Guide
New Jersey cottage food law for home bakers
What a home baker in New Jersey needs before the first sale: registration, the sales cap, online orders, delivery, and the exact label line, each with its source.
“This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.”
$50,000sales cap
$100to register
Onlinehanded over in person
Last reviewed September 5, 2026. A plain-language summary, not legal advice.
On this page
The short version
New Jersey asks for a $100 permit that lasts two years and a food protection manager certificate, caps gross sales at $50,000 a year, and lets you take orders and payment online as long as you hand the product over in person, in New Jersey.
The permit application lists every product with its allergens, so the label work starts before the first bake.
Registering
The rule is administered by New Jersey Department of Health; the guide reads N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.
The permit needs a completed application, a food protection manager certificate from an accredited program, and either a recent water bill or a well-water analysis. It costs $100, lasts two years, and the permit number goes on every label.
Where you can sell, and whether online counts
You may advertise online, accept online orders and take payment online. The Department's own answer on delivery is plain: the product changes hands in person, at your home, the customer's home in New Jersey, a farmers market, a farm stand or a temporary event, and never through USPS, FedEx or another carrier. Nothing leaves the state under this permit.
What goes on the label
The statement below, word for word, plus your permit number and your municipality. The allergen line is a Contains line naming each major allergen.
- The common name of the product
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- A Contains line naming the major allergens
- Your name, your business name and your permit number
- Your municipality, as on the permit, and New Jersey or NJ
What you can bake and sell
Bread, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, pastries and cookies are the named baked goods; anything that needs the fridge to stay safe is out.
- Allowed: Bread, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, pastries and cookies
- Not allowed: Anything needing time or temperature control for safety: cream or custard fillings, cheesecake
The sales cap
New Jersey caps cottage food sales at $50,000 a year, counted as gross annual sales, before taxes and expenses.
Work out how much room you have left this year with the cottage food sales cap checker.
Questions people ask
Do I need to register to sell cottage food in New Jersey?
Yes, New Jersey requires registration before the first sale. A Cottage Food Operator Permit, renewed every two years. The fee is $100 for two years.
What is the cottage food sales cap in New Jersey?
New Jersey caps cottage food sales at $50,000 a year, counted as gross annual sales, before taxes and expenses.
Can I take orders online in New Jersey?
Yes, you can take orders online. The handover has to happen in person.
Can I deliver or ship cottage food in New Jersey?
Delivery is allowed. Shipping inside the state is not allowed.
What does my New Jersey cottage food label need to say?
The label must say: This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.
Sources
Laws change; check the linked source before you sell.
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