warebythe arizona cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in arizona, 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 arizona. take an accredited food handler course, then register for free with the arizona department of health services (adhs) and renew every three years: there’s no home inspection and no sales cap. you can sell shelf-stable foods in person, online, by delivery or shipping inside arizona, and through stores, but perishable foods like tamales or cheesecake must go straight from you or your employee to the customer. label every package with the state’s required statement, and leave out fish, shellfish and raw milk.
arizona cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | arizona cottage food law (arizona revised statutes, sections 36-931 to 36-933 and 36-136(i)(4)(g); arizona administrative code r9-8-101.02) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program |
| registration | yes cottage food program registration (free). renewed every 3 years |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | yesan accredited (ansi) food handler course before you register, kept active; a food manager certificate also works |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets and events; display your registration certificate |
| selling online orders | yesarizona addresses only; each listing must show your label information |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesshelf-stable foods: you, an agent, a store or a carrier; perishable foods and foods with meat or dairy: only you or your employee, in person, no delivery apps |
| selling shipping within the state | limitedshelf-stable foods only; perishable foods and meat can’t be shipped |
| selling shipping to other states | nosales and delivery must stay in arizona |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | limitedstores can sell your shelf-stable foods on a separate shelf with a sign; perishable foods can’t go through stores, and restaurants can’t use cottage foods as ingredients |
what can you sell from home in arizona?
you can sell
- cookies, cakes, breads and pies
- cheesecake and cream cheese frosting
- tamales and burritos made with usda-inspected meat
- salsa, pickles and fermented foods
- jams, jellies and fruit butters
- freeze-dried candy and fudge
- roasted coffee, tea and dry spice blends
- kombucha and agua fresca
you can’t sell
- fish and shellfish
- raw milk
- alcoholic drinks
- marijuana or cbd
- kava and dietary supplements
- home-raised eggs (the arizona department of agriculture regulates them)
- foraged wild plants
these are examples, not the full list. check the arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in arizona?
- register: a cottage food program registration from the arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program. it’s free. you renew it every 3 years. start here.
- take the training: an accredited (ansi) food handler course before you register, kept active; a food manager certificate also works.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways arizona allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in arizona?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets and events; display your registration certificate |
| online orders | yesarizona addresses only; each listing must show your label information |
| delivering it yourself | yesshelf-stable foods: you, an agent, a store or a carrier; perishable foods and foods with meat or dairy: only you or your employee, in person, no delivery apps |
| shipping within the state | limitedshelf-stable foods only; perishable foods and meat can’t be shipped |
| shipping to other states | nosales and delivery must stay in arizona |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | limitedstores can sell your shelf-stable foods on a separate shelf with a sign; perishable foods can’t go through stores, and restaurants can’t use cottage foods as ingredients |
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 arizona?
“This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection.”
the statement arizona requires on your label
the label also needs:
- your name and registration number
- all ingredients, including those in components
- the production date
- the adhs web address, azdhs.gov/cottagefood
- a note if it was made in a facility for people with developmental disabilities
what’s changed in arizona, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| february 4, 2025 | new adhs cottage food rules took effect for all registrants, with registration renewed every three years |
| september 14, 2024 | hb 2042 (the “tamale bill”) opened the program to perishable foods and foods with inspected meat or poultry, not just baked goods and candy |
what else should you know in arizona?
- everything must be made, packaged and labeled in your own home kitchen, and you can’t store products or equipment outside your home.
- perishable foods can be transported only once, for no more than two hours, kept at a safe temperature.
- email adhs for approval before you add new products to your menu.
- food for home consumption is exempt from state sales tax, but some cities tax food sales.
- pet treats: pet treats aren’t covered; the arizona department of agriculture regulates them
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in arizona?
yes. you need a cottage food program registration from the arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program. it’s free.
can i sell cottage food online in arizona?
yes. arizona addresses only; each listing must show your label information.
can i ship cottage food in arizona?
within arizona, with limits: shelf-stable foods only; perishable foods and meat can’t be shipped. you can’t ship to other states. sales and delivery must stay in arizona.
how much can i sell from home in arizona?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in arizona?
with limits: stores can sell your shelf-stable foods on a separate shelf with a sign; perishable foods can’t go through stores, and restaurants can’t use cottage foods as ingredients.
what can’t i sell from home in arizona?
the usual no’s: fish and shellfish, raw milk, alcoholic drinks, marijuana or cbd, kava and dietary supplements. check with the arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program before you sell something new.
sources
- arizona department of health services: cottage food program
- adhs: cottage food faqs
- adhs: approved foods
- adhs: labeling requirements
- arizona revised statutes 36-931 (definitions)
- arizona revised statutes 36-932 (labeling, training, sale and delivery)
- arizona revised statutes 36-933 (rules and enforcement)
- adhs: rule r9-8-101.02, cottage food
- adhs: cottage food registration guidance
- cornell lii: ariz. admin. code r9-8-101.02
- arizona capitol times: hobbs orders adhs to implement tamale bill
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against arizona’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the arizona department of health services (adhs), cottage food program (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