Cottage food quick guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Selling homemade food in New Jersey
- Sales cap
- $50,000
- Permit or registration
- NJDOH permit ($100 per two years); food protection manager
- Online & shipping
- Online ordering; in-person handoff in NJ; no mail or carrier
- Sell through stores
- No stores or restaurants
- Refrigerated foods
- No
Allowed from a home kitchen
Sourdough bread · Cookies & brownies · Toffee, fudge & caramels
Needs a commercial kitchen or other license
Pumpkin pie · Cheesecake · Cake with cream cheese frosting · Meat tamales · Pepper jelly · Shelf-stable salsa · Fresh salsa (refrigerated) · Hot sauce · Canned pickles · Canned tomato sauce · Garlic or herb-infused oil‡ · Home-cooked meals‡ · Beef jerky‡ · Cheese & yogurt‡ · Cold-pressed juice‡ · Kombucha‡
Ask the agency first
Fruit pie · Cake with buttercream · Macarons · Fruit tamales · Strawberry jam · Low-sugar or freezer jam · Sauerkraut & kimchi · Granola · Spice rubs & seasoning blends · Roasted coffee · Loose-leaf tea blends · Dried fruit & fruit leather · Freeze-dried candy · Chocolates & truffles · Marshmallows · Nut butter · Pure honey · Infused honey · Vanilla extract · Fruit-infused vinegar · Mustard (no egg)
Every product has conditions, such as registration, training, labeling, and sales limits. See the full guide for each one. ‡ General rule; not specifically addressed in this state's guidance.
How to start
- Check that the product keeps safely at room temperature and is on NJDOH's approved list. Each product needs its own questionnaire.
- Get local zoning approval, a food protection manager certificate, and proof of safe water.
- Apply to NJDOH with the $100 fee. Permits last two years; renew at least 45 days early.
- Sell and hand off only in New Jersey: no mail or carrier shipping, and no stores or restaurants.
- Label every product, and display your permit and the disclosure placard where you sell.
Key label items
Use the exact required wording shown in the full guide and on the agency's site.
- “This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.”
- Common name of the product
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- “Contains” followed by any major allergens
- Operator name, business name, and permit number
- Municipality where it was made, followed by “New Jersey” or “NJ”