Why this matters
What Maryland actually allows — and what it doesn't.
MD Health-General Code Ann. § 21-330.1
Annual revenue cap
$50,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$50,000
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
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations
— MD Health-General Code Ann. § 21-330.1
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Maryland — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Maryland does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Maryland? For basic cottage foods, Maryland does not require a separate license or permit — but other rules can still apply.
- Registration
Not required
- Timeline
About 14 days
- Labeling standard
HB8 Strict
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Available
Via state unique id
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Cut Produce
- Canned Vegetables
- Pickled Eggs
- Cream Cheese
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Maryland.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Maryland's cottage food rules. 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
Maryland does not require registration, but offers an optional ID that replaces your home address on labels.
Agency pageLabel 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
Maryland allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Maryland cottage food — your questions answered.
Do I need a license to sell homemade food in Maryland?
No state license is required for Maryland cottage food, and the annual sales cap is $50,000. You can sell direct, at farmers' markets, and to some retail outlets, and take online orders with in-state shipping. Temperature-controlled foods are excluded.
What foods can I sell under Maryland cottage food law?
Maryland cottage food is capped at $50,000 gross a year and needs no registration. The prohibited side is specific: all temperature-controlled foods, including meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, cut produce, canned vegetables, pickled eggs, and cream cheese. Every label must also carry the disclaimer "Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations" in at least 10-point type.
Can I sell from my home in Maryland?
Yes. You can sell your cottage foods directly from home, online, and shipped in-state, up to the $50,000 cap. Local zoning rules still apply to any on-site pickup or stand.
Can I sell Maryland cottage foods in retail stores?
Yes, and that is unusual among cottage food states. To sell through retail food stores you complete a Cottage Food Business Request form and receive MDH approval, and any product on a store shelf must show a production date on its label. Starting July 1, 2026, Maryland's HB8 date-labeling law also requires standardized "Best if used by" or "Use by" dates in place of "sell by" formats.
How do I keep my home address off Maryland cottage food labels?
Maryland offers a voluntary Unique ID Number — a free, state-issued ID that replaces your home address on labels for privacy. If you use it, the label shows that Unique ID plus your phone number instead of your street address.
Maryland cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Maryland does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The annual gross sales cap is $50,000. Maryland allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Maryland?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. Maryland 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 Maryland?
Maryland's cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.