Registration
- Required
- No
Back to all regions
StateFood Freedom
Tennessee cottage food rules
Review sales limits, online sales, registration, labeling, venues, shipping, foods, and source notes for this jurisdiction.
Sales limit
None
Online sales
Yes
Registration
Not required
Training
Not required
Current law details
Start with the summary, then verify locally.
Tennessee Food Freedom Act (HB 813, 2022; amended HB 130, 2025) - one of the nation's most permissive laws. NO sales cap, NO licensing, NO inspections. Allows acidified and low-acid canned foods (only 3 states nationwide). Can hire full-time employees. Prohibits municipal interference. 2025 amendment adds poultry (1,000-bird exemption or inspected) and pasteurized dairy products. In-state shipping allowed for non-perishable items.
Setup requirements
Registration, training, and labeling details.
These are the common operating requirements sellers check before launching or changing sales channels.
Training
- Required
- No
Labeling
"This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection."
- Producer's name
- Home address (business address)
- Phone number
- Common name of the food (product name)
- Net amount/weight
- Date produced
- List of ingredients in descending order of prominence
- May contain allergens note
Sales channels
Allowed venues and fulfillment methods.
Confirm how customers are allowed to buy, receive, or pick up products before opening a sales channel.
Sales venues
Home sales
Allowed
Farmers markets
Allowed
Roadside stands
Allowed
Events
Allowed
Retail stores
Allowed
Restaurants
Not allowed
Online
Allowed
Direct-to-consumer anywhere in Tennessee. Non-perishable products can be sold via retail stores. Perishable products cannot be sold wholesale. Online orders allowed with in-state shipping for non-perishable items. Perishable items cannot be shipped or sold remotely (in-person only). Cannot sell through restaurants.
Shipping and delivery
- In-state
- Allowed
- Out-of-state
- Not allowed
- Commercial carriers
- Allowed
- Third-party delivery
- Not allowed
In-state shipping permitted for non-perishable items. Perishable products cannot be shipped or sold remotely - must be in-person sales only. All sales must be within Tennessee. No out-of-state shipping.
Product categories
Allowed food categories.
Allowed and limited categories are only a planning aid. Check official guidance before selling a specific recipe.
Baked goods
Allowed
Candy and confections
Allowed
Jams and jellies
Allowed
Acidified foods
Allowed
Canned goods
Allowed
Dried goods
Allowed
Perishables
Limited
Meat products
Limited
Dairy products
Limited
Acidified and low-acid canned foods allowed (extremely rare - only 3 states). Perishable foods allowed for in-person sales only. Poultry products allowed (1,000-bird exemption per 9 CFR 381.10(d) OR use federally/state-inspected poultry, max 75 lbs per transaction). Pasteurized dairy allowed in food products. Prohibited: unpasteurized milk, alcoholic beverages, fish, shellfish, raw meat (except poultry as specified).
Updates and cautions
Check these notes before making changes.
Recent updates and warnings are included to help you spot issues that may need extra verification.
Recent legislative updates
HB 813 - Tennessee Food Freedom Act
Effective: July 1, 2022
Completely replaced previous cottage food law. Eliminated sales caps entirely, removed licensing/permitting/inspection requirements, allowed full-time employee hiring, prohibited municipal interference, expanded allowed food categories dramatically including acidified and low-acid canned foods.
HB 130 / SB 484 - Time/Temperature Control Amendment
Effective: July 1, 2025
Added certain time/temperature controlled foods (TCS). Allowed poultry products under 1,000-bird exemption or with federal inspection. Allowed pasteurized dairy in food products. Maintained prohibition on unpasteurized milk, fish, shellfish, and raw meat.
Important warnings
- Perishable products: in-person sales only (no wholesale, no shipping)
- Restaurant sales prohibited
- Out-of-state sales prohibited
- Poultry products require 1,000-bird exemption compliance OR use of inspected poultry
- Municipal governments cannot impose additional regulations
Research sources
Sources used for this summary.
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Use these sources as a starting point for current verification.
- Tennessee Code Annotated § 53-1-118
- Tennessee Department of Agriculture - Food Freedom Act Page
- University of Tennessee Extension Publication PB-1909
- HB 813 (2022) - Capitol.tn.gov
- HB 130 (2025) - Capitol.tn.gov
- Forrager.com - Tennessee
Important legal disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Cottage food rules change frequently and vary by local jurisdiction. Always verify current regulations with your state and local health departments before starting your business.
Next step
Turn Tennessee rules into a clear ordering experience.
Use Cottage CMS to publish products, pickup windows, forms, disclosures, and order workflows after you verify the current local requirements.