Who made this site
The Cottage Food Law Map was created by Mendocino Food Consulting, a food science consultancy run by Dr. Bryan Quoc Le. Bryan has a PhD in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and holds degrees in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of the book 150 Food Science Questions Answered and the subject of the documentary The Flavor Matrix, where he discusses the philosophy and science behind flavors. He runs the r/foodscience community and is a frequent guest on podcasts about food science.
Mendocino Food Consulting helps food entrepreneurs and companies with formulation, shelf life, food safety, and scaling recipes for production. We are food scientists, not attorneys.
Why it exists
Cottage food laws vary widely from state to state, and the science behind them is rarely explained. We built these guides so producers can see what's allowed and why: how pH, water activity, and refrigeration decide which legal category a product falls into.
How the information is gathered
- Product rules and label requirements come from state sources: statutes, regulations, and agency guidance. Every state guide links to its official sources.
- Each state's quick facts are summarized from 50-state trackers (Ardent Seller, reviewed October 1, 2026, cross-checked with PermitDeck and Food Business Pros). Where they differ, the state sources govern.
- When a state's guidance doesn't name a product, we apply the general rule and mark it with ‡. States with limited sources carry a note.
- Everything was reviewed in October 2026, and we plan to review the data every quarter.
What this site isn't
This site is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, and cities and counties may add their own. Always confirm with your state agency or local health department before you sell. Spanish pages are offered for convenience; if they differ, the English version governs.
Found something out of date?
Laws change quickly. If you see something that's no longer correct, contact us through mendocinofoodconsulting.com. The full dataset is available to download.