MD · Maryland Department of Health

Maryland cottage food laws

Maryland's health department publishes the cottage food page. Use it for the food list, the sales limit, and the label before you apply to a market.

Official source: Maryland cottage foods page. Reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice.

What the Maryland law decides

Maryland cottage food law answers these points. The state page is the current list. A county health department or a farmers market can add a form, a fee, or a product ban.

  • Which foods are allowed, and which foods need refrigeration or a pH test
  • The current sales cap, or whether the state has removed it
  • Where you can sell: farmers markets, online orders, shipping, and stores
  • The label, including allergens and any home-kitchen statement
  • Registration, a food-handler class, or a county permit

Sell it only after the rule checks out

A cottage food page is market research, not a promise of income. Price the product, find a market in Maryland, and sell one batch before you buy equipment.