warebythe hawaii cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in hawaii, 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, hawaii lets you sell homemade food without a permit, as long as it’s shelf-stable, or a plant-based pickle, ferment or acidified food within the ph or water activity limits. you do need a food safety course (the department of health runs free classes), and everything has to be packaged and labeled. since august 24, 2025 you can sell in person, online, or through shops and restaurants, and you can deliver, mail or ship orders. there’s no sales cap, but dried meats, seafood and foods that need the fridge, like cream-filled pastries, aren’t allowed.
hawaii cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | hawaii homemade food rules (hawaii administrative rules, section 11-50-3(c) (homemade food products), as required by act 195, session laws of hawaii 2024) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | hawaii department of health, food safety branch |
| registration | no no state registration |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | yesa food safety course from the department of health (it runs free classes) or an approved ansi course |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yessome markets and events ask for a special event permit |
| selling online orders | yes |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesyou, your agent, or a shop or other third-party seller |
| selling shipping within the state | yesby mail or shipping |
| selling shipping to other states | unclearthe rules allow mail and shipping and don’t say in-state only; ask the department of health first |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | yesto permitted food businesses; restaurants have to tell customers it’s homemade |
what can you sell from home in hawaii?
you can sell
- breads, cookies and cakes without cream or custard fillings
- jams and jellies
- granola
- pickles, kimchi and other plant-based ferments with a ph of 4.2 or less
- salsa, if you keep it at 41°f or colder
- juice sold directly to the customer
you can’t sell
- jerky and other dried meats
- seafood, including dried fish like dried aku
- pickled or dried melon
- custard or cream-filled baked goods
- other foods that need refrigeration
these are examples, not the full list. check the hawaii department of health, food safety branch before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in hawaii?
- no state registration. hawaii 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.
- take the training: a food safety course from the department of health (it runs free classes) or an approved ansi course.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways hawaii allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in hawaii?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yessome markets and events ask for a special event permit |
| online orders | yes |
| delivering it yourself | yesyou, your agent, or a shop or other third-party seller |
| shipping within the state | yesby mail or shipping |
| shipping to other states | unclearthe rules allow mail and shipping and don’t say in-state only; ask the department of health first |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | yesto permitted food businesses; restaurants have to tell customers it’s homemade |
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 hawaii?
“Made in a home kitchen not routinely inspected by the Department of Health”
the statement hawaii requires on your label
the label also needs:
- product name
- ingredients, in order by weight
- major allergens
- your name and contact info
what’s changed in hawaii, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| once the department of health adopts rules (no date yet) | farm kitchens on agricultural land will be treated like home kitchens (act 110, signed june 8, 2026) (coming) |
| august 24, 2025 | new rules let you sell through shops and restaurants, online, and by mail or shipping, and added plant-based pickled, fermented and acidified foods |
what else should you know in hawaii?
- pickles and ferments must test at ph 4.2 or below, or water activity below 0.88, and making sure they do is on you.
- salsa and other foods with cut tomatoes are allowed only if you keep them at 41°f or colder.
- if a farmers market asks for a special event permit, the department of health can review and sign off on it.
- you need a general excise tax license from the hawaii department of taxation, a one-time $20 fee.
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in hawaii?
no state registration is needed for cottage food in hawaii. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
can i sell cottage food online in hawaii?
yes. you can take orders and payment online.
can i ship cottage food in hawaii?
yes, within hawaii: by mail or shipping.
how much can i sell from home in hawaii?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in hawaii?
yes. to permitted food businesses; restaurants have to tell customers it’s homemade.
what can’t i sell from home in hawaii?
the usual no’s: jerky and other dried meats, seafood, including dried fish like dried aku, pickled or dried melon, custard or cream-filled baked goods, other foods that need refrigeration. check with the hawaii department of health, food safety branch before you sell something new.
sources
- hawaii administrative rules, chapter 11-50, food safety code (effective august 24, 2025)
- hawaii department of health: homemade food products guide (september 4, 2026)
- hawaii department of health, food safety branch: food information
- hawaii department of health: news release, doh adopts updates to food safety code (august 25, 2025)
- hawaii department of health: highlights of approved amendments to har 11-50
- hawaii legislature: hb 2144 cd1 (2024), act 195
- hawaii legislature: sb 3302 cd1 (2026), farm kitchens
- governor’s message 1210: sb 3302 signed as act 110 (june 8, 2026)
- hawaii department of taxation: general excise tax
- forrager: hawaii cottage food law
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against hawaii’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the hawaii department of health, food safety branch (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