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Cottage food laws

Alabama Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Alabama? 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 Law
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupRoadside standsEvents
Registration / to start
No permit/license, but ADPH-approved food-safety course required; register with county health department and get label approved
Allowed foods
Non-TCS baked goods (cakes, breads, pastries, pies), jams/jellies/preserves, candy, dried mixes, granola, honey, dried herbs, roasted coffee
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat/poultry/fish, low-acid canned goods, anything needing time/temperature control
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Selling TCS foods, wholesale/retail resale, or shipping out of state requires a licensed/commercial kitchen
Administered by
Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) · Ala. Code (2021 reform)

Source: Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

2021 reform removed the prior $20,000 cap; food-safety certification and county-approved labeling required.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Alabama 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 Alabama?
Yes. Alabama has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Law) 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 Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).
What foods can I sell under Alabama's cottage food law?
Non-TCS baked goods (cakes, breads, pastries, pies), jams/jellies/preserves, candy, dried mixes, granola, honey, dried herbs, roasted coffee Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat/poultry/fish, low-acid canned goods, anything needing time/temperature control
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Alabama?
Selling TCS foods, wholesale/retail resale, or shipping out of state 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 Alabama?
No permit/license, but ADPH-approved food-safety course required; register with county health department and get label approved
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