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Virginia Code § 3.2-5130 (Home Kitchen Food Processing Exemptions)High confidence

Cottage food law · Virginia

VirginiaCottage Food Law

Virginia cottage food law — what actually applies when you sell from home.

Here's what Virginia allows under current cottage food rules: what you can sell, what you can't, and how to start legally.

Why this matters

What Virginia actually allows — and what it doesn't.

Virginia Code § 3.2-5130 (Home Kitchen Food Processing Exemptions). Virginia has one of the most restrictive online sales provisions among cottage food states.

Annual revenue cap

Virginia sets no cap on cottage food revenue.

Annual gross cap

Unlimited

Virginia Code § 3.2-5130 (Home Kitchen Food Processing Exemptions)

Sales channels

Where you can sell in Virginia — and where you can't.

Online ordering

NoNo

Shipping

No

Federal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.

Seller delivery

NoNo

Third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)

ConditionalConditional

Interstate sales

NoNo

Wholesale to retail stores

NoNo

Registration & permits

Virginia does not require state registration.

Registration

Not required

Labeling standard

Standard

Inspection

None

Food safety certification

Not required

Address privacy

Not available

Prohibited categories

What you can't sell under cottage food rules.

  • Tcs
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Cut Produce
  • Low Acid Canned Goods
  • Pesto
  • Hummus
  • Garlic In Oil

How to start

Steps to a legal first sale in Virginia.

  1. Confirm your products qualify

    Verify your menu fits Virginia's cottage food rules. Most states restrict temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items; check the prohibited-foods list above.

  2. Label every product correctly

    Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, and allergens per Virginia rules.

About VibeKitchen

The storefront tool this guide comes from.

VibeKitchen is a storefront and order-management tool for home food sellers — your own ordering page, your own checkout, your own customers. We’re the reason this guide exists: we had to research every state’s cottage food rules to build the product, and we’re publishing what we learned.