New Hampshire's Cottage Food Law

New Hampshire's cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain homemade food products directly to consumers without operating under a licensed food facility. The law applies to home-based producers making low-risk, non-potentially-hazardous foods. Covered products are generally baked goods, jams, and similar shelf-stable items that don't require refrigeration to remain safe. You must be operating from your own home kitchen.

You can sell your cottage food products in person through direct sales channels such as farmers markets, farm stands, roadside stands, and similar venues. Online sales are not permitted under New Hampshire's cottage food law, and you cannot ship products to customers. All sales must happen face-to-face, which means your customer base is limited to people you can reach in your local area.

New Hampshire caps annual cottage food revenue at $2,500, which is one of the lower limits among US states. No permit or registration is required before you start selling. The low revenue cap is the most significant restriction you'll face, and it positions cottage food as a supplemental income source rather than a full business. If your operation grows, you'll want to explore licensed food facility options to expand legally.