2026 guide
Cottage food laws in Virginia (2026).
Sales caps, label requirements, shipping rules, and what you can sell from your home kitchen.
Annual cap
None
Online orders
No
Shipping
No
Permit
None
The short version
No annual cap in Virginia. Track sales for your books, but the state doesn't throttle you. Shipping is not allowed — in-state delivery or in-person only. Online sales are not permitted — face-to-face only. Home Food Processing exemption. Direct in-state only.
What you can sell in Virginia
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 Virginia must include
- Producer name & address
- Product name
- Ingredients
- Allergens
- Net weight
- Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine government food safety inspection.
Skip the formatting headache.
Siftii auto-generates Virginia-compliant labels from your recipes — ingredients in descending weight, allergen statements, the works.
Generate compliant labelsTracking your sales
Virginia doesn't cap your sales, but you still need clean records for taxes and audits. Siftii logs every order automatically — markets, online, custom — so you have a defensible number when the IRS or state asks.
Frequently asked questions
+ What's the cottage food sales limit in Virginia for 2026?
Virginia has no annual cap on cottage food sales as of 2026.
+ Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a permit for cottage food operators. Standard label and direct-sale rules still apply.
+ Can I ship baked goods from Virginia?
No. Virginia prohibits shipping cottage food. In-state delivery or in-person sales only.
+ Can I take online orders in Virginia?
No. Virginia requires face-to-face sales — no online orders.
+ What has to be on my label?
Virginia requires: Producer name & address; Product name; Ingredients; Allergens; Net weight; 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 Virginia Department of Agriculture or Health before selling.
Nearby states
Run your Virginia cottage bakery like a real business.
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 Virginia Department of Agriculture or Health before selling.