Cottage Food Laws in Pennsylvania
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Yes. In Pennsylvania you can sell shelf-stable homemade foods, like baked goods, jams, candy and some pickled foods, once you register your kitchen as a Limited Food Establishment with the Department of Agriculture. Registration costs $35 a year and includes an inspection of your kitchen. This registration is not available in Philadelphia County.[1][2]
At a glance
| Permit needed | Yes, a Limited Food Establishment registration, with a kitchen inspection[1] |
|---|---|
| Fee | $35 to start, $35 every year to renew[1] |
| Timeline | Apply at least 60 days before you start. PDA decides on the plans within 15 business days, then inspects.[1] |
| Labels | Product name, ingredients by weight, net weight or count, business name and address, allergens. Baked goods you make and sell straight to customers yourself (or through your employee) don't need a label, but you must give ingredient information if asked.[1][2] |
| Where you can sell | From home, online, at farmers markets, events and roadside stands. Markets and events may need a separate retail license.[1] |
| Online and shipping | Online sales are included. Selling across state lines may also need FDA registration and nutrition labeling.[1][2] |
| Not available in | Philadelphia County[2] |
| Agency | Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)[1] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Check local zoning
Contact your township, borough or city office and confirm you can run a food business from your home. If you are in a county health department area, get any county license first.[2]
Test your well water, if you have one
If your home is on a well or other private water supply, have a DEP-approved lab test it for coliform and nitrate/nitrite. Coliform testing is then repeated every year.[2]
Get lab tests for products that need them
Some products must be tested by a food lab you choose and pay for: pickled, acidified and fermented foods, dressings, sauces and salsas, moist breads and cakes and some pies, and dehydrated foods. Most baked goods and candy need no testing. PDA can ask for more testing at any time, so ask your regional office if you are unsure. Send the results with your application.[2]
Send in the application packet
Fill out the Limited Food Establishment application. Include a business plan, your labels, any lab and water test results, and proof of a sales tax license (or that you are exempt). Email it to PDA plan review. Don't send money with it.[1][2]
Pass the kitchen inspection and pay the fee
After your plans are approved, an inspector visits your kitchen. If it passes, the inspector collects the $35 fee (pay by check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). The inspection report is your temporary proof of registration until the official registration arrives by mail.[1]
Follow the home kitchen rules
If you use your own home kitchen, no pets are allowed anywhere in the home, unless the food area is fully closed off from them with its own entrance. (Fish and caged animals kept away from the food area don't count.) No children in the kitchen while you work. Keep business ingredients on their own shelves or cupboards, and don't cook for the family at the same time.[2]
Renew every year
PDA mails a reminder about two months before your registration expires. You can renew and pay online.[1]
What you can and can't sell[2][1]
Allowed
- Baked goods such as breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, brownies and most fruit pies
- Jams and jellies
- Candy, fudge and caramels
- Pickled, fermented and acidified foods with a pH of 4.6 or below (lab tested)
- Dry goods such as cereals, coffee, tea, spices, dry pasta and nut mixes
- Dehydrated foods, including jerky (lab tested)
- Condiments such as honey, mustard, vinegar, nut butters and sauces (no garlic-in-oil)
Not allowed
- Foods that need refrigeration or hot holding (TCS foods)
- Cheesecake, pumpkin pie, and cream, custard or meringue pies and pastries
- Low-acid canned foods, such as most soups, gravies, plain canned vegetables and fruit in syrup
- Garlic-in-oil products
- Freshly brewed coffee and tea
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- Philadelphia County: Limited Food Establishment registration is not allowed. Food businesses selling there need commercial (NSF/ANSI) equipment in a commercially zoned property.[2]
- Counties and cities with their own health department: Get any county license or registration before applying to PDA. Retail sales sites in these areas get their licenses from the local health department.[2]
- Farmers markets and farm stands statewide: Vendors selling prepackaged shelf-stable foods like baked goods and jams don't pay the retail license fee, but still have to apply and be inspected.[3]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Test your well water, if you have one | Set by the lab you choose |
| Get lab tests for products that need them | Set by the food testing lab you choose |
| Pass the kitchen inspection and pay the fee | $35 |
| Renew every year | $35 |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $70 |
Not included in the total because the fee is set locally: Test your well water, if you have one; Get lab tests for products that need them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell to stores, cafes or restaurants?
It's unclear. PDA's website says Limited Food Establishments are for direct-to-consumer sales only and that wholesale needs a different license. But the same page says some retail stores may carry your products, and the application packet lists wholesale as a sales method. Ask your regional PDA food safety office before you sell to a business.[1][2]
Can I ship to other states?
PDA says that if you sell across state lines you may also need to register with the FDA. Your labels also need nutrition facts, unless you get a federal small business exemption.[1][2]
I have a dog. Can I still register?
Only if your food area is completely closed off from the pet, with a door that fully closes (baby gates and removable barriers don't count) and its own outside entrance. Otherwise, no pets are allowed in a home whose personal kitchen is used.[2]
Can I make salsa or pickles at home?
Yes, if lab tests show the finished product has a pH of 4.6 or below (pH measures acidity; lower is more acidic). You need written recipes, a process plan your inspector approves, lab results sent with your application, and a pH record for every batch. If the pH is between 4.2 and 4.6, a process authority (an expert in acidified foods) must also review and approve your recipe and process.[2]
Do my cookies need a label at a farmers market?
Not if you made them and you (or your employee) sell them directly to the customer. You must still have ingredient information ready if someone asks.[3]
Do I need a sales tax license?
The application asks you to show a Pennsylvania sales tax license (or proof you applied), or to confirm your business is exempt. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.[2]
Sources
- Apply for or Renew a Limited Food Establishment Registration, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Application Packet: Food Establishment Registration, Limited Food Establishments (Rev 10-2024), Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Farmers Market and Farm Stand Guidelines (Rev 2/2026), Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. Checked October 24, 2026.
Related
- Food Truck Permits in Pennsylvania
- Cottage Food Laws in Delaware
- Cottage Food Laws in Maryland
- Cottage Food Laws in New Jersey
- Cottage Food Laws in New York
- Cottage Food Laws in Ohio
- Cottage Food Laws in West Virginia
- Cottage Food Laws by State
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.