Why this matters
What Wisconsin actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Wisconsin "Kivirist Exceptions" (2010) for baked goods; Wisconsin Act 101 "Pickle Bill" (2009) for home-canned goods
Current Law — Two Separate Tracks:
Baked Goods: UNLIMITED revenue cap, NO registration, NO fees, NO inspection; direct sales (farmers markets, home, events, online/mail order within Wisconsin)
Canned Goods (Act 101): $5,000/year cap, farmers markets & community events ONLY (NO online/mail order); allowed products include pickled fruits/vegetables (pH ≤4.6), salsas, chutneys, sauerkraut, kimchi, jams, jellies, applesauce
Annual revenue cap
Wisconsin 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
This product was made in a home not subject to state licensing or inspection.
— Wisconsin 'Kivirist Exceptions' (2010) for baked goods; Wisconsin Act 101 'Pickle Bill' (2009) for home-canned goods
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Wisconsin — 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
Wisconsin does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Wisconsin? For basic cottage foods, Wisconsin 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.
- Tcs
- Dairy
- Cheese
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Custards
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Low Acid Canned Goods
- Cream Filled Baked Goods
- Custard Filled Baked Goods
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Wisconsin.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Wisconsin'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, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Wisconsin allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Wisconsin cottage food — your questions answered.
Can you sell food out of your house in Wisconsin?
Yes, through two no-license tracks: baked goods (from the Kivirist court ruling) and home-canned goods (the "Pickle Bill," Act 101). Neither track requires registration; baked goods have no revenue cap, so you can start selling shelf-stable items directly.
Do I need a permit to sell food in Wisconsin?
No permit is required for either the baked-goods track or the home-canned-goods track. Both cover shelf-stable, low-risk foods sold directly to customers. Temperature-controlled foods fall outside them and need a licensed path.
What can I sell under each Wisconsin cottage food track?
Wisconsin runs two separate no-license tracks. The baked-goods track (the 2010 Kivirist ruling) has no revenue cap. The canned-goods track (Act 101, the "Pickle Bill") caps sales at $5,000 a year but opens up pickled fruits and vegetables at pH 4.6 or below, salsas, chutneys, sauerkraut, kimchi, jams, jellies, and applesauce — all of which must follow approved recipes or pH testing. Dairy, cream or custard fillings, and any meat, poultry, or seafood stay prohibited.
Can I sell Wisconsin cottage foods online?
Only the baked-goods track. Baked goods can be sold online and shipped anywhere within Wisconsin, while Act 101 canned goods are limited to farmers markets and community events with no online or mail order. Interstate sales are prohibited on both tracks.
Wisconsin cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Wisconsin does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The cited state sources do not list a revenue cap. Wisconsin allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Wisconsin?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, dairy, cheese, cream cheese frosting, custards.