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Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1 (Act 2014-180, amended by Act 2021-456)High confidence

Cottage food law · Alabama

AlabamaCottage Food Law

Alabama cottage food law — what actually applies when you sell from home.

Here's what Alabama allows under current cottage food rules: what you can sell, what you can't, and how to start legally.

Why this matters

What Alabama actually allows — and what it doesn't.

Alabama permits cottage food sales under Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1 (Act 2014-180, amended by Act 2021-456). The statute sets no revenue cap on cottage food sales. No state registration is required; optional ID programs may be available for label privacy.

Annual revenue cap

Alabama sets no cap on cottage food revenue.

Annual gross cap

Unlimited

Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1 (Act 2014-180, amended by Act 2021-456)

Required label language

Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.

The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:

Required on every label

This food is not inspected by the department or local health department

— Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1 (Act 2014-180, amended by Act 2021-456)

Sales channels

Where you can sell in Alabama — and where you can't.

Online ordering

YesYes

Shipping

YesYes

Seller delivery

YesYes

Third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)

YesYes

Interstate sales

NoNo

Wholesale to retail stores

NoNo

Registration & permits

Alabama does not require state registration.

Registration

Not required

Type: county notification

Registration cost

$50

Timeline

About 14 days

Labeling standard

Standard

Inspection

None

Food safety certification

Required

Type: ansi accredited

Address privacy

Available

Via P.O. Box allowed per statute

Prohibited categories

What you can't sell under cottage food rules.

  • Tcs
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Dairy
  • Custard Pies
  • Cream Cheese Fillings
  • Garlic In Oil
  • Kombucha
  • Beverages
  • Raw Cookie Dough

How to start

Steps to a legal first sale in Alabama.

  1. Confirm your products qualify

    Verify your menu fits Alabama's cottage food rules. Most states restrict temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items; check the prohibited-foods list above.

  2. Optional: register for address privacy

    Alabama does not require registration, but offers an optional ID that replaces your home address on labels.

    Agency page

  3. Complete food safety certification

    Alabama requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: ansi accredited.

  4. Label every product correctly

    Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.

  5. Start taking orders

    Alabama allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.

About VibeKitchen

The storefront tool this guide comes from.

VibeKitchen is a storefront and order-management tool for home food sellers — your own ordering page, your own checkout, your own customers. We’re the reason this guide exists: we had to research every state’s cottage food rules to build the product, and we’re publishing what we learned.