Why this matters
What Georgia actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Georgia permits cottage food sales under OCGA § 26-2-470 et seq. (HB 398, effective July 1, 2025). 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
Georgia sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
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 product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state inspection. This product may contain allergens.
— OCGA § 26-2-470 et seq. (HB 398, effective July 1, 2025)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Georgia — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
YesYesInterstate sales
YesYesWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
Georgia does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Available
Via state unique id
Food categories
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Cream Custard Fillings
- Acidified Foods
- Canned Goods
- Beverages
- Cannabis Cbd
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Georgia.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Georgia's cottage food lane. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Optional: register for address privacy
Georgia does not require registration, but offers an optional ID that replaces your home address on labels.
Agency pageComplete food safety certification
Georgia requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: ansi accredited.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Georgia allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Georgia cottage food — your questions answered.
What changed under HB 398 in 2025?
HB 398 (effective July 1, 2025) transformed Georgia cottage food: state licensing is no longer required, the revenue cap was eliminated, retail sales to stores and restaurants are now allowed, an optional ID number is available for address privacy, and inspections are now complaint-based only. It was a top-to-bottom rewrite codified as OCGA § 26-2-470 et seq.
Do I need to register with Georgia to start selling?
No. Since July 1, 2025, no registration is required. The Georgia Department of Agriculture offers an optional state ID number that you can put on labels in place of your home address. Registration is voluntary, and as of February 2026, the fee details haven't been published.
Do I need food safety training?
Yes. Georgia requires all cottage food operators to complete an ANAB-accredited food handler course (e.g., Learn2Serve, ~$10, 2 hours). This is the one mandatory requirement since HB 398 removed state licensing.
Can I sell to restaurants and grocery stores?
Yes, as of July 1, 2025 — this was one of HB 398's major expansions. One caveat: HB 398 § 26-2-476 lets counties and municipalities pass ordinances prohibiting cottage food sales THROUGH third-party vendors (retail stores, restaurants) in their jurisdiction. Direct-to-consumer sales can't be blocked locally. Verify your county's rules before approaching retail partners.
Can I ship interstate?
Yes. Georgia is one of only a few states that explicitly permits interstate cottage food sales. Interstate commerce does trigger FDA jurisdiction, so understand federal requirements before shipping out of state.
Georgia cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Georgia does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. There is no state revenue cap in the current data. Georgia allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Georgia?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. Georgia may still have label, food-category, local zoning, or other business rules, so check the official source before you sell.
What foods can I sell from home in Georgia?
Georgia's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish.