Cottage Food Law Map › Terms of use
Effective October 2026
Created by Mendocino Food Consulting · Book a Call
The Cottage Food Law Map, state and product guides, rankings, handouts, and related pages (together, "the guides") are published by Mendocino Food Consulting for general educational purposes. They summarize publicly available sources and are not legal advice. Using the guides does not create an attorney-client or consulting relationship. Mendocino Food Consulting is made up of food scientists, not attorneys.
Cottage food rules change often and are interpreted differently by different agencies. We work to keep the guides accurate, but we make no warranty, express or implied, that they are complete, current, accurate, or suitable for your situation. Some states' detailed rules rely on older or secondary sources, which are marked on those pages.
Before making or selling food, confirm the rules that apply to you with your state agency and local health department. Cities and counties may add their own requirements, such as zoning, business licenses, and sales tax, and selling across state lines can bring in federal FDA requirements and the other state's rules. Consult an attorney for legal questions. You are responsible for the safety, labeling, and legal compliance of any food you make or sell.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Mendocino Food Consulting is not liable for any loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, the guides.
Organizations may embed the map using the code on our embed page and may print and share the handouts, provided the content is not changed and the credit to Mendocino Food Consulting stays visible. Embedded content updates when we update the guides.
The guides link to government agencies, extension programs, and other websites. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content.
We may update the guides and these terms at any time. The effective date above shows when these terms last changed.
Questions about these terms can be sent through mendocinofoodconsulting.com.