Cottage Food Law Map › Product guides › Sourdough bread
Product guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Can you sell sourdough bread from home? Every state allow sourdough bread to be made in a home kitchen under cottage food rules, often with conditions. Here's why, and where each state lands.
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The food science Bread is among the lower-risk foods to make at home. Baking destroys most harmful bacteria, and the finished loaf generally has a low enough water activity, a measure of how much water is available for microbial growth, to be kept at room temperature. Sourdough fermentation also lowers the pH of the dough, which adds another layer of protection. This is why bread is allowed as a cottage food in nearly every state.
Where sourdough bread can be made at home
AL AK AZ AR CA CO FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WV WI WY VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD DC
Allowed from a home kitchen
Select a state to open its guide. Every state's conditions are listed below the map.
Allowed from a home kitchen (51) Alabama . Cakes, cookies, breads, pastries, and doughnuts are allowed.Alaska . Non-TCS baked goods like sourdough are eligible.Arizona . Baked goods are allowed.Arkansas . Bakery products are allowed.California . Baked goods without cream, custard, or meat fillings are on the approved list.Colorado . Shelf-stable baked goods are cottage foods.Connecticut . Breads, cookies, pastries, and non-potentially hazardous cakes are allowed.Delaware . Breads, cakes, cookies, donuts, and similar baked goods are allowed.District of Columbia . Baked goods without cream, custard, cheese, or meat fillings are allowed.Florida . Baked goods are allowed. Fruits or vegetables must be baked into the batter, not used as decoration.Georgia . Breads, rolls, cakes, pastries, and cookies are on GDA's list.Hawaii . Baked goods without custard or cream fillings are allowed.Idaho . Allowed.Illinois . Baked goods are allowed. Dairy and eggs are fine as ingredients in items that don't need refrigeration.Indiana . Non-TCS baked goods like cakes, cookies, and breads are allowed.Iowa . Non-TCS baked goods are cottage foods.Kansas . Home-kitchen baked goods are allowed without a license.Kentucky . Bread, cookies, and cakes are on the list.Louisiana . Breads, cakes, cookies, and similar baked goods are covered, sold directly only.Maine . Most shelf-stable baked goods are allowed under a home license.Maryland . Non-perishable baked goods like breads, cookies, and brownies are allowed.Massachusetts . Non-TCS baked goods are allowed.Michigan . Baked goods that don't need refrigeration are allowed.Minnesota . Non-potentially hazardous baked goods are allowed.Mississippi . Baked goods without cream, custard, or meat fillings are allowed.Missouri . Baked goods are one of the three categories in the law.Montana . Allowed, sold directly to the end consumer.Nebraska . Allowed.Nevada . Non-perishable breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries are allowed.New Hampshire . Breads, muffins, cookies, and brownies are allowed.New Jersey . Shelf-stable baked goods are cottage foods; each product still needs NJDOH approval.New Mexico . Non-cream-filled baked goods are allowed.New York . Breads, cookies, cakes, brownies, and similar baked goods are allowed. Vegetables in breads aren't.North Carolina . Baked goods that don't need refrigeration are eligible.North Dakota . Allowed.Ohio . Bread, cookies, brownies, cakes, and similar baked goods are on Ohio's list.Oklahoma . Allowed.Oregon . Bread, cakes, pies, cookies, and pastries are on the list.Pennsylvania . Shelf-stable baked goods without cream fillings are allowed.Rhode Island . Yeast breads, biscuits, brownies, cookies, muffins, and non-refrigerated cakes are allowed.South Carolina . Shelf-stable cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and sourdough (with a commercial starter) are allowed.South Dakota . Baked goods are allowed.Tennessee . Non-TCS foods like baked goods are allowed.Texas . Baked goods are allowed. Texas now allows almost any food except a short prohibited list.Utah . Allowed under the Homemade Food Act. For store sales, UDAF's cottage permit covers baked goods without dairy fillings or frosting.Vermont . Non-potentially hazardous baked goods are cottage foods.Virginia . Unfilled breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, and sourdough are on Virginia's low-risk list.Washington . Non-potentially hazardous baked goods are cottage foods.West Virginia . Non-potentially hazardous baked goods are allowed.Wisconsin . Shelf-stable baked goods can be sold without a license.Wyoming . Allowed.
Developing sourdough bread? Mendocino Food Consulting helps food entrepreneurs with formulation, pH, and shelf-stability questions. We are food scientists, not attorneys, and we don't provide legal advice.
Rules summarized from the sources listed in each state's guide, reviewed October 2026. Each state's conditions and exceptions are described in its guide; confirm with the agency before selling.
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General information only, not legal advice. Mendocino Food Consulting makes no warranty that this information is complete, current, or correct for your situation. Rules change often, and cities and counties may add their own requirements, such as zoning, business licenses, and sales tax. Selling across state lines can bring in federal FDA requirements and the other state's rules. Always confirm with your state agency or local health department, and consult an attorney for legal questions. Last reviewed October 2026; rules may have changed since.
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