2026 guide
Cottage food laws in Kentucky (2026).
Sales caps, label requirements, shipping rules, and what you can sell from your home kitchen.
Annual cap
$60,000
Online orders
Allowed
Shipping
No
Permit
Registration
The short version
You can sell up to $60,000 per year in Kentucky. Cross that and you'll need a commercial kitchen or a higher-tier license. Shipping is not allowed — in-state delivery or in-person only. Online orders are fine. Home-Based Processor or Microprocessor registration.
What you can sell in Kentucky
Cottage food laws generally allow non-potentially-hazardous foods — items that don't require refrigeration for safety. Common allowed items include:
- Cookies, brownies, biscotti
- Breads, rolls, bagels
- Cakes (no cream/custard fillings)
- Pies (fruit, not cream)
- Jams, jellies, fruit butters
- Granola, trail mix, candy
- Dry mixes & spice blends
- Roasted coffee beans
Items requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes, meat) are typically prohibited. Confirm specifics with your state agency.
Every label in Kentucky must include
- Producer name & address
- Product name
- Ingredients
- Allergens
- Net weight
- Home-Based Processor registration number
- Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine government food safety inspection.
Skip the formatting headache.
Siftii auto-generates Kentucky-compliant labels from your recipes — ingredients in descending weight, allergen statements, the works.
Generate compliant labelsWhat if I exceed the $60,000 cap?
Crossing Kentucky's annual cap typically means moving to a commercial kitchen, getting a wholesale food manufacturer license, or splitting your business. The state can audit — keep clean sales records. Siftii tracks your year-to-date total against the $60,000 cap and warns you before you cross it.
Frequently asked questions
+ What's the cottage food sales limit in Kentucky for 2026?
In 2026, Kentucky caps cottage food sales at $60,000 per year. Exceed it and you need a commercial kitchen or higher-tier license.
+ Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky requires registration with the state before selling.
+ Can I ship baked goods from Kentucky?
No. Kentucky prohibits shipping cottage food. In-state delivery or in-person sales only.
+ Can I take online orders in Kentucky?
Yes. You can take orders online for in-person pickup or delivery (and shipping where allowed).
+ What has to be on my label?
Kentucky requires: Producer name & address; Product name; Ingredients; Allergens; Net weight; Home-Based Processor registration number; Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine government food safety inspection..
+ Is this legal advice?
No. This page summarizes public guidance. Confirm details with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture or Health before selling.
Nearby states
Related guides & tools
Start tracking sales toward your Kentucky cap.
Siftii is the bakery OS for cottage operators — orders, labels, sales tracking, and compliance, all in one place. Free to start.
Create a free accountInformational only — not legal advice. Last reviewed 2026. Verify with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture or Health before selling.