Why this matters
What Louisiana actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Louisiana permits cottage food sales under La. R.S. 40:4.9 (Act 542, 2013; amended 2014, 2022 HB 828). Annual sales are capped at $30,000. Registration with a state agency is required before you can sell.
Annual revenue cap
$30,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$30,000
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Louisiana — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
NoFederal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.
Seller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
Louisiana requires registration before you sell.
- Registration
Required
Type: local health district plus tax
- Timeline
About 14 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.
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Dairy
- Low Acid Canned Foods
- Fermented Foods
- Beverages
- Garlic In Oil
- Cannabis Cbd
- Cut Produce
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Louisiana.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Louisiana'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
Louisiana requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration is free. Expect about 14 days for processing.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, and allergens per Louisiana rules.
Start taking orders
Louisiana allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Louisiana cottage food — your questions answered.
How does Louisiana's two-tier cottage food system work?
Louisiana splits cottage food into two revenue tiers under La. R.S. 40:4.9. Tier 1 — breads, cakes, cookies, and pies only — has UNLIMITED revenue. Tier 2 — all other cottage foods (jams, candies, honey, pickles, sauces, dried goods) — is capped at $30,000 gross per year. If you produce both, you must track them separately.
Can I ship my products?
No. Louisiana prohibits shipping entirely — both in-state and interstate. You can advertise online and take orders online, but every product must be hand-delivered by you, the seller, in person. No USPS, no FedEx, no UPS.
Can I sell cream or custard-filled pastries?
Yes, as long as you use pasteurized milk products. Louisiana is one of the few states that explicitly allows cream and custard-filled baked goods in cottage food, which is unusual given the TCS concerns.
Are there special rules for Tier 1 (breads, cakes, cookies, pies)?
Yes, three of them: you may not employ assistants, you must exclude pets from preparation areas at all times, and you must keep perishable ingredients refrigerated at ≤45°F. Tier 1 is also limited to direct sales only — no retail store or restaurant sales. Tier 2 items CAN be sold to retail stores and restaurants.
Do I need to register?
Yes. You register with your local health district and must also obtain a Louisiana General Sales Tax Certificate plus a local sales tax certificate in each parish where you sell. Food safety training is not required.
Louisiana cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Louisiana requires local health district plus tax before selling cottage food. The annual gross sales cap is $30,000. Louisiana allows online orders, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food local health district plus tax in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana requires local health district plus tax before selling cottage food. 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, dairy.