2026 reference
Massachusetts Cottage Food Law
Massachusetts's cottage food law sets no statewide revenue cap and a permit (Local board of health residential kitchen permit) is required before the first sale. Direct sales and farmers markets, with rules set by your local board of health.
Watch for: MA delegates regulation to local health boards. There's no statewide cap, but your town may impose one. Call your local board before doing anything.
Key facts
Where you can sell
Direct sales and farmers markets, with rules set by your local board of health.
- Direct (in-person)
- Farmers markets
What's required before your first sale
Registration with your local board of health, plus a kitchen inspection. Requirements vary substantially by city.
Sources
- Mass.gov — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens
- Forrager — cottage food law database
Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.
Tools that work with Massachusetts
Compare with nearby states
Run your Massachusetts cottage food business in one place
Ardent Seller tracks ingredients, batches, labels, and revenue against your state's cap — built for cottage food producers.