2026 reference
Vermont Cottage Food Law
Vermont's cottage food law sets an annual revenue cap of $30,000 (cottage food products) and producers must register with the state before the first sale. Neither 18 V.S.A. § 4358 nor the Manufactured Food Rule lists where license-exempt cottage food may be sold; the rule covers food "offered for sale in Vermont." The Vermont Department of Health states one limit: food made under a license exemption "cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments," because food service establishments may buy only from licensed food manufacturers. The Department does not address sales through retail stores, consignment, mail order, or delivery for exempt producers, so confirm with its Food & Lodging Program before using those channels. For sales in another state, the Department says food crossing state lines is interstate commerce subject to federal rules, and the destination state's laws may also apply.
Watch for: The exemption covers only foods that do not require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety. The Department of Health says quiche, cheese danish, cheesecake, meats (including dehydrated meats), and dehydrated fruits and vegetables do not qualify, and prepared meals sold direct-to-customer need a Home Caterer License. Home-canned pickles, vegetables, and fruits qualify only at an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of 0.85 or less, made from recipes approved by the National Center for Home Food Preservation or reviewed by a food processing authority. Act 42 (2025, effective July 1, 2025) replaced the old home-bakery exemption, which applied only while average gross retail sales did not exceed $125 per week; producers who had filed under the old law had to file a new exemption by January 15, 2026.
Key facts
Where you can sell
Neither 18 V.S.A. § 4358 nor the Manufactured Food Rule lists where license-exempt cottage food may be sold; the rule covers food "offered for sale in Vermont." The Vermont Department of Health states one limit: food made under a license exemption "cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments," because food service establishments may buy only from licensed food manufacturers. The Department does not address sales through retail stores, consignment, mail order, or delivery for exempt producers, so confirm with its Food & Lodging Program before using those channels. For sales in another state, the Department says food crossing state lines is interstate commerce subject to federal rules, and the destination state's laws may also apply.
- Direct (in-person)
- Farmers markets
- Online (in-state)
What's required before your first sale
No license and no fee for a cottage food operation with gross annual sales of $30,000 or less from cottage food products, produced or packaged solely in the home kitchen of the operator's private residential dwelling or a kitchen on the operator's personal property (Manufactured Food Rule §§ 4.1.5 and 6.1.1.2; 18 V.S.A. §§ 4353(a)(3)(C) and 4358(b)). To claim the exemption, complete the Department of Health's training before beginning manufacturing and annually thereafter (Rule § 6.2.2.1), and file a license exemption in the Department's online portal each year by January 15, attesting to the training (Rule § 6.1; 18 V.S.A. § 4358(c)). There is no opening inspection, but exempt producers must still meet the Manufactured Food Rule's sanitation requirements and a public health inspector may inspect the establishment. A rented kitchen, even a licensed commercial one, does not qualify.
Allowed and excluded foods
Permitted under cottage food
- nonpotentially hazardous baked goods
- candy
- jams and jellies
- dry herbs
- trail mix
- granola
- cereal
- mixed nuts
- flavored vinegar
- popcorn
- coffee beans
- dry tea
- home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of 0.85 or less, made from recipes approved by the National Center for Home Food Preservation or reviewed by a food processing authority
- other foods that do not require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety (the Department of Health reviews products on request)
Excluded from cottage food
- foods that require refrigeration or time/temperature control for safety, such as quiche, cheese danish, and cheesecake
- meats, including dehydrated meats
- dehydrated fruits and vegetables (the Department of Health calls dehydration a specialized process outside the cottage food exemption)
- prepared meals sold direct-to-customer (Home Caterer License required)
- foods made in a rented kitchen, including a licensed commercial kitchen (license required)
Label requirements
- Name and address of the operation (Manufactured Food Rule § 6.2.1.1.1); the Department of Health says to use the physical address of the home kitchen, not a post office box
- Name of the food product (§ 6.2.1.1.2)
- Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight (§ 6.2.1.1.3)
- Net weight or net volume (§ 6.2.1.1.4)
- Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements (§ 6.2.1.1.5)
- Nutrition labeling as specified by federal requirements if any nutrient content claim, health claim, or other nutritional information is provided (§ 6.2.1.1.6)
- Verbatim statement required by Manufactured Food Rule § 6.2.1.1.7, printed in at least 10-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background label: "Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health."
- Food sold from bulk containers does not need individual labels; the Department of Health allows a clearly visible sign, placard, or table tent at the service location that bears the label information
Generate your Vermont disclosure label in one click
Ardent Seller assembles a print-ready cottage food label for Vermont 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 Vermont requires that's missing before you print. Included on every plan.
Adjacent programs
Food processor exemption ($10,000 or less)
A non-bakery food manufacturing establishment with gross annual sales of $10,000 or less is also exempt from licensing (Manufactured Food Rule § 6.1.1.1; 18 V.S.A. § 4353(a)(3)(A)). It follows the same annual training, annual exemption filing, and labeling rules, including the home-kitchen statement. The Department of Health says a producer may make up to $30,000 of cottage foods under the cottage food exemption plus up to $10,000 of other processed foods under this exemption.
Home Bakery License
$100/yearFor baked goods that do not require refrigeration or temperature control, made in a domestic home kitchen with home appliances, when the cottage food exemption does not apply. Apply online at least 30 days before operating, pass an opening inspection, and follow the Health Regulations for Food Service Establishments. The license covers the domestic home kitchen only. 18 V.S.A. § 4353(a)(3)(B) sets the annual fee at $100.
Home Caterer License
$155/yearRequired to make prepared food for sale direct-to-customer, or to prepare food for cooking later at an event or farmers market, from a home kitchen; a Temporary Food Service License may also be needed for the event. 18 V.S.A. § 4353(a)(1) sets the annual fee at $155.
Sources
- Vermont Department of Health — Home-Based Food Licenses & Exemptions
- Vermont Department of Health — Food Manufacturing Licensing Exemptions (November 2025)
- Forrager — cottage food law database
- Vermont Manufactured Food Rule §§ 4.1.4–4.1.6, 6.1, 6.2.1, and 6.2.2 (final adopted rule, effective 2026-01-15)
- 18 V.S.A. § 4358 (Exemptions; annual licensing exemption filing)
- 18 V.S.A. § 4353 (Fees; $30,000 cottage food and $10,000 non-bakery exemptions; home bakery and home caterer license fees)
- Act 42 of 2025 (H.401), as enacted — effective July 1, 2025
Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.
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