This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and your local rules before you start. Last reviewed Nov. 9, 2026.

What it is

Nebraska lets a producer make food in a private home and sell it directly to the consumer. State law leaves these private homes out of the food establishment definition when the producer meets the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, or NDA, calls this its Cottage Food Registration program.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,245.01(7); Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(1); NDA Cottage Food Registration page

License or permit

Producers must register with NDA before they sell any food. Before selling, they must also complete a food safety and handling course, such as a nationally accredited course, a certified course from a culinary school or local food handler program or an NDA-approved course. Producers who sell only foods that are not time/temperature control for safety foods directly to consumers at a farmers market do not need to register or take the course.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(3)-(4); NDA Cottage Food Registration page

Sales cap

The statute does not set a sales cap or a registration fee.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280

What you can sell

Producers may sell food that is not adulterated and is not one of the banned foods listed in the statute. That allows many time/temperature control for safety foods, including baked goods made with eggs or dairy from approved sources. NDA says traditional jams and jellies made with pectin may be sold.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(2); NDA Cottage Food Registration page

What you cannot sell

The statute bans any part of an animal or animal by-product, fluid milk or milk products under the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, raw eggs, unpasteurized juice, infused oils or honey, sprouts, low-acid canned food and hermetically sealed acidified food, tofu, tempeh or similar meat substitutes, and kimchi, kombucha or similar fermented foods. NDA says the animal ban covers meat ingredients such as lard, tallow, bone broth and bone meal, not eggs or milk used as ingredients.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(2); NDA Cottage Food Registration page

How you can sell

Food must be sold directly to the consumer, including at a farmers market, fair, festival, craft show or other public event, or for pickup at or delivery from the private home. Food that is not time/temperature control for safety food may be shipped by U.S. mail or a commercial mail service. Time/temperature control for safety food must be delivered by the producer in person, kept at safe temperatures and not transported for longer than two hours.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,245.01(7); Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(7); NDA Cottage Food Registration page

Labels

Labels must show the name and address of the producer. Time/temperature control for safety foods must also list ingredients in descending order of predominance. Producers must post a clearly visible notice that the food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by a regulatory authority and may contain allergens, at the sale location, at the home, on any website and in any ads.

Sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2,280(5)-(6)

Read the full Nebraska cottage food law guide and FAQs

Nebraska cottage food makers

Counties with listings

Panhandle (13 listings)

Box Butte County

Cheyenne County

Dawes County

Garden County

Morrill County

Scotts Bluff County

Sandhills (7 listings)

Brown County

Cherry County

Custer County

Southwest Nebraska (12 listings)

Chase County

Dawson County

Furnas County

Keith County

Lincoln County

Phelps County

Red Willow County

Central Nebraska (42 listings)

Adams County

Buffalo County

Clay County

Fillmore County

Hall County

Kearney County

Merrick County

Nuckolls County

Platte County

Polk County

Sherman County

Webster County

York County

Northeast Nebraska (22 listings)

Boone County

Cedar County

Dixon County

Knox County

Madison County

Pierce County

Stanton County

Wayne County

Omaha Area (64 listings)

Cass County

Douglas County

Sarpy County

Saunders County

Washington County

Southeast Nebraska (65 listings)

Butler County

Dodge County

Gage County

Jefferson County

Lancaster County

Otoe County

Richardson County

Saline County

Seward County

Nebraska cottage food rules in plain English