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
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
YesYesShipping
NoFederal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.
Seller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
NoNoInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & 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
Food categories
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- 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.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Kentucky'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.
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 portalLabel 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
Kentucky allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.
Frequently asked
Kentucky cottage food — your questions answered.
What does it cost to register as a Home-Based Processor in Kentucky?
Initial registration is $50 application fee plus $5 per recipe approval, so 5 recipes costs you $75 total to start. Annual renewal is $50 (previously approved recipes don't need re-approval). Kentucky is one of the few states that requires RECIPE approval — the University of Kentucky reviews each recipe you plan to sell.
What's the revenue cap?
$60,000 gross sales per year under KRS § 217.136. This cap applies to both tiers of Kentucky's program — the standard Home-Based Processor program and the Microprocessor program for acidified foods.
Can I ship my products?
No. Kentucky prohibits shipping and mail-order sales entirely. Online ordering is allowed for taking orders, but you must deliver in person to the consumer at farmers' markets, your home, or events. Wholesale to retail stores and restaurants is also prohibited.
Do I need food safety training?
Not for the standard Home-Based Processor program. If you want to make specialty acidified foods (the Microprocessor program), you need to complete a University of Kentucky workshop ($50). Both programs require verification of an approved water source — a municipal bill or well water testing.
What's the difference between Home-Based Processor and Microprocessor in Kentucky?
Home-Based Processor covers standard non-TCS cottage foods. Microprocessor is a parallel program for specialty acidified foods that require pH control (custom jams, sauces, etc.). Both share the $60,000 cap; Microprocessor requires the UK workshop that Home-Based Processor doesn't.
Kentucky cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Kentucky requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. The annual gross sales cap is $60,000. Kentucky allows online orders, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food registration in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. Check the official state source before selling because local zoning, food safety training, or label rules may still apply.
What foods can I sell from home in Kentucky?
Kentucky'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.