LegalToOpen

Cottage Food Laws in North Carolina

Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify

Yes, if your food is low risk. North Carolina lets you make shelf-stable foods, like baked goods that don't need refrigeration, jams, candies and dried mixes, in your home kitchen. But first the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) must inspect your kitchen. You cannot have pets in the home, and you usually need a label unless you hand the food straight to the customer.[1]

At a glance

Permit neededYes, in effect. No permit is issued, but you must pass a home kitchen inspection by NCDA&CS before you sell.[1][2]
Who needs itAnyone selling home-made food, whether to customers directly, to stores or to restaurants[1]
Foods allowedLow-risk, shelf-stable foods that don't need refrigeration or freezing[1]
PetsNot allowed in the home at any time, even only at night[1]
TrainingOnly for some pickled (acidified) foods, which may need an Acidified Food Course[1]
LabelsNeeded for self-service, wholesale and shipped products; not needed when you hand food directly to the customer on demand[1]
Where you can sellFrom home, online, farmers markets, roadside stands, special events, grocery stores and restaurants[3]
Wait timeAbout 8 to 12 weeks from application to being contacted for an inspection, sometimes longer[1]
AgencyNC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food and Drug Protection Division[2]

Step by step

Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.

  1. Check that your food is allowed

    Only low-risk foods that are shelf stable can be made at home. Some sauces, pickles and other acidified foods (foods made safe by adding acid) must be checked first. Call NCDA&CS at (984) 236-4820 if you plan to make pickles or other acidified foods.[1]

  2. Make sure you have no pets and a suitable kitchen

    No pets may come into your home at any time. Your kitchen must be in the home itself, not a garage, basement or separate building. You need smooth, easy-to-clean food surfaces, a home free of insects and rodents, hot and cold running water, and a separate sink (or the bathroom sink) for handwashing, because the kitchen sink is only for food preparation. Keep thermometers in the fridge and freezer, and use shielded or shatter-proof light bulbs.[1]

  3. Check with your city or county planning department and your HOA

    Ask your local planning or zoning office whether you can run a food business from your home and whether you need a local permit. If you have a homeowners association (HOA) or a landlord, check with them too.[1]

  4. Get proof of your water supply

    On city water, include a copy of your latest water bill. On a private well, get the water tested for coliform bacteria and E. coli by a certified lab within one year before you apply. Store-bought test kits are not accepted.[1]

  5. Write a short business plan

    List each product by name, every ingredient and who supplies it, how you store supplies, equipment, ingredients and finished food, the steps and equipment you use to make the food, how you will transport it, and where you plan to sell. Include only these points. A plan that misses any of them, or adds a lot of other material, will not be accepted.[1]

  6. Get product testing if NCDA&CS asks for it

    Acidified foods, dressings and sauces, homemade cream cheese frostings, moist breads and cakes, some pies, and any other product NCDA&CS questions may need a lab test for acidity (pH) or water activity (how much free water is in the food, which affects germ growth). The lab gives you a Process Authority Letter to send with your application. If you make acidified foods, you may also have to take an Acidified Food Course and send the certificate.[1]

  7. Design your product label

    If your food needs a label, it must show the product name, your name and physical address (a website does not count), the net weight in ounces or pounds plus grams, and all ingredients from most to least by weight. List every major allergen in the ingredients or in a "Contains:" line right after them. Send one sample label with your application.[2][1]

  8. Send the Application for Home Processor Inspection

    Fill in the application and email it, with your water bill or well test, business plan, sample label and any course certificate, to homeprocessing@ncagr.gov. You can also mail it to the address on the form. Attach files as PDF or Word documents, not links or pasted pictures.[1][2]

    Application for Home Processor Inspection

  9. Pass your home kitchen inspection

    A Food Regulatory Specialist will contact you to set up a visit, by email (or by phone if you have no email), so check your inbox. Expect 8 to 12 weeks, sometimes longer. The inspector checks your kitchen, storage areas and the outside of your house. Major problems can disqualify you. Once you pass, you can start making and selling your food.[1][2]

    Time: About 8 to 12 weeks to be contacted, sometimes longer

  10. Register for sales tax and your business name

    If you will make sales, you need a North Carolina Sales and Use Tax number. Sole proprietors and partnerships file an assumed business name with the county Register of Deeds. Corporations and LLCs register with the NC Secretary of State.[1]

What you can and can't sell[1][3]

Allowed

  • Baked goods that don't need refrigeration
  • Jams, jellies and preserves
  • Candies, including freeze-dried candies
  • Dried mixes and spices
  • Some drinks, like iced tea, coffee and lemonade
  • Some sauces and dressings, after they are checked for shelf stability
  • Acid and acidified foods, like pickles and BBQ sauce (contact NCDA&CS first)

Not allowed

  • Anything that must be refrigerated or frozen
  • Low-acid canned foods, like jarred fruits and vegetables
  • Dairy products
  • Seafood
  • Bottled water and juice
  • Baked goods with cream or cream cheese fillings, and cheesecakes
  • Meat, eggs, cooked vegetables, cut tomatoes, cut leafy greens, cut melons and sprouts made for sale

Local rules

These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in North Carolina?

There is no permit, but you do need an inspection. NCDA&CS inspects your home kitchen first. After you pass, you get an inspection report and a "Notice of Inspection", and you can start selling.[1]

Can I be a home processor if I have a dog or cat?

No. NCDA&CS treats a home processor as a food manufacturing facility. Any pet that comes inside your home, even only at night, rules you out.[1]

Can I sell cheesecake or cakes with cream cheese frosting?

Cheesecakes and baked goods with cream or cream cheese fillings are not allowed. Cream cheese frostings need a lab test to see whether they can be made at home.[1][2]

Do I need a label if I sell at a farmers market?

If customers pick up packaged items themselves, yes. If you hand the food to the customer from behind the counter, you may not need one. Either way, you must be able to tell customers the ingredients if they ask.[2][1]

Can I sell to stores and restaurants, or ship my food?

Yes, once you are inspected. Every product you sell wholesale to stores, distributors or restaurants, or ship by USPS or FedEx, needs a label.[3][1]

Do I need a nutrition facts label?

No, unless you make a claim such as low fat or sugar free. Then you need a nutrition label too.[1]

Can I use my garage or a kitchen in a separate building?

No. The home processing program covers only your home kitchen. A kitchen in a garage, basement or separate building counts as a commercial business, which has different rules. Call NCDA&CS at 984-236-4820 about that.[1]

Do I need an inspection to sell gift baskets of store-bought goods?

Not if you don't process the food. Products that are not processed or made in any way, like gift baskets of prepackaged goods, do not need an inspection. But opening and repackaging bought food does need one.[2][1]

Sources

  1. Food & Drug - Food Program - Home Processor, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
  2. Application for Home Processor Inspection, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food and Drug Protection Division. Checked October 24, 2026.
  3. Home-Based Food Production Guidelines, Wake County Government. Checked October 24, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Food and Drug Protection Division or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.