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
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
South Carolina does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in South Carolina? For basic cottage foods, South Carolina does not require a separate license or permit — but other rules can still apply.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Available
Via state unique id
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- 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 rules. 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 a license to sell homemade food in South Carolina?
No state license is required for South Carolina's home-based food production law, and there is no revenue cap. You can sell shelf-stable foods directly, online, shipped, and even via third-party delivery. A required disclaimer goes on every label.
What kind of food can I sell from home in South Carolina?
Since the 2022 S.506 reforms, South Carolina allows all non-potentially-hazardous (shelf-stable) foods, and acidified foods qualify too if you use proper processing and pH testing. What stays off the list is anything temperature-controlled: dairy, cheesecakes, cream-filled or custard pastries, meat, poultry, seafood, meat and pot pies, jerky, fresh-cut produce, refrigerated dips, fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha, and cannabis- or alcohol-infused products.
What disclaimer has to be on a South Carolina cottage food label?
Every South Carolina label must carry, in all capital letters and high-contrast text, the disclaimer: "PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS." You also list your name and address, the product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight or volume, and major allergens. If you would rather not print your home address, you can request an SCDA identification number to use instead.
Can I sell my South Carolina cottage foods to stores and restaurants?
Yes, within South Carolina. You can sell to retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, and co-ops for resale — but those stores have to post signage that the products are not subject to commercial food regulations. A restaurant can resell your item in its original packaging or use it as an ingredient, though using it as an ingredient may require a DHEC variance. Interstate sales are still prohibited.
South Carolina cottage food laws: what is the short version?
South Carolina does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The cited state sources do not list a revenue cap. South Carolina allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in South Carolina?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. 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 rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, dairy, cream filled items, cheesecakes, custards.