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Cottage food laws

Iowa Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Iowa? 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 / Home Food Processing Establishment
Annual sales cap
Cottage food: No cap; Home Food Processing Establishment (licensed path): $50,000
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupOnline (in-state)Any venue incl. retail (licensed HFPE path)
Registration / to start
Cottage food: none. HFPE license: $50/yr with license and inspection
Allowed foods
Cottage food: non-perishable/non-TCS foods. HFPE: almost any food incl. perishable
Not allowed
Cottage food: TCS/perishable foods, raw milk; interstate sales
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
To sell perishable/TCS foods or via retail you move to the licensed Home Food Processing Establishment path (or commercial kitchen)
Administered by
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) · Iowa Code §§ 137D, 137F; HF 2431 (2022)

Source: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Two paths: unlicensed cottage food (non-perishable, no cap) and licensed HFPE (perishable OK, any venue, $50,000 cap). HFPE cap raised from $35,000 to $50,000; online sales permitted; raw milk excluded.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Iowa 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 Iowa?
Yes. Iowa has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food / Home Food Processing Establishment) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at Cottage food: No cap; Home Food Processing Establishment (licensed path): $50,000. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL).
What foods can I sell under Iowa's cottage food law?
Cottage food: non-perishable/non-TCS foods. HFPE: almost any food incl. perishable Not allowed: Cottage food: TCS/perishable foods, raw milk; interstate sales
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Iowa?
To sell perishable/TCS foods or via retail you move to the licensed Home Food Processing Establishment path (or 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 Iowa?
Cottage food: none. HFPE license: $50/yr with license and inspection
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