Alabama Cottage Food Law (2026): Review Form, Foods, Labels and Online Sales

Last verified: October 27, 2026 · Written by the UrbanAgLaw.org Editorial Team

Peach galette topped with blueberries and mint on parchment paper

Quick answer: Alabama lets you make non-hazardous foods such as cakes, breads, pies, jams, candy and roasted coffee at home and sell them directly to consumers, with no limit on annual income. You must take a food safety course, send your county health department a review form with your certificate and a sample label, and put a “not inspected” statement on every label. The health department does not inspect your kitchen.

At a glance

License or permit: The ADPH page describes a review, not a permit: you submit a Cottage Food Review Form, your food safety course certificate and a sample label to your county health department
Fee: Varies by county
Annual sales limit: None; the annual income limit has been removed
Allowed foods: Non-potentially hazardous foods such as baked goods, jams and jellies, candy, dried herbs and produce, roasted coffee and dry baking mixes
Where you can sell: Directly to consumers inside Alabama, in person, by phone or online, with delivery in person, by an agent or by mail
Not allowed: Wholesale, consignment, and sales through restaurants
Training required: A food safety course approved by the health department; any ANSI-accredited food safety course is accepted

Who the Alabama cottage food law covers

The Alabama Cottage Food Law is section 22-20-5.1 of the Code of Alabama. The operation must be run out of the producer’s home. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) says the county health department reviews your paperwork but does not inspect your home kitchen.

What you can sell

Is it covered by the Alabama cottage food law?
Food	Allowed?
Cakes, breads, pastries, pies and donuts that need no refrigeration	Yes
Jams, jellies and fruit preserves	Yes
Candy	Yes
Dried or dehydrated herbs, herb mixes, vegetables and fruits	Yes
Roasted coffee and dry baking mixes	Yes
Fermented or preserved vegetables and fruit	Conditions no alcohol produced and an acidity level the department allows; pH verification required
Freeze-dried foods	Conditions water activity verification required
Non-hazardous foods with less than 3% alcohol	Yes
Foods with more than 3% alcohol	No ask the Alabama Beverage Control Board
Meat, poultry and fish	No excluded by law
Potentially hazardous foods, such as beef jerky or pigs in a blanket	No

Caramel and chopped nut topped pie on a round tray — Pies and other baked goods that need no refrigeration are on Alabama’s list.

This is a summary of the ADPH list. If a product is not clearly listed, ask your county health department before you sell it.

How to register

Complete a food safety course approved by the health department. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers one, and any ANSI-accredited food safety course is accepted. Keep your certificate current; when it expires you must retake a course.
Fill out the Cottage Food Review Form.
Submit the form, your course certificate and a sample label to your local county health department.
Ask for written confirmation of the review if you need it for a business license. Fees vary by county.

The health department checks the certificate, the sample labels and the form. It does not inspect your home kitchen.

Sales limit

Alabama no longer sets a limit on annual income from cottage food. Older guides that show a $20,000 limit are out of date.

Alabama cottage food label requirements

Every item must be labeled, in type at least 10 points high, with:

the common or usual name of the food;
the name of the cottage food operation;
the home or P.O. Box address of the operation;
the ingredients in descending order of predominance;
a statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department;
a disclaimer that the food may contain allergens.

A QR code cannot replace the contact information or the ingredient list.

Food namePeach Hand Pies

Name and addressExample Home Bakery
123 Sample Street, Anytown, AL 00000

IngredientsWheat flour, peaches, sugar, butter, salt, cornstarch

Required statementThis food is not inspected by the Health Department.
confirm the exact wording with your county health department

Allergen disclaimerThis food may contain allergens.

Example label with the parts ADPH lists, in at least 10-point type. The business name and address are made up, and the statement wording is an example.

Where you can sell

Direct to consumers inside Alabama: in person, by phone or online.
Delivery: in person, through an agent of the producer or by mail, inside Alabama.
Social media: advertising is not prohibited.
Venues: you may sell from a booth, cart or storefront that does not hold a health department permit, as long as the food is made at home and sold directly to consumers. You may not sell from a health department-permitted establishment or mobile food unit. Farmers market sales fall under the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Not allowed: wholesale and consignment, and restaurants cannot sell cottage foods.

Glass jar of dried thyme sprigs — Dried herbs and herb mixes are allowed under the Alabama cottage food law.

Training and insurance

The food safety course is required, and the certificate must stay current. Insurance is not part of the program, but product liability coverage is worth considering. See our guide to liability, risk and insurance.

Local rules and HOAs

Your city or county may have zoning or business license rules, and private rules apply too, so check your HOA covenants and lease. For general background, see our planning and zoning guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell food from home in Alabama?

Yes, if it is an eligible non-hazardous food, you have a food safety certificate, you have submitted the review form to your county health department and each item is labeled correctly.

Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in Alabama?

There is no state permit. You submit a review form, certificate and sample label to your county health department, which does not inspect your kitchen.

Is there a sales limit for Alabama cottage food?

No. The annual income limit has been removed.

Can I sell cottage food online in Alabama?

Yes, to consumers inside Alabama. You may deliver in person, through an agent or by mail within the state.

Can I sell to stores or restaurants?

No. Wholesale and consignment are not allowed, and restaurants cannot sell cottage foods.

Can I sell pickles or jerky?

Fermented or preserved vegetables and fruit are allowed only if they meet the acidity level the department allows, with pH verification. Jerky and other meat products are excluded.

Note on conflicting sources

Many guides online still show a $20,000 sales limit that was removed in 2021, and some say a state permit or label approval is needed. We follow the ADPH cottage food page, which describes a review by the county health department rather than a permit. County practice can differ, such as the fee and the exact review process, so confirm with your county health department.

Official sources

Code of Alabama, section 22-20-5.1 (Cottage Food Law)
Alabama Department of Public Health: Cottage Food page and Cottage Food Law FAQ
Alabama Cooperative Extension System: cottage food food safety course
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Food Allergies (FASTER Act, sesame)

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources above or contact your county health department before you start selling.