warebythe arkansas food freedom law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in arkansas, 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 homemade food from your home kitchen in arkansas, with no permit, training, inspection or sales cap. under the food freedom act you can sell shelf-stable foods in person, by phone or online, deliver or ship them inside arkansas, and even sell through local stores. label everything with the required statement and your contact details. foods that need refrigeration, like cheesecake or cream pies, and anything with meat aren’t allowed.
arkansas cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | arkansas food freedom act (arkansas code, sections 20-57-501 to 20-57-507 (act 1040 of 2021)) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | arkansas department of health (adh) |
| registration | no no state registration |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | no |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yesyou can sell from a retail space at your home, farm or office |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets, roadside stands, fairs and festivals |
| selling online orders | yesyour website must show all the label information |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesyou, your agent, a store selling for you, or a carrier |
| selling shipping within the state | yesby mail or parcel carrier |
| selling shipping to other states | limitedthe law allows it only if you follow federal law and the other state’s rules; adh says to check with the fda and that state first |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | limitedstores can resell to end customers if they keep it apart from inspected food; restaurants can’t use or sell it |
what can you sell from home in arkansas?
you can sell
- breads, cookies, cakes and fruit pies
- candy, fudge and chocolate-covered nuts or pretzels
- jams, jellies and fruit butters
- pickles and salsa with a ph of 4.6 or lower
- dried herbs, granola and baking mixes
- roasted coffee beans and dry tea
- honey
- buttercream, fondant and royal icing
you can’t sell
- meat, poultry and seafood, including jerky
- cheesecake, cream pies and pumpkin pie
- milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products
- cream cheese frosting
- low-acid canned foods like green beans
- nut butters
- garlic in oil
these are examples, not the full list. check the arkansas department of health (adh) before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in arkansas?
- no state registration. arkansas doesn’t ask cottage food sellers to register with the state. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways arkansas allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in arkansas?
| from your home | yesyou can sell from a retail space at your home, farm or office |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets, roadside stands, fairs and festivals |
| online orders | yesyour website must show all the label information |
| delivering it yourself | yesyou, your agent, a store selling for you, or a carrier |
| shipping within the state | yesby mail or parcel carrier |
| shipping to other states | limitedthe law allows it only if you follow federal law and the other state’s rules; adh says to check with the fda and that state first |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | limitedstores can resell to end customers if they keep it apart from inspected food; restaurants can’t use or sell it |
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 arkansas?
“This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”
the statement arkansas requires on your label
the label also needs:
- the date it was made
- your name, address and phone number, or an id number from the arkansas department of agriculture
- the food’s common name
- ingredients, in order by weight
- a batch number for pickles and other acidified foods
what’s changed in arkansas, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| july 28, 2021 | the food freedom act replaced the cottage food law: no cap or permit, online and phone sales, shipping, and sales through stores |
what else should you know in arkansas?
- if you’d rather not print your home address, ask the arkansas department of agriculture for an id number to use instead.
- for pickles, salsa and other acidified foods, use an approved recipe or a lab-tested one, or check each batch with a calibrated ph meter, and keep batch records.
- jams and jellies made with reduced sugar or sugar substitutes aren’t allowed.
- cities and counties can’t ban or regulate food freedom sales, but tax laws still apply.
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in arkansas?
no state registration is needed for cottage food in arkansas. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
can i sell cottage food online in arkansas?
yes. your website must show all the label information.
can i ship cottage food in arkansas?
yes, within arkansas: by mail or parcel carrier. shipping to other states is limited. the law allows it only if you follow federal law and the other state’s rules; adh says to check with the fda and that state first.
how much can i sell from home in arkansas?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in arkansas?
with limits: stores can resell to end customers if they keep it apart from inspected food; restaurants can’t use or sell it.
what can’t i sell from home in arkansas?
the usual no’s: meat, poultry and seafood, including jerky, cheesecake, cream pies and pumpkin pie, milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products, cream cheese frosting, low-acid canned foods like green beans. check with the arkansas department of health (adh) before you sell something new.
sources
- arkansas legislature: act 1040 of 2021 (food freedom act)
- arkansas department of health: homemade food production guidelines (may 21, 2026)
- arkansas legislature: act 698 of 2025 (raw milk, cited in adh’s guide)
- arkansas department of agriculture: food freedom act id number request
- university of arkansas extension: arkansas food freedom act
- forrager: arkansas cottage food law
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against arkansas’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the arkansas department of health (adh) (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