Why this matters
What Nebraska actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Nebraska permits cottage food sales under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2,280 (LB 304, 2019; LB 262, July 19, 2024). The statute sets no revenue cap on cottage food sales. Registration with a state agency is required before you can sell.
Annual revenue cap
Nebraska sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Nebraska — 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
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Nebraska requires registration before you sell.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Nebraska? Yes — Nebraska wants you to register before selling. Here is what that path involves.
- Registration
Required
Type: registration
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Raw Eggs
- Unpasteurized Juice
- Infused Oils
- Infused Honey
- Sprouts
- Low Acid Canned Foods
- Hermetically Sealed Acidified Foods
- Tofu
- Tempeh
- Fermented Foods
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Nebraska.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Nebraska'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.
Register with your state agency
Nebraska requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration is free.
Nebraska registration portalComplete food safety certification
Nebraska requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: ansi accredited.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, and allergens per Nebraska rules.
Start taking orders
Nebraska allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.
Frequently asked
Nebraska cottage food — your questions answered.
How much is a food license in Nebraska?
Nebraska registration is free, and LB 262 (2024) expanded the cottage food law. There is no revenue cap on what you can sell directly. Your only real costs are ingredients, packaging, and labels.
Do I need food safety training to sell homemade food in Nebraska?
Yes. Unlike no-registration states, Nebraska requires you to complete food safety certification and register before selling — even though registration is free and there is no revenue cap. Finish the training, complete the state portal step, and keep proof with your business records.
What kind of food can I sell from home in Nebraska?
Nebraska's cottage food lane has no revenue cap, but it excludes meat, poultry, fish, raw eggs, unpasteurized juice, sprouts, and low-acid canned foods. Build a small home bakery menu around shelf-stable foods that clearly fit before you advertise availability.
Can I sell infused oils, flavored honey, or fermented foods in Nebraska?
No. Infused oils and honey, hermetically sealed acidified foods, tofu, tempeh, and fermented foods all sit outside the Nebraska cottage food lane. Choose products that clearly qualify so the kitchen schedule and your registration stay in good standing.
Nebraska cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Nebraska requires registration before selling cottage food. The cited state sources do not list a revenue cap. Nebraska allows online orders, seller delivery for cottage food sellers. Nebraska also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path has separate state rules.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska requires registration 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska's basic cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Nebraska also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path has separate state rules. Common no-go categories include meat, poultry, fish, raw eggs, unpasteurized juice.