Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Food Protection

Cottage Food Label Requirements in Maryland

What Maryland legally requires on your cottage food label — the required statement, sales cap, registration rules, and what you can (and can't) sell.

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This is not legal advice.

Cottage food laws change frequently and vary by county or local health department. Always confirm current requirements with Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Food Protection or a local food safety professional before printing labels or selling product. View the official source. Last verified: 2026-08.

Required Label Statement

Exact wording Maryland requires

“Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations.”

Must be printed in 10-point type or larger, in a color that provides a clear contrast to the label background. Labels must also include the product name; ingredients (and sub-ingredients) in descending order by weight; net weight, count, or volume; allergen information; and the business name and address (a Department-issued unique ID number may substitute for the address). Products sold to a retail store need extra fields (phone, email, production date) and must use MDH-approved label content. All labels must be in English.

Sales Cap & Registration

Annual Sales Cap

$50,000 in annual gross revenue from cottage food sales (COMAR 10.15.03.02B(17-1)).

Registration & Permitting

No license, fee, or inspection is required to sell direct-to-consumer (in person, at a farmers market, by mail, or by personal delivery). To sell to a retail food store (grocery store, retail bakery, co-op, etc.), you must first submit your label and proof of a food safety course to MDH via the ID and Retail Sales Request Form and receive written approval before selling there. A unique ID number can optionally be requested to use on labels instead of your home address.

Food Safety Course

Not required for direct-to-consumer sales. Required only to sell to a retail food store: documentation of a basic food safety course completed within the past 3 years, approved by MDH and ANSI-accredited, covering basic food safety, cleaning/sanitizing, personal hygiene, pest control, and food receiving/storage/prep/service.

What You Can (and Can't) Sell

Allowed

Non-potentially-hazardous foods on MDH's approved list: baked breads, cookies, and pastries without perishable icing or fillings (bagels, biscuits, brownies, cakes, cupcakes, granola bars, muffins, tortillas, sourdough); hot-filled jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters from fruits with a natural pH of 4.6 or below; fruit leathers and pies made from those same low-pH fruits; non-perishable candies (brittles, gummy bears, lollipops, toffee, marshmallows, and chocolate confections made from commercial chocolate or other non-hazardous ingredients); repackaged commercial seasoning, spice, and tea blends; and non-perishable snacks like kettle corn.

Not Allowed

Baked goods needing refrigeration (meringue, pecan, pumpkin, or cream pies; cheesecakes; cream cheese or buttercream icings and fillings, unless lab-tested as non-hazardous); low-acid canned foods; acidified/pickled products like relish, salsa, pepper jelly, or barbecue sauce; garlic or fresh/dried vegetables in oil; raw seed sprouts; fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, milk, and dairy products; and beverages. Interstate sales and sales outside Maryland are also prohibited.

Selling something that needs a full Nutrition Facts panel (like packaged prepared meals) instead of a cottage food disclosure? See our meal prep labeling guide →

Official Source

This page summarizes guidance published by Maryland Department of Health – Cottage Foods.

Last verified: 2026-08

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does a Maryland cottage food label need to say?

In 10-point type or larger, in a color that clearly contrasts with the background: "Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations." Plus the product name, full ingredient list, net weight, allergens, and your business name/address (or a unique ID number MDH can issue you instead).

How much can I sell before I outgrow Maryland's cottage food law?

$50,000 in annual gross revenue from cottage food sales. Beyond that, your operation no longer qualifies as a "cottage food business" under COMAR and would need a standard food facility license.

Do I need a permit or inspection to sell cottage food in Maryland?

Not for direct-to-consumer sales — no license, fee, or kitchen inspection is required. You only need MDH review and written approval if you want to sell into a retail store.

Can I sell my cottage food products in a Maryland grocery store?

Yes, but only after submitting your label and proof of an approved food safety course to MDH and receiving written approval — you cannot sell to a retail store until MDH confirms you meet the requirements.

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