Sell Homemade Food in Louisiana — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Louisiana — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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$30,000/year (no cap on baked goods sold direct to consumers)
Revenue Limit
Annual limit under cottage food law
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
business-friendly
Regulation Level
Louisiana is considered business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Louisiana is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) explains everything you need to know about the Louisiana Cottage Food Law (La. R.S. 40:4.10).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Louisiana requires below.
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Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Louisiana
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
pralines
honey
popcorn
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) before you start, just to be safe.
Louisiana Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Louisiana under the Louisiana Cottage Food Law (La. R.S. 40:4.10)
No Permit Needed
Louisiana does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Louisiana does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Louisiana allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Louisiana wants on it — copy this list.
Product name
Producer's name and address
Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
Net quantity (in English and metric units)
Allergen disclosure (FALCPA Big 9: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
Statement clearly indicating the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Louisiana requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Louisiana
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Louisiana. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
pralines
honey
popcorn
Ship within Louisiana only
Louisiana's cottage food law applies to in-state direct sales to consumers. The state does not authorize mail-order across state lines, so check with LDAF before shipping out of state.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Louisiana
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Louisiana
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Louisiana
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Louisiana
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Louisiana cottage food law
Home Food Business Types in Louisiana
Start any of these home food businesses under the Louisiana Cottage Food Law (La. R.S. 40:4.10)
Start Your Louisiana Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Louisiana Cottage Food Law (La. R.S. 40:4.10) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Louisiana? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.