Cottage food laws/Nevada
Moderate

Nevada cottage food laws

A registration-only program run through local health districts, with state-level reform underway for 2027.

Nevada's cottage food law lets operators sell shelf-stable, non-TCS foods directly to consumers after registering with their local health district. The current state cap is $35,000 in gross annual sales. AB 352, passed in 2025, transfers the program to the Nevada Department of Agriculture in July 2027 and is expected to raise the cap and ease the per-district registration burden.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Nevada Cottage Food Operation (NRS §446.866)
At a glance

Nevada cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
Registration with the local health district required (transitioning to Nevada Department of Agriculture in July 2027)
💰
Sales cap
$35,000 gross annual sales (subject to change under AB 352)
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Nevada buyers; in-person handoff required
📦
Shipping in-state
Generally not allowed under current rule
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed
🎓
Training
Not required statewide; recommended and may be expected by some districts
🏠
Inspection
Not required for non-TCS operations
How it works

How the Nevada cottage food law actually works.

Nevada governs cottage food under NRS §446.866, which excludes registered cottage food operations from the definition of a permitted food establishment but still requires registration with the local health authority. Until July 2027 that means the Southern Nevada Health District (Clark County), Washoe County's Northern Nevada Public Health, the Central Nevada Health District, Carson City Health and Human Services, or the state-run Division of Public and Behavioral Health for counties without their own district.

Operators may make non-potentially hazardous (non-TCS) foods at home and sell them directly to consumers in Nevada. Cream-filled, custard, cream-cheese-frosted, and refrigeration-required products are not allowed. The state cap on gross annual sales is $35,000. Some districts charge a registration fee; in Clark County the fee has historically been over $200, while several rural districts charge nothing.

AB 352 was signed in 2025 and shifts cottage food authority to the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) effective July 2027. NDA is expected to publish transition guidance throughout 2026. Until the handoff, registrations stay with the existing health districts.

Online ordering is allowed if the product is delivered or picked up in person within Nevada. Shipping is generally not allowed under the current rule, and out-of-state sales are not allowed at all because they cross into federal interstate commerce.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
  • Cakes and cupcakes (shelf-stable frostings only)
  • Breads, rolls, pastries, scones, muffins
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates, brittle
  • Jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves
  • Honey and honeycomb
  • Roasted coffee beans, dry teas, dried herbs and spice blends
  • Granola, cereal, popcorn, snack mixes
  • Acidified foods such as pickles and salsas under Nevada's craft food rule (separate registration may be required)
✕Prohibited
  • Cream pies, custard pies, meringue pies
  • Cream cheese frostings and cheesecakes
  • Tres leches and other refrigeration-required cakes
  • Meat, fish, and shellfish products
  • Dairy products other than what is baked into goods
  • Beverages requiring refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, low-acid canned products

Anything that requires refrigeration to stay safe is treated as TCS and is not allowed under Nevada cottage food. Acidified foods (pickles, salsas, hot sauces) may qualify under Nevada's separate craft food rule with extra training and lab testing.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Nevada cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed in Nevada. Home pickup, delivery, farmers markets, fairs, festivals.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Nevada buyers. Take orders online, but the product must be handed off in person.
📦
Shipping in-state
Generally not allowed. Most districts require in-person delivery.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed. Out-of-state sales fall under federal interstate commerce.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed. Some districts ask cottage operators to register in each district where they sell.
🏪
Retail stores
Not allowed. Cottage food is direct-to-consumer.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed for resale. A restaurant cannot sell or use your cottage food product.
  • If you sell in more than one Nevada health district, several districts ask you to register in each district where you sell, not just where you live.
  • Acidified products (pickles, salsa) are regulated under a separate craft food rule and require extra training plus a process review.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Product name
e.g. "Snickerdoodle Cookies" or "Strawberry Jam".
02
Producer name and address
Your legal name (or business name) and the address of the cottage food operation.
03
All ingredients in descending order by weight
Include sub-ingredients (e.g. "chocolate chips (sugar, cocoa, milk, soy lecithin)").
04
Allergen statement
Identify the major allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
05
Net weight or net volume
Customary (oz/lb) and metric (g) units in the bottom 30% of the principal display panel.
06
Required cottage food disclaimer
Exact wording is below.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION.
  • The disclaimer is commonly written in capital letters and must be visible on the package.
  • When selling unpackaged items at a market, the same information must appear on a clearly visible placard at the point of sale.
  • Labels must be in English. Other languages may be added.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Nevada cottage law?

Nevada caps gross annual sales for a cottage food operation at $35,000. Earnings above the cap push the operator into commercial regulation: a permitted food establishment, retail food license, and inspection. AB 352 (2025) transfers authority to the Nevada Department of Agriculture in July 2027 and is expected to raise the cap; track NDA guidance during 2026.

Training

Food safety training in Nevada

Nevada does not require a statewide food handler card for cottage food. Some districts (especially Southern Nevada Health District) recommend an ANAB-accredited food handler course, and some Clark County markets and venues expect one. The course is online, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and typically costs $7 to $15.

Southern Nevada Food Handler Safety Training Card
Clark County's official food handler card. Required for many food workers in Southern Nevada.
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ServSafe Food Handler
Recognized national food handler course accepted across Nevada.
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Learn2Serve by 360training
ANAB-accredited national food handler course.
→
Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Nevada

To register a Nevada cottage food operation, contact your local health district. In Southern Nevada (Clark County), use the Southern Nevada Health District application. In Northern Nevada (Washoe County), register through Northern Nevada Public Health. Other counties register through the Central Nevada Health District, Carson City Health and Human Services, or the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health. Some districts charge a fee, others register operators for free. AB 352 will move all of this to the Nevada Department of Agriculture in July 2027.

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Nevada.

  1. 01
    Identify your local Nevada health district
    Find the district that covers where you bake and where you sell. Several districts ask you to register in each district where you sell, not just where you live.
    Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health →
  2. 02
    Submit a cottage food operation registration
    Complete the registration form for your district. The Southern Nevada Health District application is the most common starting point in Las Vegas.
    Southern Nevada Health District: Cottage Food Operations →
  3. 03
    Stick to allowed, non-TCS foods
    Cookies, breads, basic cakes without cream fillings, candies, jams, fruit pies, dry mixes, granola, popcorn, dehydrated fruit. No cream-cheese frostings, custards, or refrigerated cakes.
  4. 04
    Build a compliant label
    Include all required elements plus the all-caps cottage food disclaimer. Net quantity belongs in the bottom 30% of the principal display panel.
  5. 05
    Track gross sales toward $35,000
    Keep clean records. Once you cross or expect to cross $35,000 in gross annual sales, you must move to a commercial kitchen and food establishment license, or wait for AB 352 if it is in effect.
  6. 06
    Set up your storefront and lead workflow
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, pricing, lead times, and pickup or delivery zones for Las Vegas, Reno, or wherever you bake.
    Create a free Cakery page →
Worth knowing

A few things Nevada bakers should know.

  • AB 352 was signed in 2025. Cottage food authority transfers from local health districts to the Nevada Department of Agriculture in July 2027. Watch for NDA guidance throughout 2026.
  • Southern Nevada Health District has historically charged a registration fee over $200 while several rural districts charge nothing. Confirm fees before applying.
  • Some districts require registration in each district where you sell, not just where you live. If you bake in Las Vegas and sell at a Reno market, double-check.
  • Acidified products (pickles, salsa, hot sauces) follow Nevada's separate craft food rule, which adds training and a process review.
  • Registration with a health district does not replace a Nevada State Business License. Most cottage operators must also register with the Nevada Secretary of State.
Resources

Bookmark these for Nevada baking.

Official agency resources

Southern Nevada Health District: Cottage Food Operations
Registration process, sales limits, and FAQs for cottage food in Southern Nevada (Clark County).
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Southern Nevada Health District: Cottage Food FAQ
Plain-language Q&A from the regulator. Useful for label and venue questions in Las Vegas.
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Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health
State-level information for counties without their own health district.
→
Central Nevada Health District: Cottage Food Operation Registration
Cottage food registration page covering several rural Nevada counties.
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Nevada Department of Agriculture
The future home of Nevada cottage food regulation under AB 352, taking over in July 2027.
→

Statute and rules text

NRS §446.866: Cottage food operation registration and inspection
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NRS §446.866 (2024) on Justia
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AB 352 (2025): bill text and history
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Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Nevada guide
Plain-English Nevada cottage food guide kept current by an active editor.
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Institute for Justice: Selling Homemade Food in Nevada
Tracks Nevada's cottage food reforms and current legal status.
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Cottage Food Laws by State: Nevada
Quick reference on allowed foods, sales channels, and label rules in Nevada.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
Recent changes

Recent and upcoming changes in Nevada.

  • June 1, 2025AB 352 was signed. The Nevada Department of Agriculture takes over cottage food regulation from local health districts effective July 2027 and is expected to raise the sales cap and centralize registration.
FAQ

Nevada cottage food FAQ.

Do Nevada cottage bakers need a permit?
Not a full food establishment permit. You must register your cottage food operation with the local health district. Some districts charge a fee, others register operators for free.
What is the Nevada sales cap?
Currently $35,000 in gross annual sales. AB 352 (2025) is expected to raise that cap when the Nevada Department of Agriculture takes over the program in July 2027.
Can I sell cream cheese frosting or custard pies?
No. Anything that requires refrigeration to be safe is TCS and is not allowed under Nevada cottage food rules. You would need a commercial kitchen.
Can I ship cottage food to customers outside Nevada?
No. Out-of-state shipping is interstate commerce and requires an inspected commercial kitchen. Within Nevada, most districts require in-person handoff rather than shipping.
Can I sell to restaurants or grocery stores?
No. Nevada cottage food is direct-to-consumer only. A restaurant or grocery cannot resell your cottage product.
Do I need a Nevada State Business License too?
Most operators do. Cottage food registration with a health district is separate from the Nevada State Business License through the Secretary of State. Confirm with both agencies.
What happens to existing registrations when AB 352 takes effect in 2027?
Watch for guidance from the Nevada Department of Agriculture during 2026. NDA is expected to publish a transition plan that converts current district registrations into the new state-level program.
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Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Nevada 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 Nevada agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.