warebythe georgia cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in georgia, 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, and since july 1, 2025 it’s simpler: georgia no longer requires a cottage food license, fee or kitchen inspection. you can make shelf-stable foods at home and sell them in person, online or by mail order, and you can also sell to grocery stores, restaurants and other shops, unless your city or county has opted out of that. there’s no sales cap. foods that need the fridge, like cheesecake or cream-filled pastries, aren’t allowed, and every sale needs the required statement and your contact info.
georgia cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | georgia cottage food law (hb 398) (official code of georgia annotated, sections 26-2-470 to 26-2-478 (hb 398, 2025)) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | georgia department of agriculture (gda), retail food section |
| registration | no no state registration |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | no |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yes |
| selling online orders | yesput the required info on the web page where you sell |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesyou, an agent or a delivery company; cities and counties can’t ban delivery companies |
| selling shipping within the state | yesmail order is allowed |
| selling shipping to other states | yesgeorgia doesn’t limit you to in-state buyers, but federal law and the other state’s rules still apply |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | yesto grocery stores, restaurants and other shops, unless your city or county has opted out |
what can you sell from home in georgia?
you can sell
- breads, rolls, biscuits and cakes
- cookies, candy and fudge
- jams, jellies and preserves
- dill pickles
- granola, trail mix and nuts
- dry pasta, dry soup mixes and roasted coffee beans
- popcorn and cotton candy
- drinks that don’t need refrigeration (no alcohol)
you can’t sell
- cheesecake and other foods that need refrigeration
- cakes or pastries with fillings that need the fridge
- alcoholic drinks
- anything with cannabis
- raw milk
- low-sugar fruit butters
- pet treats (they need a feed license)
these are examples, not the full list. check the georgia department of agriculture (gda), retail food section before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in georgia?
- no state registration. georgia 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 georgia allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in georgia?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yes |
| online orders | yesput the required info on the web page where you sell |
| delivering it yourself | yesyou, an agent or a delivery company; cities and counties can’t ban delivery companies |
| shipping within the state | yesmail order is allowed |
| shipping to other states | yesgeorgia doesn’t limit you to in-state buyers, but federal law and the other state’s rules still apply |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | yesto grocery stores, restaurants and other shops, unless your city or county has opted out |
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 georgia?
“This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state inspection. This product may contain allergens.”
the statement georgia requires on your label
the label also needs:
- your business name and phone number
- your address, or a gda id number instead
- allergens
- the statement in at least 10-point type
- on the package, a sign where you sell, or the web page if you sell online
what’s changed in georgia, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| july 1, 2025 | hb 398 dropped the cottage food license, the $100 yearly fee and the kitchen inspection, allowed sales to stores and restaurants, online and by mail order, and let you use a gda id number instead of your address |
what else should you know in georgia?
- your city or county can pass an ordinance banning cottage food sales through stores and restaurants in its area, so check before you sell wholesale.
- stores that sell your food have to keep it in a separate, labeled section or case and post a sign saying it isn’t state inspected.
- to keep your home address off your labels, ask the gda for an id number using its registration form.
- local business licenses and zoning rules still apply, and the gda still checks out complaints and illness reports.
- pet treats: pet treats aren’t cottage food in georgia: you need a feed license from the gda’s agricultural inputs program.
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in georgia?
no state registration is needed for cottage food in georgia. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
can i sell cottage food online in georgia?
yes. put the required info on the web page where you sell.
can i ship cottage food in georgia?
yes, within georgia: mail order is allowed. you can ship to other states too.
how much can i sell from home in georgia?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in georgia?
yes. to grocery stores, restaurants and other shops, unless your city or county has opted out.
what can’t i sell from home in georgia?
the usual no’s: cheesecake and other foods that need refrigeration, cakes or pastries with fillings that need the fridge, alcoholic drinks, anything with cannabis, raw milk. check with the georgia department of agriculture (gda), retail food section before you sell something new.
sources
- georgia department of agriculture: cottage food
- gda: cottage food update, hb 398 frequently asked questions
- hb 398 (2025), as passed, posted by the gda
- georgia general assembly: hb 398 (2025)
- gda: identification number registration form
- georgia rules, chapter 40-7-19 (cottage food regulations, not yet updated for hb 398)
- gda: legal notices (no new cottage food rule notice found as of october 2026)
- forrager: georgia hb 398
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against georgia’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the georgia department of agriculture (gda), retail food section (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