Cottage food laws/Maryland
Moderate

Maryland cottage food laws

Moderate cottage food law with a $50,000 sales cap and required home-kitchen disclaimer.

Maryland's cottage food law lets you produce non-potentially hazardous foods in a residential kitchen and sell them directly to consumers without a food service facility license, up to $50,000 in gross annual sales. You can sell from home, at farmers markets, by personal delivery, by mail within Maryland, and (with extra requirements) to retail stores.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Maryland Cottage Food Business (Health-General § 21-330.1; COMAR 10.15.03)
At a glance

Maryland cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
Not required for the standard direct-to-consumer path; written MDH approval needed for retail
💰
Sales cap
$50,000 gross/year
🌐
Online sales
Allowed (delivered in Maryland)
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed by USPS or commercial carrier within Maryland
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed
🎓
Training
Not required for direct sales; required for sales to retail stores
🏠
Inspection
Not routinely required
How it works

How the Maryland cottage food law actually works.

Maryland regulates cottage food under Health-General § 21-330.1 and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.15.03. A cottage food business is a home-based operation that produces approved, shelf-stable foods in a Maryland residential kitchen and sells them directly to consumers, with limited extra paths into retail stores.

The annual gross sales cap is $50,000 (raised from $25,000 in 2022). The cap covers all cottage food sales combined. There is no state license, food service facility permit, or routine kitchen inspection required for the standard direct-to-consumer cottage food path. Operators must follow specific labeling rules and stay within the allowed foods list.

Sales must remain in Maryland. You can deliver in person, ship within the state by USPS or commercial carrier, take orders online, and sell at farmers markets, public events, and from home. Selling to retail stores is allowed but requires extra steps: an MDH-reviewed label, recent food safety training, and written approval from the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) before retail sales begin.

Operators registered with MDH may use an MDH-issued identification number plus a phone number on labels in place of their home address, which is a privacy benefit for home bakers.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
  • Cakes and cupcakes without cream or cream cheese frosting
  • Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits, tortillas
  • Fruit pies (high-acid fruit only)
  • Candies, fudge, brittle, toffee, chocolates
  • Jams, jellies, preserves (high-acid fruit)
  • Honey
  • Granola, popcorn, snack mixes, dry cereals
  • Roasted coffee beans and dried tea blends
  • Dry baking and seasoning mixes
  • Roasted or candied nuts
  • Dehydrated fruits, vegetables, and herbs
✕Prohibited
  • Cheesecakes, cream pies, custard pies, meringue pies
  • Cream cheese frosting and any frosting requiring refrigeration
  • Tres leches and any cake requiring refrigeration
  • Meat, poultry, and fish products
  • Pickles, salsas, and acidified foods
  • Low-acid canned foods
  • Dairy beverages and refrigerated drinks

Maryland uses a non-potentially hazardous (non-TCS) framework. Anything that needs refrigeration to remain safe is excluded.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Maryland cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed. Pickup at home, personal delivery, farmers markets, public events.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed. Take orders and payment online, deliver or ship to Maryland customers.
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed by USPS or commercial carrier within Maryland.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed under cottage food law.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed without a state-issued cottage permit.
🏪
Retail stores
Allowed with extra requirements: reviewed label, recent food safety training, and written MDH approval.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed as a wholesale or restaurant ingredient channel.
  • All sales must be to Maryland consumers at Maryland addresses.
  • Some local jurisdictions add their own rules. Frederick County, Montgomery County, and others have informational pages worth checking.
  • Operators registered with MDH may use an MDH ID and phone number instead of a home address on labels.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Cottage food business name and address
Or MDH-issued identification number with a phone number for registered operators.
02
Product name
For example, "Vanilla Sugar Cookies" or "Strawberry Jam".
03
Ingredients in descending order by weight
Include sub-ingredients of compound ingredients.
04
Net weight or net volume
In US customary units; metric optional.
05
Allergen information
Identify the major allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
06
Required Maryland cottage food disclaimer
Printed in at least 10-point type in a color that contrasts with the background.
07
Nutrition information
Required only if you make a nutrition or health claim.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations.
  • The disclaimer must be in 10-point or larger type and in a contrasting color.
  • Labels must be in English.
  • If you sell to a retail store, your labels must be reviewed and approved by MDH before retail sales begin.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Maryland cottage law?

Maryland cottage food businesses are limited to $50,000 in annual gross revenue under COMAR 10.15.03.02B. The cap was doubled from $25,000 in 2022. Pending legislation (HB 535) has been discussed that could change the cap further, with proposed effective dates around October 2026, but the $50,000 cap is what is in effect today. Track gross sales carefully, because crossing the cap means you must move to a permitted food service facility or food processing plant.

Training

Food safety training in Maryland

Food safety training is not required for the standard direct-to-consumer path. It is required if you want to sell cottage products through retail food stores. MDH expects proof of recent food safety training (such as ServSafe or another nationally recognized course) as part of the retail approval process. Many bakers complete the training anyway, since it is inexpensive and a useful credential.

Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Maryland

Direct-to-consumer cottage food operators do not have to register with MDH to begin selling, but registration is encouraged so you can use an MDH ID number on labels in place of your home address. To sell at retail stores, you must apply to MDH, submit your label for review, show proof of recent food safety training, and receive written approval before any retail sale.

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Maryland.

  1. 01
    Read the MDH cottage food guidelines
    Start with the latest MDH cottage food guidelines and FAQ. The PDF lists allowed foods, label requirements, and the retail-store path.
    MDH Cottage Food Business Guidelines (2025 update) →
  2. 02
    Choose your shelf-stable menu
    Stick to non-TCS foods: cookies, breads, candies, jams, granola, dry mixes. Skip cream-filled items, cheesecakes, and refrigerated frostings.
  3. 03
    Set up your business basics
    Pick a business name, file a Maryland trade name (DBA) if needed, get an EIN if you plan to hire, and check local zoning and home-occupation rules.
  4. 04
    Build your label template
    Include the business name and address (or MDH ID + phone), product name, ingredients by weight, net quantity, allergens, and the required cottage food disclaimer in 10-point or larger contrasting type.
  5. 05
    Optional: register with MDH for the ID-on-label benefit
    Registering with MDH lets you use an MDH-issued ID and phone on labels in place of your home address. Helpful for privacy.
  6. 06
    Track sales and stay under $50,000
    Keep clean ledgers from day one. If you approach the cap, plan a transition to a permitted food service facility or food processing plant license.
  7. 07
    Set up Cakery to handle orders
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Use it to centralize quotes, flavors, and pickup or delivery details.
    Create a free Cakery page →
Worth knowing

A few things Maryland bakers should know.

  • Sales must remain inside Maryland. Out-of-state shipping is not allowed under cottage food law.
  • Selling to retail stores requires an MDH-reviewed label, recent food safety training, and written MDH approval before any retail sale.
  • Operators registered with MDH may use an MDH-issued identification number plus a phone number in place of their home address on labels.
  • Some Maryland counties post their own cottage food guidance (Frederick, Montgomery, Washington, etc.). Check your local health department for any extra requirements.
  • Pending legislation could raise the sales cap; track HB 535 and similar bills if you expect to outgrow $50,000.
Resources

Bookmark these for Maryland baking.

Official agency resources

MDH: Cottage Food Business Guidelines (2025)
Maryland Department of Health's official guidelines on allowed foods, labeling, and the retail path.
→
MDH: Cottage Food FAQ (September 2025)
Plain-language FAQ from MDH covering common cottage food questions.
→
MDH Office of Food Protection
MDH plan review page with contacts for retail label approval and program questions.
→
University of Maryland Extension: Cottage Food Business Law
UMD Extension's overview of Maryland's cottage food law for home bakers.
→

Statute and rules text

Maryland Health-General § 21-330.1 (Cottage Food Businesses)
→
COMAR 10.15.03 (Food Service Facilities, including cottage food)
→

Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Maryland cottage food guide
Plain-English Maryland overview kept current by Forrager.
→
Institute for Justice: Selling Homemade Food in Maryland
IJ's Maryland snapshot with policy context and reform updates.
→
Frederick County Health: Cottage Food Business
An example of how a county-level health department explains cottage food rules.
→
Maryland Cottage Food (Facebook group)
Active community of Maryland cottage food sellers.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
FAQ

Maryland cottage food FAQ.

Do Maryland cottage bakers need a license or inspection?
No. Direct-to-consumer cottage food businesses do not need a food service facility license or routine kitchen inspection. You must follow the cottage food rules and labeling requirements.
How much can a Maryland cottage food business earn?
Up to $50,000 in gross annual sales. The cap was doubled from $25,000 in 2022. Pending legislation could change the cap, but the current limit is $50,000.
Can I ship Maryland cottage food?
Yes, within Maryland. You can deliver in person or ship by USPS or commercial carrier as long as the customer's address is in Maryland. Out-of-state shipping is not allowed.
Can I sell to retail stores?
Yes, with extra steps. You need MDH-reviewed labels, recent food safety training, and written approval from MDH before retail sales begin.
Are cream cheese frosting and cheesecake allowed?
No. Anything that requires refrigeration to remain safe is excluded. Cream cheese frosting, cheesecake, custard, and similar items are not cottage-eligible.
Can I use an MDH ID number instead of my home address?
Yes, if you register with MDH. Registered operators may use an MDH-issued identification number plus a phone number in place of their home address on labels.
What is the exact required label disclaimer?
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations. The text must be in at least 10-point type in a color that contrasts with the background.
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Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Maryland cottage food laws and is not legal advice. Cottage food rules change, and local health departments often add their own requirements. Always confirm the current rules with the Maryland agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.