Why this matters
Selling from home in New York
New York’s Home Processor Exemption is a registration, not a general license to make any food at home. It has no listed revenue cap, and the registration is free. The main work is matching your menu to the approved products and keeping the registration up to date when your address or product list changes.
Product details can change the answer. New York restricts melted chocolate used for dipping or coating, vegetable breads, raw nuts, and foods that need refrigeration. That does not mean a baked chocolate-chip cookie is treated like a chocolate-dipped strawberry. Review the finished recipe, including any topping you add after baking. Use commercially processed ingredients where the program requires them.
You can submit the registration request by email or mail. Do not promise a pickup date based on the old two-week estimate: the agency’s current notice asks applicants to allow up to 16 weeks for review. If you use a private well, include the required water-test results. Plan time for labels and packaging while you wait. Online and wholesale sales are allowed within New York; all products must stay within the state. Keep a copy of your approved product list with your business records. Official guidance.
Annual revenue cap
New York sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Sales limit
No limit
Sales channels
Where you can sell in New York
Online ordering
YesYesShipping within the state
NoNoSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
YesYesLicense, permit & registration
New York registration and permits
Yes. Obtain the free Home Processor Exemption registration from New York Agriculture and Markets before selling. It is tied to your location and approved products; send a new request when those change. Official guidance.
- Registration
Required
Type: registration
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Cut Produce
- Melted Chocolate Coatings
- Chocolate Dipped
- Cream Filled Pastries
- Vegetable Breads
- Pickles
- Fermented Foods
- Acidified Foods
- Raw Nuts
- No Bake Items
- Beverages
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in New York.
Submit your Home Processor request by email or mail and wait for approval before taking orders.
- List the foods you want approved under the Home Processor Exemption.
- Email or mail the registration request; include water tests if you use a private well.
- Wait for approval before selling.
- Package and label products at home, and keep orders within New York.
Frequently asked
New York cottage food — your questions answered.
Do you need a permit to sell food in New York?
New York uses a free Home Processor Exemption (registration) under Agriculture & Markets Law Article 20-C, with no revenue cap. It covers shelf-stable foods; some items like certain chocolates are restricted. Registration keeps you compliant while selling direct and online. Official guidance.
Can you sell food out of your house in New York?
Yes, after Home Processor approval. You can sell direct, online, or wholesale within New York. Package and label the products at home and keep every sale inside the state. Official guidance.
What kind of food can I sell from home in New York?
Approved products include qualifying breads, cookies, dry mixes, and candies. Melted chocolate coatings, vegetable breads, raw nuts, and refrigerated foods are restricted. Check the recipe and finish: baked chocolate-chip cookies are different from chocolate-dipped items. Official guidance.
How does New York's Home Processor Exemption registration work?
Registration is free, location-specific, and has no expiration date. Submit by email or mail; the agency currently asks applicants to allow up to 16 weeks. Private-well users need water-test results, and a move or new product list needs an updated request. Official guidance.
Which ingredients must be commercially processed for New York cottage foods?
New York requires commercially-processed ingredients for dried herbs and spices, baking mixes, soup mixes, dried fruit and vegetables, and roasted nuts — you cannot home-process these items. Raw nuts are prohibited outright, so any nuts you use must be commercially roasted. Official guidance.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in New York?
Yes. Obtain the free Home Processor Exemption registration from New York Agriculture and Markets before selling. It is tied to your location and approved products; send a new request when those change. Official guidance.
New York cottage food laws: what is the short version?
New York requires free Home Processor registration, with no listed sales cap. Start with the approved-food list, submit your products for approval, and keep sales within New York. Official guidance.
What foods can I sell from home in New York?
Start with the Home Processor approved-food list. Refrigerated foods and products outside the exemption need a licensed facility; a free registration does not expand the approved list. Official guidance.