the connecticut cottage food law, in plain english

what you can sell from your home kitchen in connecticut, 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.

by tommy + omarchecked october 14, 2026

connecticut: register first, a $50,000 sales cap, sell online, no shipping within the state. tap any state to see its rules.

on this page

1at a glance 2what you can sell 3how to start 4where you can sell 5labels 6what’s changed 7good to know 8questions 9sources

the short answer

yes, you can sell food from your home kitchen in connecticut, but you need a cottage food operator license from the department of consumer protection (dcp) first. take an approved food safety course, get your town’s zoning ok, and apply online: the fee is $50, and the license renews every year. you can sell up to $50,000 a year straight to customers: from home, at farmers markets and fairs, or by taking orders online, as long as you or someone you designate hands each order over in person in connecticut. shipping isn’t allowed, and neither are foods that need the fridge, like cheesecake or buttercream and cream cheese frostings.

connecticut cottage food rules at a glance

connecticut cottage food rules at a glance
the law	connecticut cottage food law (connecticut general statutes, sections 21a-62b to 21a-62h)
who runs it	connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp)
registration	yes cottage food operator license ($50). renewed every year
kitchen inspection	limitedsometimes
training	yesa dcp-approved food safety course, finished before you apply
yearly sales cap	$50,000 a year
selling from your home	yes
selling at farmers markets and events	yesfarmers markets, fairs, festivals and charity events; show your license where you sell
selling online orders	yesyou can take orders online, but every order is handed over in person
selling delivering it yourself	yesyou or your designee, in person, inside connecticut; no delivery apps
selling shipping within the state	nono mail, ups, fedex or other carriers
selling shipping to other states	noevery sale has to happen in connecticut
selling to stores, cafes and restaurants	nono stores, restaurants, schools, day cares or consignment

what can you sell from home in connecticut?

you can sell

plain breads, rolls and biscuits
cakes, including birthday cakes (not cheesecake)
cookies, brownies and pastries
fruit pies (not pumpkin)
candy, fudge and chocolates
jams and jellies
granola, trail mix and nuts
dry herbs, seasonings, tea and coffee

you can’t sell

buttercream, whipped cream or cream cheese frosting
cheesecake and pumpkin pie
salsa, hot sauce and pickled vegetables
drinks and syrups
ice cream
dried meat or poultry
chocolate or candy covered fruit

these are examples, not the full list. check the connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp) before you sell something new.

how do you start a cottage food business in connecticut?

register: a cottage food operator license from the connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp). it costs $50. you renew it every year. start here.
get your kitchen inspected if the agency asks.
take the training: a dcp-approved food safety course, finished before you apply.
label everything the way the law asks (below).
start selling in the ways connecticut allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.

where and how can you sell in connecticut?

from your home	yes
at farmers markets and events	yesfarmers markets, fairs, festivals and charity events; show your license where you sell
online orders	yesyou can take orders online, but every order is handed over in person
delivering it yourself	yesyou or your designee, in person, inside connecticut; no delivery apps
shipping within the state	nono mail, ups, fedex or other carriers
shipping to other states	noevery sale has to happen in connecticut
to stores, cafes and restaurants	nono stores, restaurants, schools, day cares 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 connecticut?

“Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.”
the statement connecticut requires on your label

the label also needs:

your business name and address
product name
ingredients, in order by weight
allergens
net weight or volume
the statement in at least 10-point type

what’s changed in connecticut, and what’s coming?

when	what
october 1, 2022	the sales cap went from $25,000 to $50,000 a year
2019	honey and maple syrup were taken out of the cottage food law (they have their own rules)

what else should you know in connecticut?

check with your town first: you need zoning approval, and some towns ask for a special zoning permit.
each product has to be approved on your license, and you need to keep records of all your sales.
if you use a private well, you need a water test from within the last year before you apply.
some farmers markets may still ask for a food establishment license, even if you have a cottage food license.

questions people ask

do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in connecticut?

yes. you need a cottage food operator license from the connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp). it costs $50.

can i sell cottage food online in connecticut?

yes. you can take orders online, but every order is handed over in person.

can i ship cottage food in connecticut?

not within connecticut: no mail, ups, fedex or other carriers. shipping to other states isn’t allowed either.

how much can i sell from home in connecticut?

up to $50,000 a year.

can i sell to stores or coffee shops in connecticut?

no. no stores, restaurants, schools, day cares or consignment.

what can’t i sell from home in connecticut?

the usual no’s: buttercream, whipped cream or cream cheese frosting, cheesecake and pumpkin pie, salsa, hot sauce and pickled vegetables, drinks and syrups, ice cream. check with the connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp) before you sell something new.

sources

this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against connecticut’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the connecticut department of consumer protection (dcp) (and your city or county) before you sell. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com.

written by tommy + omar

we sold cinnamon rolls from home as minnesota cottage food producers before we opened a licensed kitchen and built wareby. our story