Cottage food laws/Utah
Very permissive

Utah cottage food laws

Two parallel paths: a traditional UDAF cottage food program and one of the country's broadest food-freedom laws.

Utah runs a traditional Cottage Food Program through the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) for shelf-stable home-baked goods, and a separate Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (HB 181) that allows almost any food (including TCS items) to be sold directly to a consumer with no registration, training, or inspection. Most Utah home bakers pick one path based on what they make and where they sell.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Utah Cottage Food Program (UDAF) and Utah Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (HB 181)
At a glance

Utah cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
UDAF registration for the Cottage Food Program. No registration for HB 181.
💰
Sales cap
None on either path
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Utah buyers on both paths
📦
Shipping in-state
Generally not allowed; in-person handoff is required
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed
🎓
Training
Food handler training recommended (and helpful for inspection on the UDAF path); not required by HB 181
🏠
Inspection
May be required for some products on the UDAF Cottage Food path; never under HB 181
How it works

How the Utah cottage food law actually works.

Utah has two cottage-style frameworks. The original Cottage Food Program is administered by UDAF and dates back to 2007. It covers shelf-stable, non-time-temperature-control-for-safety (non-TCS) foods, requires UDAF registration, and may require a home-kitchen inspection depending on what you produce. Bakers who use this path can sell at farmers markets, fairs, online to Utah customers, and from home.

The Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (HB 181), often called Utah's food-freedom law, runs in parallel. It does not require UDAF registration, training, or inspection. It lets you sell nearly any homemade food (including potentially hazardous items like custard, cream cheese frosting, and refrigerated dishes) directly to an informed end consumer for home consumption. The catch: products sold under HB 181 must be eaten in a private residence, cannot be resold, and cannot leave Utah. They also need a clear warning that they were not inspected.

Both paths require a Utah business license through your city or the state's OneStop business portal, even though UDAF registration itself is path-specific. Both prohibit shipping out of Utah. Online ordering is fine on either path as long as the product is handed off to a Utah consumer.

Utah is consistently ranked one of the most permissive states by the Institute for Justice and Forrager because the food-freedom path effectively removes the cap on what you can make. Bakers who want to sell into farmers markets, retailers, or events that require a state-recognized program usually still register with UDAF; bakers who only sell to people they know often choose HB 181 for its simplicity.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
  • Cakes and cupcakes (shelf-stable frostings on UDAF path; cream cheese and custard allowed under HB 181)
  • 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
  • Dehydrated fruits, vegetables, and jerky (jerky requires the HB 181 path)
  • Cheesecakes, custards, cream pies, and other TCS items (HB 181 only)
  • Refrigerated cakes, tres leches, and similar (HB 181 only)
  • Prepared meals and ready-to-eat foods (HB 181 only)
✕Prohibited
  • Anything sold outside Utah (out-of-state shipping is interstate commerce)
  • Wholesale or retail resale (both paths require direct-to-consumer)
  • Foods sold for consumption outside a private residence under HB 181
  • Raw milk and raw-milk products (regulated separately)
  • Cannabis products
  • Alcoholic beverages (regulated separately)

The UDAF Cottage Food path is non-TCS only. The HB 181 path opens up TCS foods but ties them to the in-person, private-residence consumption rule.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Utah cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed statewide on both paths. Home pickup, delivery, farmers markets, festivals.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Utah buyers. The product still has to be handed off in person.
📦
Shipping in-state
Generally not allowed. Shipments must end as a personal, in-person delivery.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed under either path. Out-of-state sales fall under federal interstate commerce.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed on both paths. UDAF-registered operators are the ones markets typically expect.
🏪
Retail stores
Not allowed. Cottage food and HB 181 are direct-to-consumer programs.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed for resale. A restaurant cannot incorporate or resell your cottage food product.
  • Many Utah farmers markets ask vendors to be UDAF-registered even though HB 181 does not require it. Confirm market-by-market.
  • HB 181 requires the consumer to be informed in person that the food is not inspected and that the food must be consumed in a private residence and not resold.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Product name
e.g. "Sourdough Loaf" or "Strawberry Jam".
02
Producer name
Your legal name or registered business name.
03
Physical address of the home kitchen
UDAF-registered operators print the kitchen address.
04
All ingredients in descending order by weight
Include sub-ingredients of compound ingredients.
05
Allergen statement
Identify the major allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
06
Net weight or net volume
Customary and metric units when practical.
07
Required home-kitchen disclaimer
Exact wording is below.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state inspection.
  • Products sold under HB 181 must add: "Not for resale" and a statement that the food was processed and prepared without state or local inspection.
  • Labels must be in English. Other languages may be added.
  • When selling unpackaged items at a market, the same information must appear on a clearly visible placard at the point of sale.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Utah cottage law?

Utah does not set a state cap on gross annual sales for either the UDAF Cottage Food Program or the HB 181 Home Consumption path. There is also no cap on the number of products you may sell. As a small-business operator you are still subject to federal and Utah income tax, sales tax for taxable items, and any local business licensing.

Training

Food safety training in Utah

Utah does not formally require a food handler card for either path, but many UDAF-registered operators take an ANAB-accredited food handler course as a best practice and to satisfy farmers-market or local-health expectations. The course is online, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and typically costs $7 to $15. HB 181 does not require any training.

StateFoodSafety.com Utah Food Handler
ANAB-accredited Utah food handler card, used by many cottage operators and required in some Utah counties for restaurant work.
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ServSafe Food Handler
Recognized national food handler course accepted in Utah.
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Learn2Serve by 360training
ANAB-accredited national food handler course.
→
Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Utah

UDAF Cottage Food registration is done through UDAF. Operators submit an application identifying the products they intend to make. Some products (especially anything close to the TCS line) may trigger a home-kitchen inspection. There is no fee or a small fee depending on the year. Renewal is annual. HB 181 has no registration; bakers operating under HB 181 only need a Utah business license through their city or the state OneStop portal.

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Utah.

  1. 01
    Pick your path: UDAF Cottage Food or HB 181
    Shelf-stable goods sold at farmers markets, fairs, and online (in-state) usually fit the UDAF path. Refrigerated goods, prepared meals, or anything that does not need a registration usually fit HB 181. You can run both side by side if you want.
    UDAF Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act page →
  2. 02
    Get a Utah business license
    Both paths still require a city or state business license. Use Utah's OneStop online business registration to handle the state piece, then your city or county for the local piece.
    Utah OneStop Business Registration →
  3. 03
    Register with UDAF (if using the cottage path)
    Submit the UDAF Cottage Food Program application listing your products. Be ready for a home-kitchen inspection on certain products.
    UDAF Regulatory Services →
  4. 04
    Take a food handler course
    Optional but recommended. Many farmers markets and customers expect it. Save the certificate.
  5. 05
    Build your label template
    Include all required elements plus the home-kitchen disclaimer. HB 181 labels add a "Not for resale" line and the not-inspected statement.
  6. 06
    Set up your storefront and sales channels
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, pricing, and pickup or delivery zones. Utah customers can submit cake, cookie, and dessert requests in one place.
    Create a free Cakery page →
Worth knowing

A few things Utah bakers should know.

  • HB 181 (Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act) requires the food to be consumed at a private residence and not resold. The consumer must be informed in person that the food is not inspected.
  • UDAF inspections are triggered by product type, not by sales volume. A cookie operation may not see an inspector; an operator who applies to make jam or sauces likely will.
  • Out-of-state sales are not allowed under either path. A Utah customer is required.
  • Utah sales tax applies to many cottage products. Bakery items sold by a baker are sometimes exempt as grocery food but candy, prepared individual servings, and similar goods are usually taxable. Register through the OneStop portal.
  • Utah farmers markets often have their own vendor agreements and may require UDAF registration even for HB 181-eligible products.
Resources

Bookmark these for Utah baking.

Official agency resources

UDAF: Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act
Official UDAF page for HB 181 with rules, label language, and FAQs.
→
UDAF: Regulatory Services (Cottage Food)
UDAF's main regulatory hub. Use it to find the Cottage Food Program application and contact information.
→
Utah OneStop Business Registration
Single front door for state business licensing and tax registration.
→
Utah State Tax Commission: Sales and Use Tax
Register for and remit Utah sales tax on taxable cottage products.
→

Statute and rules text

Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 5: Utah Wholesome Food Act and Cottage Food
→
HB 181 (2023): Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act, bill text
→
National Agricultural Law Center: Utah cottage food statutes
→

Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Utah guide
Plain-English Utah cottage food guide kept current by an active editor.
→
Institute for Justice: Selling Homemade Food in Utah
Tracks Utah's food-freedom legislation and ranks Utah among the top states.
→
USU Extension: Utah's Value-Added Food Processing Options
Utah State University Extension's overview of cottage food and value-added processing.
→
USU Extension: Production Resources
Recipes, label tools, and food-safety resources for Utah home producers.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
Recent changes

Recent and upcoming changes in Utah.

  • May 3, 2023HB 181 took effect, expanding the Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act so producers can sell almost any homemade food (including TCS items) directly to a consumer for in-home consumption with no UDAF registration or inspection.
FAQ

Utah cottage food FAQ.

Do Utah cottage bakers need a permit?
It depends on the path. UDAF Cottage Food operators register with UDAF and may need a home-kitchen inspection. HB 181 (food-freedom) operators do not register or get inspected. Both paths require a Utah business license.
Is there a sales cap?
No. Utah does not cap gross annual sales for either path.
Can I sell cream cheese frosting or refrigerated cakes in Utah?
Yes, under HB 181. The customer must be informed in person that the food is not inspected, and the food must be consumed in a private residence and not resold. The traditional UDAF Cottage Food Program is non-TCS only.
Can I ship to customers outside Utah?
No. Out-of-state shipping is interstate commerce and requires an inspected commercial kitchen. Even within Utah, products usually have to be handed off in person.
Can I sell at farmers markets in Utah?
Yes on both paths. Many Utah markets prefer or require UDAF-registered vendors, so check with the market before showing up with HB 181-only paperwork.
Do I need to collect Utah sales tax?
Probably yes for some items. Bakery items sold for off-premises consumption may be exempt, but candy, prepared individual servings, and similar items are usually taxable. Register with the Utah State Tax Commission and confirm what you sell.
How do I report a problem or ask UDAF a question?
Contact UDAF Regulatory Services through the official Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act page. UDAF answers labeling, scope, and registration questions directly.
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Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Utah 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 Utah agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.