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North Carolina's Cottage Food Law

North Carolina's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain non-hazardous foods made in a private home kitchen. The law applies to home-based producers who want to run a small food business without a commercial facility. Covered products are limited to items that don't require refrigeration to stay safe, such as baked goods, jams, and candies. Your kitchen doesn't need to meet commercial standards.

You can sell your products through a wide range of channels, including farmers markets, roadside stands, and direct-to-consumer sales at your home. North Carolina also permits online orders and shipping, which gives your business significant reach compared to many other states. There are no restrictions limiting you to in-person sales only, so you can build a customer base beyond your local area.

Your annual gross sales are capped at $65,000, which is a generous limit relative to most states. No permit, license, or registration is required before you start selling. Every product you sell must carry the state-mandated disclaimer identifying it as coming from an uninspected home kitchen. That combination of a high revenue ceiling, no permitting burden, and shipping access makes North Carolina a strong state to build a cottage food business.

Quick Summary

North Carolina cottage food law allows:

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

Not allowed:

  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Refrigerated or temperature-controlled foods
  • •Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
  • •Raw sprouts
  • •Canned low-acid vegetables
  • •Fruit butters not shelf-stable

Sales limit: $65,000 per year

Annual Limit

$65,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Allowed

Shipping

Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, muffins)
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • ✓Candies and confections
  • ✓Dried herbs and herb mixes
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Honey
  • ✓Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
  • ✓Popcorn and popcorn products

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Refrigerated or temperature-controlled foods
  • ✗Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
  • ✗Raw sprouts
  • ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
  • ✗Fruit butters not shelf-stable

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Producer's full name and home address
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list including major allergens
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓State-required disclaimer: 'This product was made in a private home kitchen that is not inspected by the NC Department of Agriculture or a local health department.'

Required Label Disclaimer

“This product was made in a private home kitchen that is not inspected by the NC Department of Agriculture or a local health department.”

Starting a Home Bakery in North Carolina

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

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

endvr helps North Carolina bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for North Carolina Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

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

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

North Carolina allows online orders

Launch an online bakery storefront

Since North Carolina 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 North Carolina Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in North Carolina?+
Yes. North Carolina'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 North Carolina?+
No permit is required in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?+
North Carolina cottage food producers may earn up to $65,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in North Carolina?+
Yes. North Carolina permits online orders for cottage food products. However, products must typically be delivered directly to the buyer in person — shipping is also permitted.
Can I ship cottage food products in North Carolina?+
Yes. North Carolina permits shipping of cottage food products to customers, which expands your market beyond local in-person sales.
What foods can I sell from home in North Carolina?+
Under North Carolina's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, muffins), Jams, jellies, and preserves, Candies and confections, Dried herbs and herb mixes, Roasted nuts, 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 North Carolina?+
North Carolina requires cottage food labels to include: Producer's full name and home address; Product name; Complete ingredient list including major allergens; Net weight or net volume. Labels must also display the disclaimer: "This product was made in a private home kitchen that is not inspected by the NC Department of Agriculture or a local health department.".

Common North Carolina cottage food questions

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

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