Home food business guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Cottage Food Laws in New Hampshire
New Hampshire doesn't state a sales cap in its guidance. No state food permit is required for cottage food, though local requirements may still apply. Foods that need refrigeration have to be made in a commercial kitchen. Of the 40 common products in our finder, 10 can be made in a home kitchen in New Hampshire, many with conditions, and 4 more with a special license or program.
Retail stores (exempt); restaurants and wholesale with a license
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 New Hampshire, 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, muffins, cookies, and brownies are allowed.
Pure honey. Honey is excluded from homestead food.
Infused honey. Honey is excluded from homestead food.
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.
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.
Loose-leaf tea blends. 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. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Vanilla extract. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Fruit-infused vinegar. 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 non-potentially hazardous and on DHHS's allowed list.
No license is needed to sell from your home, farmstand, farmers markets, or retail food stores.
Label every product with a batch or lot code (see the checklist below).
Legal paths
Homestead food (exempt)
Where
Your home kitchen
Sell
From home, your farmstand, farmers markets, and retail food stores
Sales cap
None stated
Paperwork
None
Homestead license
Where
Your home kitchen
Sell
Online, mail order, restaurants, and wholesale
Sales cap
None stated
Paperwork
Class H license ($150); process review for acidified foods
Commercial kitchen
Where
A licensed commercial kitchen
Sell
Potentially hazardous foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
DHHS license; usually FDA registration
Commercial canning
Where
Licensed commercial facility
Sell
Low-acid canned foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
Process authority review, FDA scheduled-process filing
Label requirements
Required by NH DHHS on homestead food products, in at least 10-point type.
Exempt: “This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.”. Licensed: “This product is made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS.”
Name, address (or active email), and phone number
Product name
Ingredients in descending order by weight
Major allergens
Product code with batch or lot number. Licensed operations add manufacture date and container size.
Licensed only: net quantity in US and metric
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.