Here is everything you need to know about Texas cottage food law. You can sell homemade food in Texas by taking orders via the Airmart online platform. Open a cottage bakery or cottage food business in Texas by following these guidelines.
Do I need a license to sell homemade food in Texas?
If you’re selling homemade food in Texas, there are no licenses, permits, or inspections required, but you do need to follow Texas cottage food law.
Whether you’re starting a cottage bakery from home or offering a meal prep service, there are regulations you must follow to help ensure the safety of your customers.
What is a Cottage Food Production Operation?
A cottage food operation is a food business an individual operates out of their home. Cottage food production operations sell food directly to consumers. You may not sell your homemade food wholesale to grocery stores, coffee shops, or other businesses.
What can I sell under Texas Cottage law?
Every state has different restrictions on what you can sell from your cottage bakery or other food operation. In Texas, you can sell a large range of items as long as the food is not a time and temperature control for safety food (TCS food).
TCS foods are any products that require refrigeration to prevent the growth of bacteria. TCS foods include food that contains protein, moisture (water activity greater than 0.85), and is neutral to slightly acidic (pH between 4.6 -7.5). Cottage food businesses cannot sell meat or meat-filled products.
Below are some examples of food and snacks you can sell from home in Texas:
Texas Cottage Law Food List
- Bread
- Rolls
- Biscuits
- Cakes
- Muffins
- Cookies
- Pastries
- Candy
- Coated and uncoated nuts
- Unroasted nut butters
- Fruit butters
- Canned jams or jellies
- Fruit pies
- Dehydrated fruit or vegetables, including dried beans
- Popcorn and popcorn snacks
- Cereal, including granola
- Dry mix
- Vinegar
- Pickled fruit or vegetables, including beets and carrots, that are preserved in vinegar, brine, or a similar solution at an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or less
- Mustard
- Roasted coffee or dry tea
- Dried herbs or dried herb mixes
- Plant-based acidified canned goods
- Fermented vegetable products
- Frozen raw and uncut fruit or vegetables
Can I sell tamales from home in Texas? Can I sell tacos from home in Texas?
Here are some examples of specific foods you are not allowed to sell under Texas cottage law:
- cheesecake
- beverages of any kind
- kombucha
- kefir
- hot meals
- pizza
- casseroles
- tacos
- beef jerky
- tamales
- flan
- pumpkin pie
- cream pies
- meringue pies
- ice cream
- popsicles
Texas Cottage Food Law Income Limit
The state of Texas allows cottage food establishments to earn up to $50,000 in annual gross income.
Texas Food Safety Requirements
To operate a cottage food business in Texas, you must complete an accredited basic food safety education program.
Texas Cottage Law Labels
You must label all of the food you make for your cottage food business with the following:
- The name and address of the cottage food production operation
- The common or usual name of the product
- Any major food allergens the item contains, such as eggs, nuts, soy, peanuts, milk or wheat
- The statement: “This food is made in a home kitchen and is not inspected by the Department of State Health Services or a local health department.”
Additionally, you must label every batch of pickled fruit or vegetables, fermented vegetable products, or plant-based acidified canned goods with a unique batch number.
Where can I sell under cottage law in Texas?
You can sell your cottage food products in a variety of places, as long as you are there to directly sell the food to customers. Places you can sell include:
- Farmer’s Markets
- Food Truck events
- Pop-up
- Online
Texas Cottage Food Delivery
Cottage food business owners must personally deliver any products sold online. Airmart’s pickup scheduling and delivery route planning tools make it easy to arrange the distribution for your business.
Start your cottage food business in Texas by opening an Airmart shop. It’s affordable, simple to use, and efficient.
Depending on what you sell, your shop will be added to our comfort food directory or our bakery directory.
Check out some of the cottage bakeries on Airmart: