Home food business guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Cottage Food Laws in Alabama
Alabama has no annual sales cap on most home food sales (No cap). Getting started: County health department registration; food safety course. Foods that need refrigeration have to be made in a commercial kitchen. Of the 40 common products in our finder, 18 can be made in a home kitchen in Alabama, many with conditions.
County health department registration; food safety course
Online & shipping
Phone and online; delivery by mail or agent within Alabama
Sell through stores
No stores or restaurants
Refrigerated & TCS foods
No; tested pickles, salsas, and sauces allowed
Quick facts are summarized from 50-state trackers (Ardent Seller, reviewed October 1, 2026, cross-checked with PermitDeck and Food Business Pros). Where the details below differ, follow the state sources listed at the bottom of this page and confirm with the agency.
How 40 common products are treated in Alabama, with the condition or reason for each. Items marked "general rule" weren't specifically addressed in the state's guidance.
Allowed from a home kitchen
Sourdough bread. Cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, and doughnuts are allowed.
Cookies & brownies. Cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, and doughnuts are allowed.
Home-cooked meals. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Prepared meals need refrigeration, so they're made in a permitted commercial kitchen.
Beef jerky. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Meat products need USDA or state meat inspection, regardless of kitchen.
Cheese & yogurt. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Dairy products are licensed separately, through the state's dairy program.
Cold-pressed juice. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Juices aren't home-kitchen foods. Wholesale juice needs a Juice HACCP plan with a 5-log pathogen reduction.
Pepper jelly. Preserved vegetables are allowed with lab-tested pH below 4.2 or water activity below 0.88.
Canned tomato sauce. Sauces need lab-tested pH below 4.2; tomato products often sit higher.
Nut butter. Candied and roasted nuts are allowed; nut butters aren't listed.
Pure honey. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Infused honey. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Mustard (no egg). Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
How to start selling from home
Check that the product is on Alabama's allowed list. Pickles, salsas, sauerkraut, and BBQ sauce need water activity below 0.88 or pH below 4.2, tested by an approved lab.
Pass an ADPH-approved food safety course and keep it current.
Register with your county health department and get your labels approved.
Sell directly to Alabama consumers in person, by phone, or online, and deliver by mail, agent, or in person. No resale through stores or restaurants.
Label every package in at least 10-point type (see the checklist below).
Legal paths
Cottage food
Where
Your home
Sell
Directly to Alabama consumers in person, by phone, or online; delivery by mail, agent, or in person. No stores or restaurants.
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
County health department registration and label approval; food safety course
Commercial kitchen
Where
A permitted commercial kitchen
Sell
Wholesale, stores, restaurants, and refrigerated foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
ADPH permit; usually FDA registration
Commercial canning
Where
Licensed commercial facility
Sell
Low-acid canned foods and acidified foods above cottage pH limits
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
ADPH permit, process authority review, FDA scheduled-process filing
Label requirements
Required on every Alabama cottage food package, in at least 10-point type.
“This product may contain allergens. This food is not inspected by the Health Department.”. Confirm exact wording with your county.
Name of the person or business
Physical address or P.O. box
Common name of the food
Ingredients and sub-ingredients in descending order by weight
Recommended: “Contains” allergen statement and net weight
Turning a recipe into a product?
Mendocino Food Consulting helps food entrepreneurs with food science, formulation, and process questions. We are food scientists, not attorneys, and we don't provide legal advice.