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Cottage food laws

Vermont Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Vermont? 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 Operator (Home Bakery merged)
Annual sales cap
$30,000 (cottage foods); +$10,000 processed-food exemption
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupEvents
Registration / to start
Exemption (no license) under the caps; prepared meals/ready-to-eat need a Home Caterer License ($155/yr)
Allowed foods
Non-TCS baked goods, breads, cookies, candy
Not allowed
Foods requiring refrigeration/temperature control or specialized processing; prepared meals (need Home Caterer License)
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding $30,000, making TCS foods, or preparing meals/ready-to-eat foods requires a license (Home Caterer / commercial kitchen)
Administered by
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (with VT Dept of Health for home-based licenses) · Vt. Act 42, H.401 (2025)

Source: Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (with VT Dept of Health for home-based licenses). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Act 42 (effective July 1, 2025) merged cottage food + home bakery and set a $30,000 annual cap (replacing the old $125/week limit). Prepared meals require a separate Home Caterer License ($155/yr).

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Vermont 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 Vermont?
Yes. Vermont has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Operator (Home Bakery merged)) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $30,000 (cottage foods); +$10,000 processed-food exemption. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (with VT Dept of Health for home-based licenses).
What foods can I sell under Vermont's cottage food law?
Non-TCS baked goods, breads, cookies, candy Not allowed: Foods requiring refrigeration/temperature control or specialized processing; prepared meals (need Home Caterer License)
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Vermont?
Exceeding $30,000, making TCS foods, or preparing meals/ready-to-eat foods requires a license (Home Caterer / commercial kitchen) At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Vermont?
Exemption (no license) under the caps; prepared meals/ready-to-eat need a Home Caterer License ($155/yr)
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