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Cottage food laws

Georgia Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Georgia? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupOnlineWholesale to in-state retail stores and restaurants
Registration / to start
No state license/registration; ANSI-accredited food-safety course required
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods: breads, cakes, jams/jellies, dried herbs/fruits, nuts, vinegars
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Selling TCS foods or exceeding non-TCS scope requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) · Ga. HB 398 (2025)

Source: Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

HB 398 (effective July 1, 2025) removed the $5,000 cap AND the license requirement, and now allows in-state wholesale to retail stores and restaurants.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Georgia food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. There is no sales cap. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA).
What foods can I sell under Georgia's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods: breads, cakes, jams/jellies, dried herbs/fruits, nuts, vinegars Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Georgia?
Selling TCS foods or exceeding non-TCS scope requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Georgia?
No state license/registration; ANSI-accredited food-safety course required
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