Tennessee cottage food law

Selling home-baked goods in Tennessee

How home bakers in Tennessee can sell what they make: the sales limit, permits, training, where you can sell and the statement your labels must carry.

At a glance

Sales limit: The state sets no yearly sales limit.
License or permit: No state permit or registration is required.
Food safety training: No food safety training is required by the state.
Online orders: Allowed: producer to consumer remotely, 'including, but not limited to, a sale by telephone or internet'.
Label statement: “This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”

About this information. Tennessee’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.

Homemade food items (Tennessee Food Freedom Act)

T.C.A. 53-1-102(20) (definition of homemade food item), 53-1-118 (exemption for production and sale of homemade food items) · Tennessee Food Freedom Act, SB 693 / HB 813 (112th GA), Public Chapter 862 (Acts 2022), signed 2022-04-14; amended by SB 484 / HB 130 (114th GA), Public Chapter 431 (Acts 2025), signed 2025-05-09, effective 2025-07-01

Yearly sales limit

No state limit
No yearly sales limit in T.C.A. 53-1-118.

Permit or registration

Not required by the state

Food safety training

No
None in 53-1-118. UT Extension offers optional training (Food Regulations and Safety, Canning, Starting a Home-based Business).

Where you make it

The producer's private residence: a homemade food item is one produced and, if packaged, packaged at the private residence of the producer (T.C.A. 53-1-102(20)). Rentals, pets, and kitchen setup are not addressed by the statute. Food made in a community, church, restaurant, or commercial kitchen is not covered (UT Extension PB1909: needs a TDA food manufacturing license).

Selling in person

Allowed: producer to consumer in person, or through the producer's agent or a third-party vendor (53-1-118(b)(1)); e.g., from home, farmers markets, roadside stands (UT Extension)

Phone and online orders

Allowed: producer to consumer remotely, 'including, but not limited to, a sale by telephone or internet' (53-1-118(b)(1)(A))

Delivery and shipping

Allowed: by the producer, the producer's agent, a third-party vendor, or a third-party carrier to the consumer (53-1-118(b)(2))

Selling out of state

Stores and wholesale

Allowed through a third-party vendor 'such as a retail shop or grocery store' that sells to the consumer (53-1-118(b)(1)(B)). Not to restaurants, food trucks, or caterers for use in their food (UT Extension, citing the Department of Health).

Examples you can sell

Any homemade food item, including non-alcoholic beverages (53-1-102(20)). For this app: non-time/temperature control for safety (non-TCS, shelf-stable) foods, which may be sold in person, remotely, and through third-party vendors (53-1-118(b)(1)). The statute has no list of allowed foods.

Baked goods without custard, cream filling, or perishable frosting (UT Extension PB1909)
Breads, candies, honey, jams, and pastries (Tennessee House Republican Caucus, 2025)
Candy, chocolate, fudge, hard candy, caramels, brittle, pralines, gummies (UT Extension PB1909)
Dry goods such as pasta, spice blends, rice, roasted coffee (UT Extension PB1909)
Dried fruits and vegetables (UT Extension PB1909)
Properly processed acidified canned foods with pH below 4.6, such as pickles, salsas, relish (UT Extension PB1909)

Not allowed

Sales outside Tennessee (53-1-118(c)(5))
Time/temperature control for safety (refrigerated) foods are outside this app's scope; under the 2025 law they may be sold only in person (53-1-118(b)(3)) and may not include unpasteurized milk, alcoholic beverages, fish, shellfish products, meat, meat byproducts, or meat food products; poultry only under 9 CFR 381.10(c) or (d)
Foods with more than 0.5% alcohol (UT Extension PB1909: regulated by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission)
Meat products such as jerky (UT Extension PB1909; not stated for non-TCS foods in 53-1-118)

The statement your labels must carry

This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.

Common questions about Tennessee’s cottage food law

Can I sell baked goods from home in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee lets home bakers sell food made in their own kitchen as a homemade food items (Tennessee Food Freedom Act). 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 Tennessee?

No state permit or registration is required.

How much can I sell from home in Tennessee?

The state sets no yearly sales limit.

Do I need food safety training in Tennessee?

No food safety training is required by the state.

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

Online and phone orders: Allowed: producer to consumer remotely, 'including, but not limited to, a sale by telephone or internet'. Delivery and shipping: Allowed: by the producer, the producer's agent, a third-party vendor, or a third-party carrier to the consumer. Selling to other states is not allowed.

What must a cottage food label say in Tennessee?

Labels must carry this statement: “This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”. Most states also require the product name, ingredients in order of weight, allergens, net weight, and your name and address.

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