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Kentucky cottage food law

Selling home-baked goods in Kentucky

How home bakers in Kentucky can sell what they make: the sales limit, permits, training, where you can sell and the statement your labels must carry. Kentucky has 2 ways to operate; each is shown below.

At a glance: Home-based processor

Sales limit
Up to $60,000 a year in sales.
License or permit
Yes: a state permit or registration (fee: $50).
Food safety training
No food safety training is required by the state.
Online orders
Statute lists 'online' among allowed sales; regulation allows orders and payment in person, electronically, online, or by phone.
Label statement
“This product is home-produced and processed”

Kentucky also has 1 other way to sell, shown below.

About this information. Kentucky’s rules are summarized from the latest publicly available state laws, regulations and agency guidance, last checked November 3, 2026. Laws change, and county and city health departments may have their own requirements. This is not legal advice. Before you sell, confirm the rules with your state or local health department.

Home-based processor

KRS 217.015(56); KRS 217.136; 902 KAR 45:090 Sections 2-3 · 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 42; amended HB 263 (2018), HB 468 (2019), SB 73 (2026, Acts ch. 52)

Yearly sales limit
$60,000
Permit or registration
Yes
Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health, Food Safety Branch
Fee: $50
Official page
Food safety training
No
No training required by statute, regulation, or DFS-250
Where you make it
The processor's home (DFS-250: primary residence where processing occurs); processor must be a Kentucky resident
Selling in person
From the home (pick-up or delivery), markets, roadside stands, community events (statute); regulation lists flea markets, farmers markets, festivals, county fairs, craft fairs, non-profit charity events, roadside stands. CHFS: 'at a market (not a permitted retail market)'
Phone and online orders
Statute (2019+) lists 'online' among allowed sales; regulation allows orders and payment in person, electronically, online, or by phone
Delivery and shipping
Allowed within Kentucky (pick-up or delivery from the home)
Selling out of state
No
Stores and wholesale
No

Examples you can sell

Non-potentially hazardous foods (no time/temperature control), plus pork lard and tallow-based cosmetic products (added by SB 73, 2026). Statute list is 'including but not limited to'; 902 KAR 45:090 adds items; the DFS-250 says only foods listed in 902 KAR 45:090 are accepted.

  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Cookies
  • Fruit pies
  • Pecan pies
  • Candy (no added alcohol, no bare-hand contact)
  • Jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter
  • Sweet sorghum syrup, maple syrup
  • Dried herbs, spices, nuts, dried grains
  • Granola; trail or snack mix

Not allowed

  • Acid foods, acidified foods, formulated acid foods, low-acid canned foods (KRS 217.136(2))
  • Creme-filled pies
  • Custard and custard pies
  • Pies with meringue topping
  • Cheesecake
  • Cream, custard, or meringue pastries
  • Raw seed sprouts
  • Garlic-in-oil products
  • Pureed baby foods
  • Vacuum-packaged products (unless in a mason-type jar)

The statement your labels must carry

This product is home-produced and processed

In type at least 10 point.

Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor)

KRS 217.015(57)-(59); KRS 217.137; KRS 217.138; 902 KAR 45:090 Sections 4-9 · 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 42 (program); later amendments

Yearly sales limit
$60,000
Permit or registration
Yes
Certificate
Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Food Safety Branch (UK Cooperative Extension runs the program and training)
Fee: $50
Food safety training
Yes
UK Extension microprocessing workshop (food processing school)
Where you make it
Farmer's home, or a certified or permitted kitchen (written agreement required); farmer must be a Kentucky resident who owns or rents agricultural land
Selling in person
Farm, Kentucky registered farmers market, or certified roadside stand
Phone and online orders
Not allowed per UK Extension (online sales need a commercial permit)
Delivery and shipping
Not listed
Selling out of state
No
Stores and wholesale
No

Examples you can sell

Foods including acid foods, formulated acid foods, acidified foods, and low-acid canned foods, each with a processing-authority-approved scheduled process; farmer must grow the primary (predominant) ingredient

  • Canned tomatoes
  • Pickles and pickled produce
  • Salsa
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Low-sugar or pepper jellies
  • Pressure-canned vegetables

Not allowed

  • Same Section 2 list as home-based processors (cheesecake, custard, cream/meringue pies and pastries, raw sprouts, garlic-in-oil, pureed baby food)

Common questions about Kentucky’s cottage food law

Can I sell baked goods from home in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky lets home bakers sell food made in their own kitchen in 2 ways: Home-based processor; Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor). Most baked goods that don’t need refrigeration qualify; see the examples on this page.

Do I need a license or permit to sell baked goods in Kentucky?

Home-based processor: Yes: a state permit or registration (fee: $50). Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor): Yes: Certificate (fee: $50).

How much can I sell from home in Kentucky?

Home-based processor: Up to $60,000 a year in sales. Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor): Up to $60,000 a year in sales.

Do I need food safety training in Kentucky?

Home-based processor: No food safety training is required by the state. Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor): Yes: UK Extension microprocessing workshop (food processing school).

Can I sell online or ship my baked goods in Kentucky?

Home-based processor: Online and phone orders: Statute lists 'online' among allowed sales; regulation allows orders and payment in person, electronically, online, or by phone. Delivery and shipping: Allowed within Kentucky (pick-up or delivery from the home). Selling to other states is not allowed. Home-based microprocessor (farmers market home-based microprocessor): Online and phone orders: Not allowed per UK Extension (online sales need a commercial permit). Delivery and shipping: Not listed. Selling to other states is not allowed.

What must a cottage food label say in Kentucky?

Labels must carry this statement: “This product is home-produced and processed”, in type at least 10 point. Most states also require the product name, ingredients in order of weight, allergens, net weight, and your name and address.

Home and Hearth Baker knows Kentucky’s rules

The program puts Kentucky’s required wording on every label for you, tracks your sales against any yearly limit, and updates for free when the rules change.

Try it free for 30 daysSee what it does

Official sources

  1. KRS 217.136 (current, effective 2026-07-15)
  2. KRS 217.136 (superseded version notice; CHFS page still links here)
  3. SB 73 (2026) bill record
  4. SB 73 (2026) final bill text (KRS 217.015(56) and 217.136 as amended)
  5. HB 468 (2019) original bill text
  6. 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 52 (SB 73) enacted text
  7. 902 KAR 45:090 regulation page
  8. 902 KAR 45:090 text (engrossed)
  9. 902 KAR 45:090 text (PDF)
  10. CHFS Food Safety Branch: Home-Based Processing
  11. CHFS Food Safety Branch home page
  12. CHFS Food Safety Branch: Microprocessing

Nearby states

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