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Maryland's Cottage Food Law

Maryland's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain low-risk, non-potentially-hazardous foods made in their home kitchen. The law covers home-based producers who operate as small-scale food businesses without a commercial facility. Covered products are generally shelf-stable baked goods, confections, and preserved foods that don't require refrigeration to remain safe. You don't need to be a licensed food business to get started.

You can sell your cottage food products through farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and direct to consumers in person. Maryland also permits online orders and allows you to ship products to customers within the state, which gives your business more flexibility than many other states offer. There are no restrictions limiting you to in-person-only sales, so you can build a customer base beyond your immediate community.

Your annual gross sales are capped at $50,000, which is a generous ceiling for a home-based operation. No permit, license, or registration is required before you start selling. Maryland's allowance of both online sales and shipping sets it apart from states with stricter direct-sale-only requirements. As your business grows, that combination of a high revenue cap and broad sales channels gives you real room to scale.

Quick Summary

Maryland cottage food law allows:

  • •Baked goods (cakes, cookies, muffins, bread, pastries)
  • •Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
  • •Candies and fudge
  • •Roasted nuts
  • •Dried herbs and seasonings
  • •Honey

Not allowed:

  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Items requiring refrigeration for safety
  • •Canned low-acid vegetables
  • •Dairy-based products
  • •Seafood products
  • •Alcoholic beverages

Sales limit: $25,000 per year

Annual Limit

$25,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Allowed

Shipping

Not Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (cakes, cookies, muffins, bread, pastries)
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
  • ✓Candies and fudge
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Dried herbs and seasonings
  • ✓Honey
  • ✓Dry baking mixes
  • ✓Granola and trail mix

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Items requiring refrigeration for safety
  • ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
  • ✗Dairy-based products
  • ✗Seafood products
  • ✗Alcoholic beverages

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Producer's full name and home address
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
  • ✓Major allergen disclosure
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓Statement that the product was made in a cottage food facility not inspected by the Maryland Department of Health

Starting a Home Bakery in Maryland

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

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

endvr helps Maryland bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for Maryland Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

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

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

Maryland allows online orders

Launch an online bakery storefront

Since Maryland permits online cottage food sales, endvr gives you a simple storefront where customers can browse, preorder, and pay — no website required.

Get your free storefrontDownload the iOS app →

Common Questions Maryland Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in Maryland?+
Yes. Maryland'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 Maryland?+
No permit is required in Maryland 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 Maryland?+
Maryland cottage food producers may earn up to $25,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in Maryland?+
Yes. Maryland permits online orders for cottage food products. However, products must typically be delivered directly to the buyer in person — shipping is not permitted.
Can I ship cottage food products in Maryland?+
No. Maryland 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 Maryland?+
Under Maryland's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (cakes, cookies, muffins, bread, pastries), Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves, Candies and fudge, Roasted nuts, Dried herbs and seasonings, Honey 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 Maryland?+
Maryland requires cottage food labels to include: Producer's full name and home address; Product name; Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight; Major allergen disclosure.

Common Maryland cottage food questions

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

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