Medium Revenue Last reviewed 2026-09-15

2026 reference

Rhode Island Cottage Food Law

Rhode Island's cottage food law sets an annual revenue cap of $50,000 and producers must register with the state before the first sale. Sales direct to consumers, by pickup or delivery within Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2). Advertising and sales by internet, mail, and phone are permissible, provided the registrant or a designee delivers the product in person to the customer within the state (§ 21-27-6.2(5)), so shipping by mail or carrier is not an option. Consignment and wholesale sales are prohibited, as are sales at grocery stores, restaurants, long-term-care facilities, group homes, daycare facilities, and schools. Selling at a farmers market or a temporary event such as a festival also requires a RIDOH retail food peddler license; one license covers all farmers markets and temporary events and renews annually.

Watch for: Only baked goods that do not require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety qualify, and every sale needs pickup or in-person delivery inside Rhode Island: internet and phone orders are fine, shipping is not. Selling at a farmers market or festival takes a separate retail food peddler license on top of the registration. Once annual gross sales exceed $50,000, the registrant must obtain a food processor license or stop operating.

Annual revenue cap

$50,000

Permit / registration

RIDOH Cottage Food Manufacture registration

$65/year

Kitchen inspection

Not required

Food handler training

Required

Acidified foods

Excluded

Interstate shipping

In-state only

Where you can sell

Sales direct to consumers, by pickup or delivery within Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2). Advertising and sales by internet, mail, and phone are permissible, provided the registrant or a designee delivers the product in person to the customer within the state (§ 21-27-6.2(5)), so shipping by mail or carrier is not an option. Consignment and wholesale sales are prohibited, as are sales at grocery stores, restaurants, long-term-care facilities, group homes, daycare facilities, and schools. Selling at a farmers market or a temporary event such as a festival also requires a RIDOH retail food peddler license; one license covers all farmers markets and temporary events and renews annually.

Direct (in-person)
Farmers markets
Online (in-state)
Online order, in-person pickup

What's required before your first sale

Registration with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), valid for one year, with a $65 fee (R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-54). The application needs a notarized affidavit that the home kitchen meets § 21-27-6.2, proof that the applicant completed a Food Safety Manager course, an ANSI-accredited food handler course, or another RIDOH-approved course, a sketch of the property, water test results if the home uses a private well (retested every year), and a list of products with their labels. The kitchen needs a two-compartment sink, or a dishwasher reaching 150°F plus a one-compartment sink, nonabsorbent food preparation surfaces, and self-closing doors on any bathroom that opens into the kitchen. The statute requires no inspection before registration, but RIDOH may inspect a cottage food operation at any time (§ 21-27-6.2(8)). Products may also be made in a RIDOH-licensed commercial kitchen the registrant leases or rents, with a record of the dates it was used.

Allowed and excluded foods

Permitted under cottage food

baked goods that do not require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety, including double crust pies, yeast breads, biscuits, brownies, cookies, muffins, and cakes that do not require refrigeration (R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(3))
single crust fruit pies (RIDOH FAQ)
frosting and other items refrigerated for quality rather than food safety reasons (RIDOH FAQ)
other goods as defined by RIDOH (§ 21-27-6.2(3)(v))

Excluded from cottage food

baked goods that require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety
foods that are not baked goods, such as jams, candies, and acidified foods, unless RIDOH defines them as allowed (some are available to farm kitchens under § 21-27-6.1)

Label requirements

An affixed label with the name, address, and telephone number (R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)(A); RIDOH's FAQ calls for the business name)
Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight or volume
Allergen information as specified by federal and state labeling requirements, such as milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans
Verbatim statement required by R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)(D), printed in at least ten-point type in a clear and conspicuous manner that provides contrast to the background label: "Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection" (not required if products were prepared in a commercial kitchen licensed by RIDOH). RIDOH's FAQ capitalizes "That is Not" and adds a closing period; the statute's wording is used here.
Farm home food manufacture (§ 21-27-6.1): list ingredients and label with the farm name, address, and telephone number; no home-kitchen statement is prescribed

How Ardent Seller helps

Generate your Rhode Island disclosure label in one click

Ardent Seller assembles a print-ready cottage food label for Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island requires that's missing before you print. Included on every plan.

Start free See all food features

Adjacent programs

Farm Home Food Manufacture (R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.1)

$65/year

A separate registration for kitchens on the premises of a farm. Products may be sold at farmers markets, farmstands, and other markets and stores operated by farmers for the retail sale of Rhode Island farm products. Allowed foods are limited to jams, jellies, preserves, and acid foods such as vinegars made from locally grown fruits, vegetables, or herbs; double crust pies made with locally grown fruit; yeast breads; maple syrup from sap of trees on the farm or within 20 miles of it; candies and fudges; and dried herbs and spices. Products must list ingredients and be labeled with the farm name, address, and telephone number. Registration requires a notarized affidavit of compliance and a $65 fee (§ 23-1-54) and is valid for one year.

Sources

Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.

Tools that work with Rhode Island

Revenue cap tracker

Enter your year-to-date gross sales and see how close you are to the $50,000 cap.

50-state PDF guide

Printable reference covering every state with quick-scan cards.

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