Connecticut cottage food laws
Rules change, so always confirm with the official Connecticut source.
The law: Connecticut Cottage Food Operator Program, CGS 21a-62b and implementing regulations.
What you can sell
Approved low-risk foods such as shelf-stable baked goods, jams and jellies prepared in the licensed home kitchen.
What you can't sell
Refrigeration-dependent foods and unapproved products; no production in a separate shed or barn.
Do you need a license or permit?
Obtain a DCP cottage-food license; application fee is $50. Zoning approval, approved food-safety training and testing of private water supplies are required; renewal details should be confirmed with DCP.
Sales limits
$50,000 annual gross sales; maintain sales records.
Where you can sell
Direct person-to-person transactions in Connecticut only, including delivery by producer or designee. Online advertising/orders are allowed, but no mail, UPS/FedEx, food-delivery platforms, wholesale or store consignment.
Label requirements
Show product name, business name and address, descending ingredients including subingredients, net quantity with metric equivalent, and allergen disclosures. In at least 10-point type include: “Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.”
Good to know
DCP’s March 2026 guidance confirms that online ordering does not authorize shipment. Some details on this page could not be fully confirmed from official sources, so check with the state agency before you sell.
Pricing your products
Knowing your real cost per item matters as much as following the law.
Try Oven Elf free →Source: https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/cottage-foods
General summary, not legal advice.
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