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New Jersey's Cottage Food Law

New Jersey's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain homemade food products from a residential kitchen without a commercial license. The law covers non-potentially-hazardous foods, meaning products that don't require refrigeration to stay safe. Home bakers, jam makers, and candy producers are the primary people this law serves. Your kitchen doesn't need a formal inspection to get started, which lowers the barrier significantly compared to many other states.

You can sell your cottage food products directly to consumers through farmers markets, roadside stands, farm stands, and online orders. Online sales are permitted, which means you can accept orders through a website or social media. Shipping is not allowed, so all transactions must result in direct, in-person pickup or delivery within New Jersey. You cannot sell through retail stores or wholesale channels under the cottage food exemption.

Your annual gross revenue from cottage food sales cannot exceed $50,000. No permit, license, or registration is required before you begin selling. Labeling requirements are straightforward but mandatory, and your products must be clearly identified as homemade. New Jersey's $50,000 revenue cap gives you meaningful room to grow a serious business. With no permit hurdles and online sales allowed, you're well-positioned to reach customers from day one.

Quick Summary

New Jersey cottage food law allows:

  • •Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, pastries)
  • •Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • •Candies and confections
  • •Roasted nuts
  • •Dry herbs and herb blends
  • •Dry baking mixes

Not allowed:

  • •Products requiring refrigeration for safety
  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Seafood products
  • •Dairy-based products (custards, cheesecakes, cream fillings)
  • •Canned low-acid vegetables
  • •Fermented or pickled vegetables

Sales limit: $50,000 per year

Annual Limit

$50,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Allowed

Shipping

Not Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, pastries)
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • ✓Candies and confections
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Dry herbs and herb blends
  • ✓Dry baking mixes
  • ✓Honey
  • ✓Granola and cereal products
  • ✓Fruit pies and fruit empanadas (non-cream based)

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Products requiring refrigeration for safety
  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Seafood products
  • ✗Dairy-based products (custards, cheesecakes, cream fillings)
  • ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
  • ✗Fermented or pickled vegetables
  • ✗Juices and ciders
  • ✗Products with meat-based fillings

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Producer's full name and home address
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
  • ✓Major food allergen disclosure
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓Statement: 'Made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by the State or local health department'

Starting a Home Bakery in New Jersey

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

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

endvr helps New Jersey bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for New Jersey Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

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

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

New Jersey allows online orders

Launch an online bakery storefront

Since New Jersey 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 New Jersey Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in New Jersey?+
Yes. New Jersey'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 New Jersey?+
No permit is required in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?+
New Jersey cottage food producers may earn up to $50,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in New Jersey?+
Yes. New Jersey 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 New Jersey?+
No. New Jersey 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 New Jersey?+
Under New Jersey's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, pastries), Jams, jellies, and preserves, Candies and confections, Roasted nuts, Dry herbs and herb blends, Dry baking mixes 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 New Jersey?+
New Jersey requires cottage food labels to include: Producer's full name and home address; Product name; Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight; Major food allergen disclosure.

Common New Jersey cottage food questions

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

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