warebythe vermont cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in vermont, 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 shelf-stable foods from your home kitchen in vermont without a license if your cottage food sales are $30,000 a year or less. take the vermont department of health’s online training and file a free license exemption each year by january 15, then label everything with the required statement. foods that need refrigeration, like cheesecake, aren’t allowed, and you can’t sell to restaurants or other licensed food businesses. if your baked goods sales go past $30,000, you’ll need a home bakery license, which costs $100 a year and includes an inspection.
vermont cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | vermont cottage food operator exemption (act 42) (vermont statutes, title 18, sections 4301 and 4358) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | vermont department of health, food and lodging program |
| registration | yes license exemption filing (cottage food operator) (free). renewed every year, by january 15 |
| kitchen inspection | limitedsometimes |
| training | yesthe health department’s online training for license exempt food processors and cottage food operators, every year |
| yearly sales cap | $30,000 a year |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yes |
| selling online orders | yesthe state doesn’t limit how you take orders |
| selling delivering it yourself | yes |
| selling shipping within the state | yesthe state’s rules don’t limit shipping within vermont |
| selling shipping to other states | unclearthe health department says federal rules and the other state’s laws apply |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | nonot to restaurants or other licensed food businesses |
what can you sell from home in vermont?
you can sell
- bread, cookies and other baked goods that don’t need refrigeration
- candy
- jams and jellies
- granola, trail mix and cereal
- dry herbs, dry tea and coffee beans
- popcorn, mixed nuts and flavored vinegar
- home-canned pickles and fruits made from approved recipes
you can’t sell
- cheesecake, quiche and cheese danish
- foods that need refrigeration
- meat, including jerky
- dehydrated fruits and vegetables
- prepared meals, which need a home caterer license
these are examples, not the full list. check the vermont department of health, food and lodging program before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in vermont?
- register: a license exemption filing (cottage food operator) from the vermont department of health, food and lodging program. it’s free. you renew it every year, by january 15. start here.
- get your kitchen inspected if the agency asks.
- take the training: the health department’s online training for license exempt food processors and cottage food operators, every year.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways vermont allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in vermont?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yes |
| online orders | yesthe state doesn’t limit how you take orders |
| delivering it yourself | yes |
| shipping within the state | yesthe state’s rules don’t limit shipping within vermont |
| shipping to other states | unclearthe health department says federal rules and the other state’s laws apply |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | nonot to restaurants or other licensed food businesses |
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 vermont?
“Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health.”
the statement vermont requires on your label
the label also needs:
- your name and the physical address of your home kitchen (not a p.o. box)
- the product name
- ingredients, from most to least by weight
- net weight or volume
- allergens
- nutrition facts if you make a nutrition or health claim
- the statement in at least 10-point type in a contrasting color
what’s changed in vermont, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| july 1, 2025 | act 42 replaced the old $125 a week home bakery exemption with a $30,000 a year cottage food exemption that covers more shelf-stable foods, and added yearly training and a yearly exemption filing |
what else should you know in vermont?
- a home bakery license ($100 a year, with an opening inspection) covers baked goods that don’t need refrigeration once you’re over the exemption; prepared meals need a home caterer license.
- you can also sell up to $10,000 a year of other processed foods under a separate exemption, on top of your cottage foods.
- the exemption only covers food made in the kitchen of your home or a kitchen on your own property, not a rented kitchen.
- check your town’s zoning rules, and set up a tax account with the vermont department of taxes if you need one.
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in vermont?
yes. you need a license exemption filing (cottage food operator) from the vermont department of health, food and lodging program. it’s free.
can i sell cottage food online in vermont?
yes. the state doesn’t limit how you take orders.
can i ship cottage food in vermont?
yes, within vermont: the state’s rules don’t limit shipping within vermont.
how much can i sell from home in vermont?
up to $30,000 a year.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in vermont?
no. not to restaurants or other licensed food businesses.
what can’t i sell from home in vermont?
the usual no’s: cheesecake, quiche and cheese danish, foods that need refrigeration, meat, including jerky, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, prepared meals, which need a home caterer license. check with the vermont department of health, food and lodging program before you sell something new.
sources
- vermont legislature: act 42 (2025), h.401, as enacted
- vermont statutes: 18 v.s.a. section 4358, exemptions
- vermont department of health: home-based food licenses and exemptions
- vermont department of health: food manufacturing licensing exemptions (november 2025)
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against vermont’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the vermont department of health, food and lodging program (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