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Louisiana's Cottage Food Law

Louisiana's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain homemade food products directly from a residential kitchen. The law covers non-potentially hazardous foods, meaning items that don't require refrigeration to stay safe. If you're a home baker or food producer operating out of your personal kitchen, this law is designed to let you build a small business without the overhead of a commercial facility.

You can sell your cottage food products directly to consumers through farmers markets, roadside stands, and your home. Online orders are permitted, which gives you flexibility to reach local customers and arrange pickup or local delivery. Shipping your products to customers is not allowed, so all sales must ultimately be completed through a direct, in-person handoff rather than through a mail carrier or courier.

Your annual gross sales are capped at $30,000, and you're required to obtain a permit before you start selling. Louisiana's permit requirement puts it in a more regulated tier compared to some states, but the process is manageable for most home producers. The combination of online ordering and a reasonable revenue cap gives your cottage food business room to grow on your own terms.

Quick Summary

Louisiana cottage food law allows:

  • •Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, pastries)
  • •Candy and confections
  • •Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • •Honey
  • •Dried herbs and seasonings
  • •Roasted nuts

Not allowed:

  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Seafood products
  • •Items requiring refrigeration
  • •Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
  • •Canned low-acid vegetables
  • •Juices

Sales limit: $20,000 per year

Annual Limit

$20,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Not Allowed

Shipping

Not Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, pastries)
  • ✓Candy and confections
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • ✓Honey
  • ✓Dried herbs and seasonings
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Pralines and fudge

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Seafood products
  • ✗Items requiring refrigeration
  • ✗Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
  • ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
  • ✗Juices

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Producer's full name and home address
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list
  • ✓Major food allergen disclosure
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓Statement: 'This product is homemade and not inspected by the state or local health department'

Starting a Home Bakery in Louisiana

Once you understand the cottage food rules, most Louisiana home bakers focus on three things:

  • →Pricing recipes so they are profitable
  • →Creating compliant labels
  • →Managing orders and preorders

endvr helps Louisiana bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for Louisiana Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

endvr's label maker automatically includes the Louisiana required disclaimer and allergen labeling — so your labels are always inspection-ready.

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

Common Questions Louisiana Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in Louisiana?+
Yes. Louisiana's cottage food law permits individuals to produce and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from their home kitchen directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen license.
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Louisiana?+
No permit is required in Louisiana to sell cottage food products, though you must still comply with labeling requirements and sales restrictions.
How much can I earn selling cottage food in Louisiana?+
Louisiana cottage food producers may earn up to $20,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in Louisiana?+
Louisiana does not permit online sales of cottage food products under the cottage food law. Sales must be conducted in person through direct transactions.
Can I ship cottage food products in Louisiana?+
No. Louisiana does not allow shipping of cottage food products. Sales must be completed through direct, in-person transactions with the consumer.
What foods can I sell from home in Louisiana?+
Under Louisiana's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, pastries), Candy and confections, Jams, jellies, and preserves, Honey, Dried herbs and seasonings, Roasted nuts and others. Generally, any food that does not require refrigeration for safety qualifies. Foods with cream, custard, or meat fillings are typically not allowed.
What labeling is required to sell cottage food in Louisiana?+
Louisiana requires cottage food labels to include: Producer's full name and home address; Product name; Complete ingredient list; Major food allergen disclosure.

Common Louisiana cottage food questions

→ Can I sell cottage food online in Louisiana?→ Can I ship cottage food in Louisiana?→ What is Louisiana's cottage food sales limit?→ What are Louisiana's labeling requirements?→ Can I use cream cheese frosting in Louisiana?

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