Home and Hearth BakerCottage food business
Md. Code, Health-General 21-301(b-1), (b-2), 21-330.1; COMAR 10.15.03.27 · HB 399 / SB 550 (2012, Ch. 256); amended SB 290 (2019, retail food stores); HB 178 (2022, Ch. 406, cap $25,000 to $50,000, eff. 2022-10-01); HB 535 (2026, Ch. 320, cap $50,000 to $100,000, eff. 2026-10-01)
Yearly sales limit
$100,000
Annual revenues from the sale of cottage food products may not exceed $100,000 (Health-General 21-301(b-1)(3) as amended by HB 535, Ch. 320 of 2026, effective 2026-10-01). Before 2026-10-01 the cap was $50,000; MDH guidance (11/2025) still shows $50,000. No inflation adjustment.
Annual revenues from the sale of cottage food products may not exceed $100,000 (Health-General 21-301(b-1)(3) as amended by HB 535, Ch. 320 of 2026, effective 2026-10-01). Before 2026-10-01 the cap was $50,000; MDH guidance (11/2025) still shows $50,000. No inflation adjustment.
Permit or registration
No license or registration to sell directly to consumers (Health-General 21-330.1(b)). A unique ID number is optional, on request. Selling to retail food stores needs MDH review and written approval first (21-330.1(g); COMAR 10.15.03.27C(6)-(7)).
Optional unique ID number; MDH approval for retail food store sales
Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection
Fee: No fee for review (MDH guidance 11/2025)
Official page
Optional unique ID number; MDH approval for retail food store sales
Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection
Fee: No fee for review (MDH guidance 11/2025)
Official page
Food safety training
Only to sell to retail food stores: a basic food safety course approved by MDH and accredited by ANSI, completed within the past 3 years, covering food safety, cleaning and sanitizing, personal hygiene, pest control, and receiving, storing, preparing and serving food (21-330.1(g); COMAR 10.15.03.27C(6); MDH)
ANSI-accredited food safety course approved by MDH (retail store sales only)
ANSI-accredited food safety course approved by MDH (retail store sales only)
Where you make it
A residential kitchen in Maryland (Health-General 21-301(b-1); COMAR 10.15.03.27A(1), C(1)(a): 'private home kitchen' / 'residential kitchen'). Products must be stored on the premises of the cottage food business (21-330.1(c)(1)). Rules on pets or primary residence: not addressed.
Selling in person
Allowed in Maryland: directly to consumers from the residence, at farmers markets, at public events (Health-General 21-301(b-2)); COMAR 10.15.03.27A(2) also lists bake sales. MDH: bake sales only as part of a fundraising event; setting up to sell for your own profit (e.g. in front of a shop or apartment building) is not allowed (MDH FAQ Q43). Contact the local health department before selling at markets or events (MDH).
Phone and online orders
Online sales allowed only to buyers in Maryland: 'You may advertise your cottage food products online but sales are restricted to Maryland only.' (MDH FAQ Q39, 11/2025). The statute and COMAR do not mention online or phone orders; phone orders are not addressed.
Delivery and shipping
Allowed in Maryland: 'by personal delivery' (Health-General 21-301(b-2))
Selling out of state
No
Stores and wholesale
Allowed to licensed Maryland retail food stores (grocery stores, convenience stores, retail markets, retail bakeries, food cooperatives) only after submitting the label and food safety course proof to MDH (21-330.1(g)) and getting MDH's written approval, a 'compliance letter' (COMAR 10.15.03.27C(6)-(7); MDH FAQ Q4, Q41). Not to restaurants, coffee shops, cafeterias, or other food service places (MDH).
Examples you can sell
Nonhazardous / non-potentially hazardous foods only (Health-General 21-301(b-2); COMAR 10.15.03.27B): acid fruit jams, jellies, preserves and butters from listed fruits, non-potentially hazardous baked goods, non-potentially hazardous candy
- Breads, biscuits, bagels, brownies, cookies, muffins, pastries, tortillas, granola bars (MDH guidance, App. A)
- Cakes and cupcakes without perishable icings or fillings (MDH)
- Fruit pies and turnovers made from allowed fruits (MDH)
- Hot-filled jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters from fruits with natural pH 4.6 or below (COMAR 10.15.03.27B(1)-(3); MDH)
- Fruit leathers (MDH)
- Hard candy, brittles, gummy candy, lollipops, toffee, marshmallows with non-potentially hazardous ingredients (MDH)
- Chocolate-covered items with fillings from commercial, non-potentially hazardous sources (MDH)
- Whole roasted unflavored coffee beans (MDH)
- Repackaged seasoning, spice, and tea blends (MDH)
- Popcorn, kettle corn, nuts, cereal, granola, trail mixes (MDH)
Not allowed
- Potentially hazardous foods (need time/temperature control)
- Perishable baked goods: cheesecakes, cream or custard pies, meringue items, pumpkin and sweet potato pies, macarons, waffles (MDH, App. B)
- Baked goods with perishable icings or fillings such as buttercream, cream cheese, royal icing (MDH)
- Acidified or pickled foods: salsa, pickles, pepper jelly, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard (MDH)
- Low-acid canned foods; fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut (MDH)
- Dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish (MDH)
- Beverages of any kind, including syrups and extracts (MDH)
- Raw dough, no-bake energy balls, homemade nut or seed butters, raw seed sprouts (MDH)
- Fresh-cut fruits or vegetables, dehydrated produce, fresh pasta (MDH)
- Homemade soft candies such as caramels and fudge; sugar-free preserves (MDH)
The statement your labels must carry
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland’s food safety regulations.
In type at least 10 point.