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KRS § 217.136 (Home-Based Food Processors, HB 263)High confidence

Cottage food law · Kentucky

KentuckyCottage Food Law

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

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

Why this matters

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

Kentucky permits cottage food sales under KRS § 217.136 (Home-Based Food Processors, HB 263). Annual sales are capped at $60,000. Registration with a state agency is required before you can sell.

Annual revenue cap

$60,000 a year.

Annual gross cap

$60,000

KRS § 217.136 (Home-Based Food Processors, HB 263)

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 is home-produced and processed

— KRS § 217.136 (Home-Based Food Processors, HB 263)

Sales channels

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

Online ordering

YesYes

Shipping

No

Federal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.

Seller delivery

YesYes

Third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)

NoNo

Interstate sales

NoNo

Wholesale to retail stores

NoNo

Registration & permits

Kentucky requires registration before you sell.

Registration

Required

Type: registration

Registration cost

$50

Timeline

About 28 days

Labeling standard

Standard

Inspection

None

Food safety certification

Not required

Address privacy

Not available

Prohibited categories

What you can't sell under cottage food rules.

  • Tcs
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Dairy
  • Cream Cheese Frostings
  • Custards
  • Eggs
  • Cream Pies
  • Cheesecakes
  • Cooked Vegetables
  • Garlic In Oil
  • Beverages
  • Cannabis Cbd

How to start

Steps to a legal first sale in Kentucky.

  1. Confirm your products qualify

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

  2. Register with your state agency

    Kentucky requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration cost is $50. Expect about 28 days for processing.

    Kentucky registration portal

  3. Label every product correctly

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

  4. Start taking orders

    Kentucky allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.

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.