Pennsylvania's Cottage Food Law
Pennsylvania's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain low-risk, non-potentially-hazardous foods made in a home kitchen. The law applies to home-based producers operating as small businesses, not licensed commercial operations. Covered products are generally shelf-stable baked goods, confections, jams, and similar items that don't require refrigeration to stay safe. You don't need a commercial kitchen to qualify.
You can sell your products directly to consumers through farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and similar in-person venues. Online orders are permitted, which means you can take orders through a website or social media. Shipping is not allowed, so all sales must be fulfilled through direct, in-person delivery or pickup. You cannot sell wholesale to grocery stores or restaurants under the cottage food exemption.
Your annual gross revenue cannot exceed $50,000. No permit, license, or government registration is required before you start selling. Every product must carry a label with the required disclaimer stating it was made in a non-inspected home kitchen. Pennsylvania's $50,000 revenue cap is relatively generous compared to many other states, giving your business real room to grow before you'd need to consider a licensed facility.
Quick Summary
Pennsylvania cottage food law allows:
- •Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
- •Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
- •Candies and fudge
- •Roasted nuts
- •Dry herbs and dry herb blends
- •Dried pasta
Not allowed:
- •Meat and poultry products
- •Items requiring refrigeration (custard pies, cream-filled pastries)
- •Canned low-acid vegetables
- •Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
- •Seafood products
- •Fermented foods not shelf-stable
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, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
- ✓Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
- ✓Candies and fudge
- ✓Roasted nuts
- ✓Dry herbs and dry herb blends
- ✓Dried pasta
- ✓Honey
- ✓Fruit pies (shelf-stable)
Prohibited Foods
- ✗Meat and poultry products
- ✗Items requiring refrigeration (custard pies, cream-filled pastries)
- ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
- ✗Dairy-based products requiring refrigeration
- ✗Seafood products
- ✗Fermented foods not shelf-stable
Labeling Requirements
- ✓Producer's name and home address
- ✓Product name
- ✓Complete ingredient list
- ✓Major food allergen disclosure
- ✓Net weight or net volume
- ✓"This product was made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by a government agency."
Required Label Disclaimer
“This product was made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by a government agency.”
Starting a Home Bakery in Pennsylvania
Once you understand the cottage food rules, most Pennsylvania home bakers focus on three things:
- →Pricing recipes so they are profitable
- →Creating compliant labels
- →Managing orders and preorders
endvr helps Pennsylvania bakers do all three in one place.
Tools for Pennsylvania Cottage Food Bakers
Create compliant labels in seconds
endvr's label maker automatically includes the Pennsylvania required disclaimer and allergen labeling — so your labels are always inspection-ready.
Pennsylvania allows online orders
Launch an online bakery storefront
Since Pennsylvania permits online cottage food sales, endvr gives you a simple storefront where customers can browse, preorder, and pay — no website required.
Common Questions Pennsylvania Bakers Ask
Can I sell baked goods from home in Pennsylvania?+
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Pennsylvania?+
How much can I earn selling cottage food in Pennsylvania?+
Can I take orders online in Pennsylvania?+
Can I ship cottage food products in Pennsylvania?+
What foods can I sell from home in Pennsylvania?+
What labeling is required to sell cottage food in Pennsylvania?+
Common Pennsylvania cottage food questions
Bill tracking data provided by LegiScan