Registration
- Required
- No
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StateFood Freedom
Utah cottage food rules
Review sales limits, online sales, registration, labeling, venues, shipping, foods, and source notes for this jurisdiction.
Sales limit
None
Online sales
Conditional
Registration
Not required
Training
Not required
Current law details
Start with the summary, then verify locally.
Food Freedom state - Top 5 nationally (Grade B). THREE laws since 2021: (1) Food Freedom Act (HB 181, 2018): no requirements, allows poultry/rabbit meat (1,000 birds/year), in-person sales only; (2) Cottage Food Law (2007): inspection required, online sales within state and retail outlets allowed, no meat, shelf-stable foods only; (3) Microenterprise Home Kitchen Act (HB 94, 2021): allows home-cooked meals with any meat, same-day sales only, inspection required. No sales caps on any law. Zero foodborne illness outbreaks since 2018. Minors under 18-19 have exemptions. Allows up to 1,000 poultry birds/year and rabbit meat under Food Freedom Act.
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
"Not for Resale – Processed and prepared without the benefit of state or local inspection"
- Business name and home address
- Allergen list
- Food name (Cottage Food Law)
- Complete ingredient list (Cottage Food Law)
- Net quantity (Cottage Food Law)
- 'Home Produced' label (Cottage Food Law)
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
Food Freedom Act: Direct sales only (home, farmers markets, locations agreed upon). NO retail stores, NO online sales. Cottage Food Law: Direct sales, retail stores, wholesale, online sales within Utah, mail delivery within Utah. Microenterprise: Direct sales only, customer pickup or in-person delivery, NO on-site consumption. All laws: Must be within Utah state borders.
Shipping and delivery
- In-state
- Allowed
- Out-of-state
- Not allowed
- Commercial carriers
- Not allowed
- Third-party delivery
- Not allowed
Food Freedom Act: NO online sales, NO shipping, in-person only. Cottage Food Law: Online sales and mail delivery within Utah allowed. Microenterprise: Same-day sales only, no practical shipping. No interstate shipping allowed under any law.
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
Limited
Canned goods
Limited
Dried goods
Allowed
Perishables
Limited
Meat products
Limited
Dairy products
Not allowed
Food Freedom Act: Almost any food, poultry (1,000 birds/year that you raise), domesticated rabbit meat (that you raise), honey, dry mixes. Cottage Food Law: Shelf-stable only (breads, cakes, jams, jellies, honey, dry mixes, candy, granola). NO refrigerated, meat, or poultry. Microenterprise: Home-cooked meals with any meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish), grilled foods, BBQ. Prohibited across all: raw milk. National significance: Utah and Wyoming only states allowing extensive meat products.
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 181 - Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (Food Freedom Act)
Effective: May 2018
Maximum freedom, minimal regulation approach. Allows almost any food product including poultry and rabbit meat. No state/county registration, no inspections, no permitting, no food handler training, no sales cap. Direct sales only.
HB 94 - Microenterprise Home Kitchen Act
Effective: May 5, 2021
Utah became second state in nation to adopt this type of law (after California's MEHKO). Allows 'mini restaurants' or 'restaurant incubators' from home. Home-cooked meals with meat allowed. Requires permit, inspection, same-day sales only.
Important warnings
- Online sales ONLY allowed under Cottage Food Law (not Food Freedom Act or Microenterprise)
- Food Freedom Act: in-person sales only at prearranged locations
- Microenterprise: same-day sales only (food must be sold same day it's made)
- Poultry must follow USDA 1,000-bird exemption guidance and be raised by producer
- Interstate shipping prohibited under all laws
- Different requirements for each of the three laws - choose carefully based on products and business model
Research sources
Sources used for this summary.
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Use these sources as a starting point for current verification.
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food - Official pages
- Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 5a (Food Freedom Act)
- Utah Code Title 26, Chapter 15c (Microenterprise)
- Utah Legislature - HB0181 (2018), HB0094 (2021)
- Institute for Justice - Utah page and 'Baking Bad' report
- Forrager.com - Utah
- Utah State University Extension
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 Utah 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.