Pennsylvania cottage food laws
No sales cap, broad allowed list, and one of the only programs that allows interstate shipping.
Pennsylvania calls its home-baker path a Limited Food Establishment (LFE), registered through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) for $35. There is no annual sales cap, the allowed foods list is unusually broad (including acidified and fermented products), and unlike most states, Pennsylvania allows online sales and even interstate shipping when federal labeling rules are met.
Pennsylvania cottage food, quick facts.
How the Pennsylvania cottage food law actually works.
Pennsylvania does not call its home-baker rule a cottage food law. Instead, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) Bureau of Food Safety registers home producers as Limited Food Establishments (LFEs) under 7 Pa. Code §46.212. An LFE is a home kitchen approved by PDA to produce non-TCS, shelf-stable foods. Registration costs $35 and is collected at the inspection visit, which is required before you can sell.
Pennsylvania's LFE program is one of the most flexible in the country. There is no annual gross-sales cap. The allowed foods list goes well beyond simple baked goods: acidified foods (salsas, hot sauces, pickled vegetables), fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles), candies, dry goods, jams and jellies, granola, and even meat jerky in some cases. Each operator submits a business plan and a list of products, and PDA may require lab analysis or scheduled processes for higher-risk items like acidified foods.
Sales channels are also unusually broad. LFEs may sell direct from the production site, at farmers markets, online, and to retailers within Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is one of the few cottage-style programs that does not prohibit interstate sales: an LFE may ship to customers in other states, but doing so triggers federal FDA jurisdiction including FDA facility registration and full federal labeling rules including Nutrition Facts when claims are made.
Labels must include a specific home-kitchen disclaimer in at least 10-point type. Food safety training is not required statewide, although individual sanitarians may recommend it. The trade-off compared to fully exempt states is that PDA does inspect your kitchen before approval and may revisit, and the application package (business plan, product list, label drafts, water test if on a private well) is more involved than a simple registration.
Allowed and prohibited foods.
- Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
- Cakes and cupcakes (without cream or cream-cheese fillings)
- Breads, rolls, biscuits, muffins, scones
- Fruit pies and other non-TCS pies
- Candies, fudge, brittles, caramels, chocolate confections
- Jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves
- Acidified foods: salsas, hot sauces, barbecue sauce, pickled vegetables (with approved scheduled process)
- Fermented foods: kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, green olives
- Granola, snack mixes, popcorn, dry mixes
- Roasted coffee beans, dry tea blends, herbs and spice rubs
- Maple syrup, honey, molasses
- Meat jerky (with PDA-approved process)
- Cheesecakes, custard pies, cream pies, meringue pies
- Cream cheese frostings and refrigerated fillings
- Refrigerated dairy beverages and fresh juices (without HACCP)
- Low-acid canned vegetables and soups (without an approved process authority)
- Fish and shellfish products
- Any food that requires refrigeration to remain safe
Pennsylvania allows acidified and fermented foods and even meat jerky under the LFE program, which is unusual nationally. Each requires an approved scheduled process and lab support, but if you want to sell hot sauce or pickles from home, Pennsylvania is one of the few states where you can.
Sales channels for Pennsylvania cottage bakers.
- Out-of-state shipping requires the operator to register with FDA as a food facility and comply with federal labeling rules including Nutrition Facts when health or nutrient claims are made.
- Wholesale sales within Pennsylvania are allowed under the LFE program.
Label every product, exactly like this.
This product is homemade and is not prepared in an inspected food establishment.
- The disclaimer must be at least 10-point type and printed in a color that contrasts clearly with the label background.
- Acidified juice products require an additional warning that the juice has not been pasteurized.
- Out-of-state shipping triggers federal Nutrition Facts and FDA labeling rules when claims are made.
How much can you earn under Pennsylvania cottage law?
Pennsylvania does not impose a state-level annual gross sales cap on Limited Food Establishments. The LFE program is meant for home production, but it has been used by bakers running six-figure businesses out of their home kitchens.
Registration, permits, and inspections in Pennsylvania
Apply by submitting the LFE application packet to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, including a business plan, product list, draft labels, and (if you are on a private well) a water test. A PDA sanitarian schedules a kitchen inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection the sanitarian collects the $35 registration fee and issues your registration. You renew per the inspector's schedule, typically annually.
How to start a cottage bakery in Pennsylvania.
- 01Read the LFE application packetDownload the PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet and review the business plan, product list, and labeling expectations before applying.PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet (PDF) →
- 02Decide on your product listIf you want acidified foods (salsas, hot sauces) or fermented foods, plan for a scheduled process or recipe approval. Plain baked goods are simpler.PDA: Limited Food Establishment program →
- 03Apply and schedule your inspectionSubmit the application package to PDA. A sanitarian contacts you to schedule a kitchen inspection.
- 04Pass your inspection and pay the $35 feeThe sanitarian inspects your kitchen, reviews your product list and labels, and collects the $35 registration fee on site. Address any items they flag.
- 05Build a compliant label templateInclude the verbatim disclaimer in at least 10-point type, plus all standard label elements. Use a single reusable template per product.
- 06Set up your storefront and shippingCakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, pricing, lead times, and shipping zones. If you plan to ship out of state, register with FDA as a food facility and confirm federal labeling.Create a free Cakery page →
A few things Pennsylvania bakers should know.
- Pennsylvania is one of the only home-food programs that allows interstate shipping. Doing so triggers FDA jurisdiction, FDA facility registration, and federal labeling rules including Nutrition Facts when claims are made.
- There is no statewide sales cap, so the LFE program scales with you. Many Pennsylvania bakers run their entire business under an LFE.
- Acidified and fermented foods (salsas, hot sauces, kimchi, sauerkraut) are allowed but require an approved scheduled process and may require lab support.
- Pennsylvania sales tax: most baked goods sold for off-premises consumption are exempt as groceries, but candy, prepared individual servings, and some other items are taxable. Register with the Department of Revenue if needed.
- Pennsylvania food safety training is not statewide-required, but the Penn State Extension Better Process Control School and HACCP training are useful for higher-risk products.
Bookmark these for Pennsylvania baking.
Official agency resources
Statute and rules text
Helpful resources for bakers
Pennsylvania cottage food FAQ.
Does Pennsylvania have a cottage food law?
Is there a sales cap?
Can I ship cottage food out of state from Pennsylvania?
Can I sell salsa, hot sauce, or sauerkraut from home?
Do I need food safety training?
What disclaimer goes on the label?
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