UtahCottage Food Law

Utah has a unique three-path system — rare nationally. Path 1: Traditional Cottage Food (Utah Code § 4-5-301) — $50 registration + consultation/inspection with the Utah Department of Agriculture, food handler permit required, unlimited revenue, can sell direct-to-consumer AND to stores for resale. Path 2: Home Consumption/Food Freedom (HB 181) — no registration, fees, or training, unlimited revenue, but products must be for "home consumption" at a private residence. Path 3: MEHKO (Utah Code § 26B-7-416) — home-chef permit, $100,000 cap, 30 meals/day, 90 meals/week, home kitchen inspection, $300–$350 initial permit.

Depends on what you want to sell and how. For shelf-stable baked goods and jams sold online or at retail, Path 1 (Traditional Cottage Food) is probably the fit — the $50 registration unlocks online sales, in-state shipping, and retail store wholesale. For informal direct-from-home sales with broader food categories, Path 2 (Food Freedom) works but has narrower sales channels. For prepared meals and TCS items, Path 3 (MEHKO) is the only legal path.

Yes — Utah Traditional Cottage Food explicitly allows online ordering and in-state shipping. You can also sell at farmers' markets, festivals, community events, roadside stands, via home pickup or direct delivery, and to retail stores for resale (rare among cottage food regimes).

MEHKO is for cooked, refrigerated, and TCS meals — things you can't sell under cottage food. It's capped at 30 meals per day, 90 per week, and $100,000 annual revenue. You can't cater, can't sell at events or farmers' markets, can't wholesale. Customers either pick up in person or receive delivery; they can't eat on-site. Annual inspection required after initial permitting.

TCS foods requiring refrigeration, cream-filled pastries, meat, dairy, eggs, and cut produce. If you want to sell any of those from home, you need Path 3 (MEHKO).

Utah requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. There is no state revenue cap in the current data. Utah allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.

Yes. Utah requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. Check the official state source before selling because local zoning, food safety training, or label rules may still apply.

Utah's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.