You can download all of the data behind the map: rules for all 50 states and DC, and how 40 common products are classified in each state (2,040 rows).
License and how to cite it
The data is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). You can use, share, and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you give credit. Please cite it as:
Mendocino Food Consulting. Cottage Food Law Map: cottage food laws by state. Reviewed October 2026. https://tools.mendocinofoodconsulting.com/
What's in the files
The states file has one row per state with the quick facts (sales cap, permits, online sales, store sales, refrigerated foods), the state agency, and the official sources. The products file has one row per state and product:
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
status | One of: home_kitchen, home_kitchen_special_license, commercial_kitchen, commercial_canning_license, separate_regulator, ask_agency. |
general_rule | “yes” when the state's guidance doesn't name the product and we applied the general rule. |
explanation | Why the product falls in that category, based on the state sources. |
Before you use it
This data is general information, not legal advice, and is provided as is, without warranty. Quick facts are summarized from 50-state trackers; product rules come from the state sources. Laws change: check the review date and confirm with the state agency. See how the information is gathered.