Registration
- Required
- No
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Virginia cottage food rules
Review sales limits, online sales, registration, labeling, venues, shipping, foods, and source notes for this jurisdiction.
Sales limit
None
Online sales
No
Registration
Not required
Training
Not required
Current law details
Start with the summary, then verify locally.
CURRENT THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026: HB 759 (2024) expanded venues to all events (<=14 days) and increased the acidified food cap from $3,000 to $9,000. Most cottage foods have no sales cap, but online transactions and shipping are still prohibited until HB 402 takes effect on July 1, 2026. HB 402 will allow in-state online sales and delivery by mail, commercial carrier, or third party for exempt foods.
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 STATE INSPECTION"
- Name of person preparing the food
- Physical address
- Telephone number
- Product name
- Date the food was processed
- FOR HONEY: 'PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION. WARNING: Do Not Feed Honey to Infants Under One Year Old'
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
Not allowed
Restaurants
Not allowed
Online
Not allowed
Direct-to-consumer only. Allowed: private home where product was manufactured, farmers markets, temporary events (≤14 consecutive days), roadside stands. Online advertising allowed (website, social media, product photos, prices, contact info), but cannot complete transactions online. Prohibited: online sales transactions, restaurants, retail stores, wholesale, interstate sales, catering events, mail order, consignment, resale through third parties.
Shipping and delivery
- In-state
- Not allowed
- Out-of-state
- Not allowed
- Commercial carriers
- Not allowed
- Third-party delivery
- Not allowed
No online sales or shipping allowed. All sales must be in-person within Virginia. Customers may contact producer via phone/email to arrange in-person transaction at approved venues. Direct-to-consumer in-person only model.
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
Limited
Dried goods
Allowed
Perishables
Not allowed
Meat products
Not allowed
Dairy products
Not allowed
General cottage foods (NO CAP): baked goods (bagels, breads, cakes, cookies, etc.), candies, cotton candy, popcorn, jams/jellies (non-acidified), honey (250 gal/year cap), vinegars, dried fruits, dry herbs/seasonings, coated/uncoated nuts, dried pasta, dry baking mixes, roasted coffee, dried tea, cereals, trail mixes, granola. Acidified vegetables ($9,000 CAP): pickles, pickled vegetables, salsas (pH ≤ 4.6). Prohibited: perishable baked goods requiring refrigeration, low-acid canned foods, fermented foods, dried vegetables, fruit butters, juices, meat, dairy, products requiring refrigeration or time/temperature control. Critical: all products must NOT require time or temperature control for safety after preparation.
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 402
Effective: July 1, 2026
Signed 2026 reform that will allow online sales and in-state delivery by mail, commercial delivery service, or third-party delivery platform for exempt foods. Not yet active as of May 7, 2026.
HB 759
Effective: July 1, 2024
Tripled acidified food cap from $3,000 to $9,000. Explicit authorization for sales at all types of temporary events (up to 14 consecutive days). Clarified that online advertising is allowed (but transactions prohibited). Simplified labeling for small products. Passed after VDACS attempted to restrict event sales and Institute for Justice challenged interpretation.
Important warnings
- Online transactions and delivery remain prohibited until HB 402 takes effect on July 1, 2026
- No wholesale or consignment sales
- Acidified vegetables have $9,000 annual cap (general cottage foods have NO cap)
- All sales must be within Virginia (no interstate sales)
- Local governments may impose additional regulations (check city/county)
- Cannot sell to restaurants or retail stores
- VDACS can inspect if consumer complaint received
Research sources
Sources used for this summary.
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Use these sources as a starting point for current verification.
- Virginia Code § 3.2-5130
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
- VDACS Kitchen Bill FAQ
- Virginia HB 402 (2026)
- HB 759 (2024) legislative records
- Institute for Justice - Virginia page
- Forrager.com - Virginia
- National Agricultural Law Center
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 Virginia 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.