Why this matters
What Tennessee actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Tennessee Food Freedom Act (HB 813, 2022; amended HB 130, effective July 1, 2025), T.C.A. § 53-1-118. One of the most permissive food freedom laws in the U.S.
Annual revenue cap
Tennessee sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Tennessee — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Tennessee does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Tennessee? For basic cottage foods, Tennessee 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
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Unpasteurized Milk
- Alcohol
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Meat
- Meat Byproducts
- Cannabis Cbd
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Tennessee.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Tennessee'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.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, and allergens per Tennessee rules.
Start taking orders
Tennessee allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Tennessee cottage food — your questions answered.
How much is a seller's permit in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Food Freedom Act charges no cottage food permit fee, and there is no revenue cap. If you collect sales tax you may register separately for that, but there is no state food license for covered homemade foods sold directly to consumers.
Can you cook food at home and sell it as a delivery business in Tennessee?
Often yes — the Tennessee Food Freedom Act (updated by HB 130 in 2025) is broad and covers many homemade foods sold directly to consumers, going beyond shelf-stable items. Fully commercial hot restaurant service still needs licensing. You can deliver and take online orders yourself.
What kind of food can I sell from home in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Food Freedom Act covers all shelf-stable foods, including the acidified and low-acid canned goods that only a handful of states allow. Since July 2025 (HB 130), it also covers poultry made under the 1,000-bird exemption or from inspected sources, plus pasteurized dairy in items like quiches and cream soups. It still prohibits unpasteurized milk, alcohol, fish, shellfish, and red meat such as beef, pork, and lamb.
Can I ship the poultry and dairy items Tennessee now allows?
No — those temperature-controlled foods are in-person sales only. Tennessee lets you ship or deliver non-TCS shelf-stable foods and even wholesale them to retail stores, but poultry and pasteurized-dairy items must be sold in person, cannot be shipped, and cannot be sold wholesale. Poultry also carries a 75-pound cap per transaction.
Tennessee cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Tennessee does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The cited state sources do not list a revenue cap. Tennessee allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers. Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. Tennessee also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path has separate state rules. Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee's basic cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Tennessee also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path has separate state rules. Common no-go categories include unpasteurized milk, alcohol, fish, shellfish, meat.