Connecticut's Cottage Food Law

Connecticut permits cottage food production under state statute, allowing individuals to prepare and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from their home kitchens without a commercial license. The law applies to home-based producers selling directly to consumers. Covered products are generally shelf-stable goods like baked items, jams, and candies that don't require refrigeration to stay safe. Your kitchen doesn't need a commercial certification to qualify.

You can sell your cottage food products through direct, in-person transactions only. Permitted venues include farmers markets, farm stands, roadside stands, and sales directly from your home. Online sales are not allowed, and you cannot ship products to customers. All transactions must happen face-to-face, which means your sales are limited to buyers who can physically come to you or meet you at a market.

Connecticut sets one of the lowest annual revenue caps in the country at $1,000 per year, which is a meaningful constraint for anyone hoping to grow a full-time business. No permit or registration is required to get started, which keeps the barrier to entry low. The revenue limit is the defining challenge here, so track your sales carefully. As your business grows, you can explore whether a licensed kitchen opens more options.