Pennsylvania Cottage Food Law 2026: PDA Registration, Sales

Pennsylvania has no separate cottage food law. Home bakers and other home food makers register with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, or PDA, as a limited food establishment under the state Food Safety Act. Registration costs $35 a year and requires a plan review and a kitchen inspection. No state sales cap was found and internet sales are covered. PDA's materials do not say whether wholesale or out-of-state sales are allowed. This guide covers what you can sell, how you can sell, labeling and when you need a different license.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and local zoning, HOA and tax rules vary. Confirm current requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, or with an attorney, before you start selling.

Quick facts

Home food businesses must register with PDA as limited food establishments under the state Food Safety Act. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet; PDA registration page
Registration costs $35 initially and $35 a year to renew. PDA Limited Food Establishment page; PDA registration page
PDA reviews plans and inspects the kitchen before registration, and inspects registered kitchens routinely. PDA registration page
Only shelf-stable foods that do not need refrigeration or hot holding are allowed. PDA registration page
Registration covers sales from the production site, including internet sales. A retail food facility license may also be needed for events and farmers markets. PDA registration page
No state sales cap was found in PDA's requirements. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

What the law calls it

PDA uses "limited food establishment" and "limited food processor" for a residential-style kitchen, at home or elsewhere, that makes non-potentially hazardous foods. "Cottage food" and "home bakery" are everyday names, not Pennsylvania legal categories. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Foods you can sell

Shelf-stable, non-potentially hazardous foods such as baked goods without cream fillings, jams, jellies, candies and certain snack mixes. PDA evaluates each product individually. PDA registration page; PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Acid and acidified canned foods may be allowed with an approved process and lab testing. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Foods you cannot sell

Foods that need refrigeration or hot holding after preparation, such as cream-filled baked goods. PDA registration page

Sales limit

No state sales cap was found in PDA's limited food establishment requirements. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Where and how you can sell

From the production site, including internet sales. PDA says: "Registration includes sales direct from the production site including internet sales. If you sell across state lines, you may also need FDA registration." PDA Limited Food Establishment page
Farmers markets, events and roadside stands: allowed, but the retail site may need its own retail food license from PDA or a local health department. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Wholesale: PDA's materials do not say whether limited food establishments may sell wholesale. Ask PDA before selling to stores or restaurants.
Shipping to other states: PDA's materials do not say whether out-of-state sales are allowed. PDA notes that sellers may need FDA registration and that interstate products must meet federal labeling rules. Ask PDA before shipping out of state. PDA registration page; PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Labeling rules

Packaged products need the product name; ingredients from most to least by weight, including sub-ingredients; any allergen declaration; the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor; and net weight or count, placed in the bottom third of the main panel in at least 8-point type. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Baked goods made and sold directly to a Pennsylvania consumer by the baker or an employee, at the production site or a satellite such as a farmers market, need no label, but ingredient information must be available on request. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
No home-kitchen disclosure statement was found in PDA's requirements. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Registration and kitchen rules

Submit the application materials at least 60 days before operating. PDA reviews plans within 15 business days, then inspects the site. PDA Limited Food Establishment page; PDA registration page
Pets may not be in the home at any time if the home kitchen is used, unless the processing area is physically separated with its own entrance. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Private wells must be tested for coliform and nitrate/nitrite. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet

Zoning, HOAs and local rules

Applicants must confirm local zoning approval with the municipality. PDA registration does not mean local zoning or ordinance compliance. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Check your HOA documents, since PDA does not review private covenants.

Inspections

PDA inspects before registration and routinely after, and may require product testing. PDA registration page

When you need a different license

Foods that need refrigeration must be made in a kitchen that meets full commercial requirements. PDA registration page

Timeline

June 2021: PDA's current application packet revision. PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet
Oct. 13, 2026: this page was last reviewed against PDA guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to sell baked goods from home in Pennsylvania?

Yes. You must register with PDA as a limited food establishment, pass a plan review and kitchen inspection and pay $35 a year. Source: PDA registration page.

Is there a cottage food sales cap in Pennsylvania?

No state sales cap was found in PDA's requirements. Source: PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet.

Can I sell homemade food online in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Registration covers sales from the production site, including internet sales. Source: PDA registration page.

Can I ship homemade food to other states from Pennsylvania?

PDA's materials do not say whether out-of-state sales are allowed. PDA notes that sellers may need FDA registration and that interstate products must meet federal labeling rules. Ask PDA before shipping out of state. Sources: PDA registration page; PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet.

Can I sell to stores or coffee shops?

PDA's materials do not say whether limited food establishments may sell wholesale. Ask PDA before selling to stores or restaurants. Source: PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet.

Do I need a label in Pennsylvania?

Packaged products need a full label. Baked goods sold directly to a Pennsylvania consumer by the baker need no label, but ingredient information must be available on request. Source: PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet.

Can I sell cheesecake from my home kitchen?

No. Foods that need refrigeration are not allowed in a limited food establishment. Source: PDA registration page.

Can I have pets and run a home bakery?

Only if the kitchen is physically separated from areas pets can reach and has its own entrance. Source: PDA Limited Food Establishment application packet.

Do I need a separate license for a farmers market?

Possibly. A retail food facility license may be required for sales at events and farmers markets. Source: PDA registration page.

Official sources

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and local zoning, HOA and tax rules vary. Confirm current requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, or with an attorney, before you start selling.

Pennsylvania Cottage Food Laws