Nebraska's Cottage Food Law

Nebraska's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain homemade, non-potentially-hazardous foods from a private residential kitchen. The law is designed for small-scale home producers, not licensed commercial operations. Covered products are shelf-stable goods that don't require refrigeration to stay safe, including baked goods, jams, jellies, candy, and similar items. You don't need to be a professional baker to qualify.

You can sell your products directly to consumers at farmers markets, roadside stands, farm sales, and similar in-person venues. Online sales are not permitted under Nebraska law, and you cannot ship products to customers. All transactions must happen face-to-face. There are no restrictions on selling from your home property, which gives you flexibility in how you set up a direct-sale operation.

Your gross annual sales are capped at $20,000. You don't need a permit, license, or state registration to get started, which keeps the barrier to entry low. Nebraska does require proper labeling, including a disclaimer that your product was made in an uninspected home kitchen. That labeling requirement protects both you and your customers. With low startup overhead and no permit hurdles, Nebraska is a straightforward state to launch your cottage food business.