warebythe alabama cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in alabama, who you register with, where you can sell, and what the label has to say. checked against the state’s own pages on october 14, 2026.
on this page
1at a glance2what you can sell3how to start4where you can sell5labels6what’s changed7good to know8questions9sourcesyes, you can sell food from your home kitchen in alabama, and there’s no sales cap. take a food safety course approved by the alabama department of public health (adph), then send a cottage food review form, your certificate and a sample label to your county health department: they review your paperwork but don’t inspect your kitchen. you can sell in person, by phone or online to people in alabama, and deliver yourself, through an agent or by mail inside the state. foods that need refrigeration, like cheesecake or custard pies, and anything with meat aren’t allowed.
alabama cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | alabama cottage food law (code of alabama, section 22-20-5.1 (as amended by act 2021-461)) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department |
| registration | yes cottage food review form, filed with your county health department (set by your county) |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | yesa food safety course approved by adph, like alabama extension’s cottage food course or any ansi accredited course; keep your certificate current |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yesmarkets, fairs, booths, tents and carts are fine if you sell straight to the customer |
| selling online orders | yesonline or by phone, to buyers in alabama |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesyou or your agent can deliver, inside alabama |
| selling shipping within the state | yesyou can mail orders to buyers in alabama |
| selling shipping to other states | nosales and delivery must stay in alabama |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | nono restaurants, stores or consignment |
what can you sell from home in alabama?
you can sell
- cakes, cookies, breads and fruit pies
- donuts, danishes and other pastries
- candy
- jams, jellies and fruit preserves
- dried herbs, fruits and vegetables
- roasted coffee
- dried baking mixes
- pickles and other fermented foods, once the ph is verified
you can’t sell
- cheesecake, custard pies and cakes with whipped topping
- raw cookie dough
- meat, poultry and fish
- cheese and other milk products
- garlic in oil
- kombucha
these are examples, not the full list. check the alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in alabama?
- register: a cottage food review form, filed with your county health department from the alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department. it costs set by your county. start here.
- take the training: a food safety course approved by adph, like alabama extension’s cottage food course or any ansi accredited course; keep your certificate current.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways alabama allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in alabama?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yesmarkets, fairs, booths, tents and carts are fine if you sell straight to the customer |
| online orders | yesonline or by phone, to buyers in alabama |
| delivering it yourself | yesyou or your agent can deliver, inside alabama |
| shipping within the state | yesyou can mail orders to buyers in alabama |
| shipping to other states | nosales and delivery must stay in alabama |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | nono restaurants, stores or consignment |
on wareby, food is always pickup or delivery by the shop, never a courier and never shipped, which fits the rules in every state. how to sell food online from home.
what goes on a cottage food label in alabama?
“Products are not inspected by the Health Department”
the statement alabama requires on your label
the label also needs:
- the food’s common name
- your name or business name
- your home or p.o. box address
- ingredients, in order by weight
- a statement that the food may contain allergens
- everything in at least 10-point type
what’s changed in alabama, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| august 1, 2021 | the $20,000 sales cap was removed, phone and online sales were allowed, and you can now deliver in person, through an agent or by mail inside alabama |
what else should you know in alabama?
- pickles, salsa and other fermented or acidified foods need ph results from a processing authority or alabama extension before you sell them, and freeze-dried foods need a water activity test.
- a qr code can’t replace your address or ingredient list on the label.
- your city or county may require a business license; the county health department can give you written confirmation of your review to help with that.
- state-sanctioned farmers markets have their own rules through alabama’s farmers market authority, so check with the market too.
- pet treats: the cottage food law doesn’t cover pet treats
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in alabama?
yes. you need a cottage food review form, filed with your county health department from the alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department. it costs set by your county.
can i sell cottage food online in alabama?
yes. online or by phone, to buyers in alabama.
can i ship cottage food in alabama?
yes, within alabama: you can mail orders to buyers in alabama. you can’t ship to other states. sales and delivery must stay in alabama.
how much can i sell from home in alabama?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in alabama?
no. no restaurants, stores or consignment.
what can’t i sell from home in alabama?
the usual no’s: cheesecake, custard pies and cakes with whipped topping, raw cookie dough, meat, poultry and fish, cheese and other milk products, garlic in oil. check with the alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department before you sell something new.
sources
- alabama department of public health: cottage food
- adph: review form for cottage foods producer (rev. 6/7/24)
- alabama legislature: sb 160, enrolled (act 2021-461)
- code of alabama, section 22-20-5.1
- jefferson county department of health: cottage food vendors
- alabama cooperative extension system: alabama cottage food law
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against alabama’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the alabama department of public health (adph), through your county health department (and your city or county) before you sell. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com.
we sold cinnamon rolls from home as minnesota cottage food producers before we opened a licensed kitchen and built wareby. our story