Why this matters
What Texas actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Texas Cottage Food Law, Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.001 et seq., dramatically expanded by SB 541 (effective September 1, 2025).
SB 541 Major Changes:
Revenue cap tripled from $50,000 to $150,000, indexed to inflation annually
Exclusion model: Can sell ANY food except prohibited categories (vs. prior approved list)
Annual revenue cap
$150,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$150,000
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 WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION.
— Texas Cottage Food Law, Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.001 et seq., as amended by SB 541 (effective September 1, 2025)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Texas — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
NoNoInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
Texas does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Timeline
About 7 days
- 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.
- Meat
- Meat Products
- Poultry
- Poultry Products
- Seafood
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Ice Products
- Ice Cream
- Gelato
- Popsicles
- Low Acid Canned Goods
- Cannabis Cbd
- Thc
- Raw Milk
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Texas.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Texas'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
Texas 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
Texas allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.
Frequently asked
Texas cottage food — your questions answered.
What can I sell under Texas cottage food rules after SB 541?
Since September 1, 2025, Texas uses an exclusion model: you can sell any food except those on the prohibited list. The prohibited list covers meat and poultry carcasses, seafood and fish, ice products (ice cream, gelato, popsicles), low-acid canned goods, CBD/THC products, and raw milk. TCS foods like cheesecakes, cream pies, and dairy-based items ARE allowed, but only if you complete free DSHS registration for TCS sales.
Do I need to register with the state to start selling?
No, not for basic cottage food sales. Registration is optional and free — its only purpose is address privacy, giving you a DSHS unique ID to put on labels instead of your home address. Registration is required (also free) if you want to sell TCS foods or wholesale through the new "cottage food vendor" category. Note: § 437.0195 explicitly prohibits local health departments from requiring their own permits or fees.
What's the $150,000 cap and what counts toward it?
$150,000 is your total gross annual sales from all cottage food activity — TCS and non-TCS combined. The figure is indexed to inflation annually. There's no separate cap for TCS products; they share the same ceiling. You're responsible for tracking your own revenue.
Can I sell through DoorDash or Uber Eats?
No. Texas explicitly prohibits third-party delivery apps for cottage food. You can sell online through your own website, Etsy, or social media; you can ship in-state via USPS, UPS, or FedEx; and you can deliver to the buyer yourself. Interstate shipping is not allowed.
What does my label need to say?
Your name and address (or your DSHS ID if you registered for privacy), the product name, ingredients, allergens, and the disclaimer — verbatim and in all caps: "THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION." TCS products need a production date and a safe-handling instruction line in addition.
Texas cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Texas does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. The annual gross sales cap is $150,000. Texas allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Texas?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. Texas 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 Texas?
Texas's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include meat, meat products, poultry, poultry products, seafood.