
| Alameda | Allowed |
| Riverside | Allowed |
FAQ
Which states allow selling home-cooked meals?
- Alaska, Arizona, California (in approved counties and cities), Idaho, Indiana, Iowa (with a license), North Dakota, Utah (with a local permit), West Virginia (with a state permit) and Wyoming.
How often is this tracker updated?
- We check official state and county sources every month.
Which states need no permit for baked goods?
- See the "No permit needed" filter in the table above.
Know your state's rules? Start selling on Chef Next Door.
iPhone app coming soon.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and can differ by city and county. Confirm with your state or local health or agriculture department before you sell.