Tennessee's Cottage Food Law

Tennessee's Home Bakery Law allows individuals to produce and sell certain low-risk foods made in a private residential kitchen. The law applies to home-based operators who produce baked goods, jams, jellies, and other non-potentially-hazardous foods. You don't need a commercial kitchen, and your home doesn't have to pass a government inspection to qualify. The law is designed for small-scale producers selling directly to end consumers.

You can sell your products at farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and other in-person venues where you're selling directly to the buyer. Online sales are not permitted under Tennessee's cottage food law, and you cannot ship products to customers. All sales must be face-to-face transactions. There's no provision for third-party retailers or wholesale arrangements, so your sales channel is limited to direct consumer contact.

Tennessee caps cottage food revenue at $25,000 per year in gross sales. No permit, license, or registration is required before you start selling. One notable feature is that the law requires a specific disclaimer on your label stating the product was made in a home kitchen not inspected by the state. That transparency requirement is straightforward to meet and keeps you fully compliant as your business grows.