Home food business guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Cottage Food Laws in Georgia
Georgia doesn't state a sales cap in its guidance. Getting started: No license since July 2025; optional GDA ID; food safety training. Foods that need refrigeration have to be made in a commercial kitchen. Of the 40 common products in our finder, 12 can be made in a home kitchen in Georgia, many with conditions.
Georgia's cottage food rules became much simpler in July 2025, when the state dropped its license requirement. Food safety training is still required, and producers can register with the state for an ID number to use on labels in place of a home address.
Georgia also allows a wide range of sales channels, including online, mail order, and stores and restaurants, unless a city or county has opted out. That local rule is worth checking first. The product list remains limited to shelf-stable foods, so pickles, salsas, and hot sauces require a commercial kitchen. Nut butters are not on the list, even though whole nuts are.
Quick facts
Sales cap
No cap stated
Permit or registration
No license since July 2025; optional GDA ID; food safety training
Online & shipping
Online and mail order
Sell through stores
Stores and restaurants, unless a city or county opts out
Refrigerated & TCS foods
No
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 Georgia, 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. Breads, rolls, cakes, pastries, and cookies are on GDA's list.
Cookies & brownies. Breads, rolls, cakes, pastries, and cookies are on GDA's list.
Garlic or herb-infused oil. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Garlic or herbs in oil carry a botulism risk and need a validated commercial process.
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.
Kombucha. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Fermented beverages need a commercial kitchen, and producers monitor alcohol, since at 0.5% ABV or more it is treated as an alcoholic beverage.
Needs a canning license
Pepper jelly. Acidified foods aren't on GDA's cottage list.
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.
Ask the agency first
Cake with buttercream. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Macarons. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Fruit tamales. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Roasted coffee. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Marshmallows. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Nut butter. Coated and uncoated nuts are listed; nut butters aren't.
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 doesn't need refrigeration and resembles the foods on GDA's list.
Complete ANSI-accredited food safety training. Food handler training is accepted.
Since July 1, 2025 (HB 398), no state license is required. You can register with GDA for an ID number to use on labels.
If you use well water, test it each year for total and fecal coliform.
Label every product (see the checklist below).
Legal paths
Cottage food
Where
Your home kitchen
Sell
Direct, at events, online and by mail order, and through retail stores and restaurants unless your city or county opts out
Sales cap
None stated
Paperwork
No license since July 2025; optional GDA ID number; food safety training
Commercial kitchen
Where
A licensed commercial kitchen
Sell
Wholesale and retail, including refrigerated foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
GDA food sales or manufacturing license; usually FDA registration
Commercial canning
Where
Licensed commercial facility
Sell
Pickles, salsas, sauces, and canned foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
GDA license, process authority review, FDA scheduled-process filing
Label requirements
GDA requires cottage food labels to follow its cottage food directives and FDA standards. Confirm current wording on GDA's labeling page, since rules were being revised after HB 398.
Cottage food statement. Previously required: “Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Georgia's food safety regulations.” Confirm the current wording with GDA.
Business name and address, or your GDA ID number. The optional GDA identifier can replace your address.
Product name
Ingredients in descending order by weight
Net quantity
Allergens per federal requirements
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.