Registration
- Required
- No
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Maryland cottage food rules
Review sales limits, online sales, registration, labeling, venues, shipping, foods, and source notes for this jurisdiction.
Sales limit
$50,000
Online sales
Yes
Registration
Not required
Training
Not required
Current law details
Start with the summary, then verify locally.
No permit, fees, or inspection required. $50,000 annual cap remains current as of May 7, 2026. Mail delivery within Maryland only - no interstate sales. ANAB-accredited food safety course required only for retail store sales. Can request a state ID number to replace home address on labels. SB 701 is now active, allowing refrigerated baked goods such as cheesecakes, cream pies, custard pies, meringue pies, and fresh fruit tarts. HB 535 would raise the cap to $100,000 on Oct 1, 2026 if enacted; SB 838 would broaden the statutory cottage food product definition to nonpotentially hazardous foods and address home bakeries. Neither 2026 bill is active as of May 7, 2026.
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
"Made in a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations"
- Business name
- State-issued ID number OR home address (P.O. Box not permitted)
- Phone number or email contact
- Product name
- Ingredients (descending order by weight)
- Net weight or volume
- Allergen information
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
Limited
Restaurants
Not allowed
Online
Allowed
No state permit required for direct-to-consumer sales. Retail store sales allowed but require ANAB food safety course completion and label submission to health department for review.
Shipping and delivery
- In-state
- Allowed
- Out-of-state
- Not allowed
- Commercial carriers
- Allowed
- Third-party delivery
- Allowed
Mail delivery within Maryland via USPS, UPS, FedEx allowed. Interstate sales and shipping prohibited. Personal delivery within Maryland permitted. All products must be pre-packaged.
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
Not allowed
Canned goods
Not allowed
Dried goods
Allowed
Perishables
Limited
Meat products
Not allowed
Dairy products
Limited
Allowed: non-TCS baked goods, refrigerated baked goods added by SB 701, hard candy only (no soft/chocolate), jams/jellies (pH <= 4.6), and unflavored honey. Refrigerated baked goods include cheesecakes, custard pies, meringue pies, cream pies, and fresh fruit tarts. Prohibited: pickles, salsa, pepper jelly, BBQ sauce, condiments, low-acid canned foods, meat, most dairy products outside the refrigerated baked-good category, and fermented foods.
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
SB701
Effective: October 1, 2025
Allows refrigerated baked goods (cheesecakes, custard/meringue/cream pies, fresh fruit tarts) for the first time
HB535
Effective: October 1, 2026
Would increase the cottage food sales limit from $50,000 to $100,000. Passed both chambers in 2026 but not yet effective as of May 7, 2026.
SB838
Effective: Pending
Would alter the cottage food product definition to include nonpotentially hazardous foods and address home bakery licensing. Introduced and heard in Senate Finance, but not active law as of May 7, 2026.
HB178
Effective: October 1, 2022
Increased sales cap from $25,000 to $50,000
HB1017
Effective: 2020
Created optional state ID number system to replace home address on labels for privacy protection
Retail store sales amendment
Effective: 2019
Permitted retail store sales with food safety course requirement
Important warnings
- No P.O. Box addresses allowed - must use home address or state ID number
- Interstate sales prohibited - Maryland customers only
- HB 535 cap increase is not current law until it is enacted and reaches its October 1, 2026 effective date
- ANAB food safety course required only if selling to retail stores/co-ops
- Products must be pre-packaged before sale/shipment
Research sources
Sources used for this summary.
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Use these sources as a starting point for current verification.
- Maryland Code § 21-330.1 (Health-General)
- Maryland HB178 (2022)
- Maryland SB701 (2025)
- Maryland HB535 (2026)
- Maryland SB838 (2026)
- Maryland Department of Health - Cottage Foods Guidance
- Forrager.com - Maryland
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 Maryland 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.