the rhode island cottage food law, in plain english

what you can sell from your home kitchen in rhode island, 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

rhode island: 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 baked goods from your home kitchen in rhode island, but you have to register with the rhode island department of health (ridoh) first. take an approved food safety course, sign a notarized affidavit and pay $65 a year. you can sell breads, cookies, muffins, double crust pies and cakes that don’t need refrigeration, up to $50,000 a year, straight to customers by pickup or in-person delivery anywhere in rhode island. you can’t ship, and you can’t sell wholesale or through stores or restaurants.

rhode island cottage food rules at a glance

rhode island cottage food rules at a glance
the law	rhode island cottage food manufacture law (rhode island general laws, section 21-27-6.2)
who runs it	rhode island department of health (ridoh)
registration	yes cottage food manufacturer registration ($65 a year). renewed every year
kitchen inspection	limitedsometimes
training	yesa food safety manager course, an ansi-approved food handler course, or another course ridoh approves, before you first register
yearly sales cap	$50,000 a year
selling from your home	yescustomers can pick up at your home.
selling at farmers markets and events	unclearthe law allows direct sales by pickup or delivery and doesn’t ban markets or events, but it doesn’t mention them either. ask ridoh and the market.
selling online orders	yesyou can take orders online, by mail or by phone, but each order has to be handed over in person.
selling delivering it yourself	yesyou or someone you designate must deliver in person, inside rhode island.
selling shipping within the state	noorders must be delivered in person.
selling shipping to other states	no
selling to stores, cafes and restaurants	nono wholesale or consignment, and no sales at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, daycares, group homes or long-term care facilities.

what can you sell from home in rhode island?

you can sell

double crust pies
yeast breads
biscuits and muffins
brownies and cookies
cakes that don’t need refrigeration

you can’t sell

cheesecake
cream and custard pies
cakes or pastries with fillings or frostings that need refrigeration
foods that aren’t baked goods, like jams or candy, unless ridoh approves them
meat pies and other foods that need refrigeration

these are examples, not the full list. check the rhode island department of health (ridoh) before you sell something new.

how do you start a cottage food business in rhode island?

register: a cottage food manufacturer registration from the rhode island department of health (ridoh). it costs $65 a year. you renew it every year.
get your kitchen inspected if the agency asks.
take the training: a food safety manager course, an ansi-approved food handler course, or another course ridoh approves, before you first register.
label everything the way the law asks (below).
start selling in the ways rhode island allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.

where and how can you sell in rhode island?

from your home	yescustomers can pick up at your home.
at farmers markets and events	unclearthe law allows direct sales by pickup or delivery and doesn’t ban markets or events, but it doesn’t mention them either. ask ridoh and the market.
online orders	yesyou can take orders online, by mail or by phone, but each order has to be handed over in person.
delivering it yourself	yesyou or someone you designate must deliver in person, inside rhode island.
shipping within the state	noorders must be delivered in person.
shipping to other states	no
to stores, cafes and restaurants	nono wholesale or consignment, and no sales at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, daycares, group homes or long-term care facilities.

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 rhode island?

“Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection”
the statement rhode island requires on your label

the label also needs:

your name, address and phone number
ingredients, in order by weight or volume
allergens, like milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy
the statement in at least 10-point type, in a color that stands out from the label

what’s changed in rhode island, and what’s coming?

when	what
2022	rhode island created its cottage food law (in effect june 27, 2022). ridoh started issuing registrations on november 1, 2022

what else should you know in rhode island?

the law sets kitchen rules: a two-compartment sink (or a dishwasher that reaches 150 degrees plus a sink), smooth nonabsorbent counters, and self-closing doors on any bathroom that opens into the kitchen.
keep pets out of the kitchen, don’t cook family meals or do laundry while you bake for sale, test a private well once a year, and keep your certificate, affidavit and recipes in the kitchen. ridoh can inspect at any time.
the law says your sales are subject to any sales tax that applies, so check with the rhode island division of taxation.
if you run a farm, a separate farm home food manufacture registration ($65 a year) covers jams and jellies made with local fruit, maple syrup, candy and fudge, sold at farmers markets, farmstands and farm stores.

questions people ask

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

yes. you need a cottage food manufacturer registration from the rhode island department of health (ridoh). it costs $65 a year.

can i sell cottage food online in rhode island?

yes. you can take orders online, by mail or by phone, but each order has to be handed over in person.

can i ship cottage food in rhode island?

not within rhode island: orders must be delivered in person. shipping to other states isn’t allowed either.

how much can i sell from home in rhode island?

up to $50,000 a year.

can i sell to stores or coffee shops in rhode island?

no. no wholesale or consignment, and no sales at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, daycares, group homes or long-term care facilities.

what can’t i sell from home in rhode island?

the usual no’s: cheesecake, cream and custard pies, cakes or pastries with fillings or frostings that need refrigeration, foods that aren’t baked goods, like jams or candy, unless ridoh approves them, meat pies and other foods that need refrigeration. check with the rhode island department of health (ridoh) before you sell something new.

sources

this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against rhode island’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the rhode island department of health (ridoh) (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