Sell Homemade Food in Maryland — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Maryland — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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$50,000/year
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
Maryland is considered business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Maryland is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) explains everything you need to know about the Maryland Cottage Food Law (Md. Code Health-Gen. § 21-330.1).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Maryland requires below.
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Your own online store with photos and menu
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Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Maryland
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned foods
fermented foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) before you start, just to be safe.
Maryland Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Maryland under the Maryland Cottage Food Law (Md. Code Health-Gen. § 21-330.1)
No Permit Needed
Maryland does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Maryland does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Maryland 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 Maryland wants on it — copy this list.
Business name and physical address (or MDH-issued unique ID number)
Product name
Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight, including sub-ingredients
Net weight or volume
Major food allergen disclosure
"Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations" in at least 10-point type
For retail store sales: business phone, email, and date of production
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Maryland 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 Maryland
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Maryland. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
Ship within Maryland only
Maryland cottage food sales must occur within the state. Interstate shipping is not authorized under the law, so check with MDA before mailing across state lines.
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 Maryland
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Maryland
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Maryland
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Maryland
Wholesale to Stores
Allowed in Maryland
Start Your Home Food Business in Maryland
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Maryland
Maryland allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in Maryland
Baltimore Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival
Annual gathering of food trucks and artisan food vendors at Canton Waterfront.
HonFest
Hampden neighborhood festival celebrating Baltimore culture with local food vendors.
Visit WebsiteArtscape
America's largest free arts festival with local food vendors across the Station North district.
Home Food Business Types in Maryland
Start any of these home food businesses under the Maryland Cottage Food Law (Md. Code Health-Gen. § 21-330.1)
Start Your Maryland Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Maryland Cottage Food Law (Md. Code Health-Gen. § 21-330.1) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Maryland? 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.