2026 reference
Arizona Cottage Food Law
Arizona's cottage food law sets no statewide revenue cap and producers must register with the state before the first sale. In-state sales only. Non-TCS foods may be sold and delivered directly, through a third-party vendor such as a grocery store (in a separate display with a sign), by a third-party carrier, or through a delivery platform. TCS foods and any product containing meat or poultry (including shelf-stable jerky) must be sold and delivered directly and in person by the preparer — one destination, kept at the required temperature, within two hours including traffic, and not resold at the destination (A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(D)(4)). A cottage food may not be used as an ingredient in food sold by a permitted retail food establishment (A.R.S. § 36-932(F)(1)).
Watch for: Arizona's delivery rule turns on the food, not the channel: TCS foods and anything containing meat or poultry must be sold and delivered in person by the preparer within two hours to one destination, while non-TCS foods can use vendors, carriers, and delivery platforms. Acidified and fermented foods such as salsa, hot sauce, pickles, and kimchi are on ADHS's approved list but are treated as TCS unless lab-tested. The label must also disclose production in a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities when that applies.
Key facts
Read the full Arizona cottage food law guide
Editorial guide with statute citations, special-program details, label requirements, and complete FAQ coverage.
Where you can sell
In-state sales only. Non-TCS foods may be sold and delivered directly, through a third-party vendor such as a grocery store (in a separate display with a sign), by a third-party carrier, or through a delivery platform. TCS foods and any product containing meat or poultry (including shelf-stable jerky) must be sold and delivered directly and in person by the preparer — one destination, kept at the required temperature, within two hours including traffic, and not resold at the destination (A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(D)(4)). A cottage food may not be used as an ingredient in food sold by a permitted retail food establishment (A.R.S. § 36-932(F)(1)).
- Direct (in-person)
- Farmers markets
- Online (in-state)
- In-state mail
- Retail / grocery
- Restaurants / food service
What's required before your first sale
Free ADHS registration, renewed every 3 years by completing a new registration; ADHS says processing can take 4-6 weeks. No kitchen inspection or fee. An accredited food handler course (or a food manager certification) is required before registering and must stay current. The kitchen must be of a type normally found in a residential home and "not exceed one thousand square feet" (A.R.S. § 36-931(3)), or be in a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. Report changes within 30 days, get ADHS approval before adding products, and keep products and equipment in the home (A.R.S. § 36-932(D)(2)).
Allowed and excluded foods
Permitted under cottage food
- baked goods, including cakes, breads, cookies, and pies
- candies and confections
- fruit jams, jellies, preserves, and pepper jams and jellies
- honey
- dry mixes, granola, trail mix, and snack mixes
- roasted nuts
- popcorn
- dry pasta
- roasted coffee and dried herbs
- extracts such as vanilla and almond (alcohol may be an ingredient if the end product is not meant to intoxicate)
- salsa, hot sauces, pickles, pickled vegetables, and fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso (treated as TCS unless lab-tested)
- TCS foods such as tamales, soups, cut fruit, fresh juices, and lemonades — direct, in-person sale and delivery only
- foods containing meat or poultry from federally inspected or federally exempt sources — direct, in-person sale and delivery only
Excluded from cottage food
- alcoholic beverages
- unpasteurized (raw) milk
- fish
- shellfish
- marijuana and CBD products
- meat and poultry that are not federally inspected or federally exempt
- pet treats and pet food
Label requirements
- Name and registration number of the food preparer
- All ingredients (including those in components) and the production date
- Verbatim statement required by A.R.S. § 36-932(A)(3), in clear and legible printed or handwritten font: "This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection."
- If made in a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities, a statement disclosing that fact (A.R.S. § 36-932(A)(4))
- The ADHS website statement (A.R.S. § 36-932(A)(5); A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(C)(3)(e)): "To obtain additional information about cottage foods or to report a foodborne illness, go to azdhs.gov/Cottagefood"
- Packaging that totally encloses the food and has a tamper-evident seal, which could be the label (A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(C)(4))
- Online sales: a prominent notification with all of the label information (A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(E)) — a picture of the label beside the product, or the information in the description (ADHS)
- Allergen and other contact information beyond the required elements is at the preparer's discretion (ADHS)
Generate your Arizona disclosure label in one click
Ardent Seller assembles a print-ready cottage food label for Arizona from data you already track — the state's required disclosure statement rendered verbatim (and sized to meet the state's minimum type size where one applies), your operator info, ingredients in descending order by weight, the federal "Contains:" allergen line, net weight, and lot code. A validation checklist flags anything Arizona requires that's missing before you print. Included on every plan.
Adjacent programs
TCS Foods under HB 2042 (effective September 14, 2024)
A.R.S. § 36-931(1)(a)(ii) allows cottage foods that are potentially hazardous or require time or temperature control for safety — not only foods containing dairy or meat. ADHS approves TCS items such as bean tamales, soups, cut fruit, fresh juices, and lemonades. Meat and poultry must come from federally inspected sources or qualify for a federal exemption (9 CFR § 303.1(d); 9 CFR § 381.10(c), (d)). TCS foods and products containing meat or poultry must be sold and delivered directly and in person by the preparer, to one destination, kept at the required temperature, within two hours, and not sold to the public except at that destination (A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(D)(4)). ADHS also says perishables may be offered only on the day they leave the household.
Acidified and fermented foods
ADHS lists salsa and hot sauces, pickles and pickled vegetables, fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, miso), and pepper jams and jellies as approved cottage foods. Untested, they are treated as TCS foods and must be sold directly; if lab testing shows a product is non-TCS, it may be sold through third-party vendors.
Third-party vendor placement
Non-TCS cottage foods without meat or poultry may be sold by a third-party vendor, such as a grocery store, if the products are in a separate section or display case from non-homemade food and the vendor displays "a sign that indicates that the cottage food products are homemade and exempt from state licensing and inspection" (A.R.S. § 36-932(E)(4)). The statute sets no fixed sign wording. ADHS says retail sales may also require a declaration of responsibility and a declaration of quantity under A.R.S. § 3-3431 and A.A.C. R3-7-302.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona have a cottage food law?
Yes. Arizona's cottage food law is A.R.S. §§ 36-931 through 36-933, added by HB 2042 (2024), with rules at A.A.C. R9-8-101.02 (effective February 4, 2025). The Arizona Department of Health Services runs a free online registry; registered preparers are exempt from the licensing and inspection that apply to food establishments.
Is there a revenue cap on Arizona cottage food sales?
No. Arizona's cottage food statutes set no revenue cap. The limits are the food and delivery rules, the labeling requirements, and the in-state-only rule.
Do I need a permit or license to sell cottage food in Arizona?
No permit, license, fee, or kitchen inspection. You must complete an accredited food handler course (or hold a food manager certification) and register with ADHS for free; ADHS says processing can take 4-6 weeks. Registration is renewed every three years by completing a new registration, and changes must be reported within 30 days.
What is the in-person delivery rule for Arizona cottage food?
For TCS foods and any product containing meat or poultry — including shelf-stable jerky — A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(D)(4) requires the preparer to sell and deliver directly and in person, to one destination, at the required temperature, within two hours including traffic delays, with no resale at the destination. Third-party vendors, carriers, and delivery platforms may not be used for these foods. Non-TCS foods without meat or poultry may go through vendors, carriers, and delivery platforms within Arizona.
Can I sell Arizona cottage food online or through stores?
Yes, within Arizona. Online listings need a prominent notification with all of the label information — ADHS accepts a picture of the label beside the product or the information in the description. Non-TCS foods without meat or poultry can be sold through a third-party vendor such as a grocery store, in a separate display with a sign saying the products are homemade and exempt from state licensing and inspection. A cottage food may not be used as an ingredient in food sold by a permitted retail food establishment.
What goes on an Arizona cottage food label?
A.R.S. § 36-932(A) requires the preparer's name and registration number; all ingredients and the production date; the statement "This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection."; a statement disclosing production in a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities, if that applies; and the ADHS website, which the rule words as "To obtain additional information about cottage foods or to report a foodborne illness, go to azdhs.gov/Cottagefood". Labels may be printed or handwritten, and the package needs a tamper-evident seal, which can be the label.
Can I ship Arizona cottage food across state lines?
No. A.A.C. R9-8-101.02(D)(1) limits cottage food sale and delivery to Arizona.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Health Services — Cottage Food Program
- Forrager — cottage food law database
- A.R.S. § 36-931 — Definitions
- A.R.S. § 36-932 — Labeling; food handler certification; sale and delivery requirements
- A.R.S. § 36-933
- HB 2042 (Laws 2024, Ch. 18) — approved March 29, 2024, effective September 14, 2024
- A.A.C. R9-8-101.02 (Cottage Food), effective February 4, 2025
Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.
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