A TIMELINE OF RECENT COTTAGE FOOD EXPANSION
ALL 50 STATES NOW HAVE “COTTAGE FOOD” LAWS, WHICH LET PEOPLE SELL HOMEMADE FOODS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION. COTTAGE FOOD LAWS HAVE EXPANDED RAPIDLY SINCE 2015.
2015
District of Columbia — B23-0192
In 2013, DC passed a cottage food law that was so restrictive that by 2018 there were only 3 registered cottage food producers. This year, IJ worked with entrepreneurs across the District to expand the allowed sale venues, raise the revenue cap and streamline the registration process.
Maryland — HB 1017
In its third year of reform in a row, IJ worked with Maryland to pass a law that allows an ID number instead of a home address on product labels to protect the safety of food producers.
Nevada — SB 441
Nevada established a “craft food” law to expand the list of allowed cottage foods to include acidified foods.
Colorado — HB 15-1102
HB 15-1102 expanded the list of foods that are defined as cottage foods to include acidified foods such as pickles.
Idaho — HB 106
Idaho formalized its longstanding practice of allowing the sale of cottage foods.
Oregon — SB 320
SB 320 made it much easier to start a cottage food operation by reducing red tape.
Wyoming — HB 56
With IJ’s aid, Wyoming passed the country’s first food freedom law, allowing sales of all homemade foods excluding certain meats.
2016
District of Columbia — B23-0192
In 2013, DC passed a cottage food law that was so restrictive that by 2018 there were only 3 registered cottage food producers. This year, IJ worked with entrepreneurs across the District to expand the allowed sale venues, raise the revenue cap and streamline the registration process.
Maryland — HB 1017
In its third year of reform in a row, IJ worked with Maryland to pass a law that allows an ID number instead of a home address on product labels to protect the safety of food producers.
2017
District of Columbia — B23-0192
In 2013, DC passed a cottage food law that was so restrictive that by 2018 there were only 3 registered cottage food producers. This year, IJ worked with entrepreneurs across the District to expand the allowed sale venues, raise the revenue cap and streamline the registration process.
Maryland — HB 1017
In its third year of reform in a row, IJ worked with Maryland to pass a law that allows an ID number instead of a home address on product labels to protect the safety of food producers.
Mississippi — HB 326
This bill raised the annual revenue cap to $35,000 and expanded the law to allow online sales.
Wyoming — HB 84
Capitalizing on its 2015 victory, Wyoming worked with IJ to expand its law to allow indirect sales and the wholesaling of nonperishable goods, officially making it the state with the most food freedom.
New Jersey — MER-L-505-18
In 2017, IJ sued New Jersey, the last state with a total ban on the sale of homemade foods. IJ later won the lawsuit in 2021 when New Jersey lifted its ban.
North Dakota — HB 1433
In 2017, North Dakota became the second state to enact a food freedom law that allows the sale of almost all homemade foods.
2018
District of Columbia — B23-0192
In 2013, DC passed a cottage food law that was so restrictive that by 2018 there were only 3 registered cottage food producers. This year, IJ worked with entrepreneurs across the District to expand the allowed sale venues, raise the revenue cap and streamline the registration process.
Maryland — HB 1017
In its third year of reform in a row, IJ worked with Maryland to pass a law that allows an ID number instead of a home address on product labels to protect the safety of food producers.
Mississippi — HB 326
This bill raised the annual revenue cap to $35,000 and expanded the law to allow online sales.
Wyoming — HB 84
Capitalizing on its 2015 victory, Wyoming worked with IJ to expand its law to allow indirect sales and the wholesaling of nonperishable goods, officially making it the state with the most food freedom.
2019
District of Columbia — B23-0192
In 2013, DC passed a cottage food law that was so restrictive that by 2018 there were only 3 registered cottage food producers. This year, IJ worked with entrepreneurs across the District to expand the allowed sale venues, raise the revenue cap and streamline the registration process.
Maryland — HB 1017
In its third year of reform in a row, IJ worked with Maryland to pass a law that allows an ID number instead of a home address on product labels to protect the safety of food producers.
Mississippi — HB 326
This bill raised the annual revenue cap to $35,000 and expanded the law to allow online sales.
Wyoming — HB 84
Capitalizing on its 2015 victory, Wyoming worked with IJ to expand its law to allow indirect sales and the wholesaling of nonperishable goods, officially making it the state with the most food freedom.
2020
Alabama — SB 160
A coalition of home bakers worked with IJ to pass SB 160, which removed the revenue cap, allows online sales, and expanded the types of shelf stable foods that can be sold.
Florida — HB 633
Supported by IJ and a coalition of home bakers, HB 633 raised the revenue cap to $250,000, allows sales to retailers and by mail delivery, and prevents local governments from adding additional regulations for cottage food producers.
California — AB 1144
IJ worked with a coalition of home food entrepreneurs across California to pass AB 1144, which raises the revenue cap, allows the sales across county lines and allows sellers to ship their foods to customers by mail delivery and at retailer stores.
Indiana — SB 185
Aided by IJ, this bill establishes a summer working group to explore expanding the cottage food law.
Arkansas — SB 248
B 248, which allows online sales and sales to retailers and expands the types of shelf-stable foods that can be sold, was successfully passed with support from IJ.
Montana —SB 2007
Building on the success of its 2015 legislation, Montana passed SB 2007 to allow producers to sell almost all foods, including meals, directly to consumers, except certain meats.
2021
Alabama — SB 160
A coalition of home bakers worked with IJ to pass SB 160, which removed the revenue cap, allows online sales, and expanded the types of shelf stable foods that can be sold.
Florida — HB 633
Supported by IJ and a coalition of home bakers, HB 633 raised the revenue cap to $250,000, allows sales to retailers and by mail delivery, and prevents local governments from adding additional regulations for cottage food producers.
California — AB 1144
IJ worked with a coalition of home food entrepreneurs across California to pass AB 1144, which raises the revenue cap, allows the sales across county lines and allows sellers to ship their foods to customers by mail delivery and at retailer stores.
Indiana — SB 185
Aided by IJ, this bill establishes a summer working group to explore expanding the cottage food law.
Arkansas — SB 248
B 248, which allows online sales and sales to retailers and expands the types of shelf-stable foods that can be sold, was successfully passed with support from IJ.
Montana —SB 2007
Building on the success of its 2015 legislation, Montana passed SB 2007 to allow producers to sell almost all foods, including meals, directly to consumers, except certain meats.
Minnesota — SF 1610
IJ and the Minnesota Cottage Food Producers’ Association successfully advocated for SF 1610, which allows cottage food producers to form as LLCs, raises the $18,000 revenue cap to $78,000, and allows producers to sell pet treats.
Oklahoma — HB 1032
IJ teamed up with a coalition of home food entrepreneurs
to successfully advocate for HB 1032, which allows the sale of all homemade food and drink, except meats and seafood, up to $75,000 in revenue, and allows sales in more venues with less red tape.
New Mexico — HB 177
IJ and a coalition of home bakers worked to pass a bill that eliminated Albuquerque’s ban on selling homemade foods, the permit requirement across the state, and the requirement that foods may only be sold at farmers markets and events, allowing sales from home, online, and by mail delivery.
Utah — HB 94
Building on its 2018 legislation, Utah expanded its food freedom law to allow home food entrepreneurs to sell meals with meat as long as they have a permit.
New Jersey — 53 N.J.R. 1711(A)
Prompted by an IJ lawsuit, new state agency rules lift the ban on homemade food and allow people to sell any shelf-stable homemade food, making New Jersey the 50th and last state to allow the sale of homemade foods.
Illinois — SB 2007
Aided by IJ, this bill eliminated the requirement that cottages foods be sold only at farmers markets and prohibits home rule governments from enacting rules inconsistent with state law, while keeping a wide range of allowed foods and no sales cap.