North Carolina cottage food laws
Rules change, so always confirm with the official North Carolina source.
The law: NCDA&CS Home Processor Program
What you can sell
Approved shelf-stable baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, dry mixes and spices. Some sauces, beverages and acidified foods qualify after evaluation.
What you can't sell
Foods needing refrigeration or freezing, including cream or cream-cheese fillings, cheesecake, dairy products and meat products, are not eligible. Indoor pets disqualify the home kitchen.
Do you need a license or permit?
Apply and pass a home-kitchen inspection before selling; no food-production permit is issued. The cited guidance does not specify an inspection fee.
Sales limits
No dollar cap is stated in the agency guidance.
Where you can sell
Direct sales, retail stores and restaurants are covered; the application asks about internet sales and distribution. Confirm shipping and interstate requirements with NCDA&CS before using those channels.
Label requirements
Packaged products generally need product name, manufacturer name/address, net weight and ingredients in descending weight order, including allergens. No special home-kitchen disclaimer is specified on the agency page.
Good to know
A separate garage, basement kitchen or outbuilding is treated as commercial rather than as a home processor. Private water supplies require testing. 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 →General summary, not legal advice.
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