Why this matters
What South Carolina actually allows — and what it doesn't.
South Carolina permits cottage food sales under SC Code § 44-1-143 (Home-Based Food Production Law, 2012; S.506 effective May 23, 2022). The statute sets no revenue cap on cottage food sales. No state registration is required; optional ID programs may be available for label privacy.
Annual revenue cap
South Carolina sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
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
PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS
— SC Code § 44-1-143 (Home-Based Food Production Law, 2012; S.506 effective May 23, 2022)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in South Carolina — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
YesYesInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
South Carolina does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- 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
- Dairy
- Cream Filled Items
- Cheesecakes
- Custards
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Fermented Foods
- Acidified Foods
- Canned Goods
- Cut Produce
- Beverages
- Cannabis Cbd
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in South Carolina.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against South Carolina'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
South Carolina 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
South Carolina allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
South Carolina cottage food — your questions answered.
Do I need to register to sell cottage food in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina requires no permit and no license under SC Code § 44-1-143 (the Home-Based Food Production Law, expanded by S.506 effective May 23, 2022). An optional SCDA identification number is available for address privacy — you can put the ID on labels instead of your home address.
Is there a revenue cap?
No. The $15,000 cap was removed in 2018 and hasn't been reinstated. Regulatory authority moved from DHEC to the SC Department of Agriculture in July 2024.
Can I sell to restaurants and grocery stores?
Yes — S.506 explicitly authorized this in 2022. Cottage food products may be sold to third-party vendors including restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, gift shops, and co-ops for resale. Retail stores must post signage indicating the products are not subject to commercial food regulations. Restaurants can resell the packaged products or use them as ingredients (the latter may require a DHEC variance).
What's the third-party delivery rule?
South Carolina explicitly allows third-party delivery services (DoorDash, Uber Eats) for cottage food, along with seller delivery, in-state shipping via commercial carriers, and mail-order within SC. Online ordering is allowed within South Carolina. Interstate sales are prohibited.
What's the disclaimer language?
Your label must include, in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS and high-contrast text: "PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS." This exact casing is required — not just the words.
South Carolina cottage food laws: what is the short version?
South Carolina does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. There is no state revenue cap in the current data. South Carolina allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in South Carolina?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, dairy, cream filled items, cheesecakes, custards.