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
NoNoRegistration & permits
Maryland does not require state registration.
- 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
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- 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 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
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 to register to sell cottage food in Maryland?
No. Maryland requires no registration and no permit under MD Health-General Code Ann. § 21-330.1. You can start selling today. An optional Maryland Unique ID Number is available free from the state — it replaces your home address on labels if you prefer privacy. If you use the Unique ID, your labels must carry that ID plus a phone number.
What's the revenue cap?
$50,000 gross annual sales.
Can I sell to grocery stores or retail food outlets?
Yes — this is rare among cottage food states. Maryland allows cottage food sales to retail food stores, but you must first complete a Cottage Food Business Request form and get approval from the Maryland Department of Health. Products sold at retail must also carry a production date on the label.
Can I ship my products?
Shipping is permitted within Maryland only. No interstate shipping.
What about HB8, the date labeling law?
Effective July 1, 2026, HB8 requires all food manufacturers — including cottage food operators — to use standardized date labels: "Best if used by" for quality dates or "Use by" for safety dates. "Sell by" formats are being phased out. HB410 (2026 session) proposes a similar rule with a July 1, 2027 effective date, which appears to be an amended version of HB8.
Maryland cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Maryland does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. The annual gross sales cap is $50,000. Maryland allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Maryland?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. 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 lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.