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RSA 143-A:12 (Homestead Food License); RSA 143-A:5(VII) (exemptions); N.H. Admin. Code He-P 2310.01High confidence

Cottage food law · New Hampshire

New HampshireCottage Food Law

New Hampshire cottage food law — what actually applies when you sell from home.

Here's what New Hampshire allows under current cottage food rules: what you can sell, what you can't, and how to start legally.

Why this matters

What New Hampshire actually allows — and what it doesn't.

New Hampshire operates a unique dual-tier "Homestead Food Operation" system under RSA 143-A:12 (Homestead Food License) and RSA 143-A:5(VII) (exemptions).

Two Tiers:

Unlicensed (under $20,000 annual gross sales): No registration, no fees, no inspection. Limited to sales at home, own farm stand, farmers markets, and retail food stores. Online sales and shipping prohibited

Licensed ($150/year, unlimited revenue): Allows online sales, shipping within NH, wholesale to restaurants/distributors, mail order. Removed revenue cap in 2023 (HB 119)

Annual revenue cap

$20,000 a year.

Annual gross cap

$20,000

RSA 143-A:12 (Homestead Food License); RSA 143-A:5(VII) (exemptions); N.H. Admin. Code He-P 2310.01

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 exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection

— RSA 143-A:12 (Homestead Food License); RSA 143-A:5(VII) (exemptions); N.H. Admin. Code He-P 2310.01

Sales channels

Where you can sell in New Hampshire — and where you can't.

Online ordering

NoNo

Shipping

No

Federal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.

Seller delivery

NoNo

Third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)

ConditionalConditional

Interstate sales

NoNo

Wholesale to retail stores

NoNo

Registration & permits

New Hampshire does not require state registration.

Registration

Not required

Labeling standard

Standard

Inspection

None

Food safety certification

Not required

Address privacy

Not available

Prohibited categories

What you can't sell under cottage food rules.

  • Tcs
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Eggs
  • Dairy
  • Cut Produce
  • Honey
  • Maple Syrup
  • Beverages
  • Apple Cider
  • Raw Sprouts
  • Tofu
  • Garlic In Oil
  • Low Acid Canned Goods
  • Dehydrated Fruits Vegetables Meats

How to start

Steps to a legal first sale in New Hampshire.

  1. Confirm your products qualify

    Verify your menu fits New Hampshire's cottage food rules. Most states restrict temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items; check the prohibited-foods list above.

  2. Label every product correctly

    Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.

About VibeKitchen

The storefront tool this guide comes from.

VibeKitchen is a storefront and order-management tool for home food sellers — your own ordering page, your own checkout, your own customers. We’re the reason this guide exists: we had to research every state’s cottage food rules to build the product, and we’re publishing what we learned.