West Virginia cottage food makers
113 listings in 40 West Virginia counties so far, and growing. Scroll down for West Virginia's cottage food rules.
Counties with listings
Northern Panhandle (15 listings)
Brooke County
Follansbee, Wellsburg
3 listingsHancock County
Weirton
1 listingMarshall County
Cameron, Dallas
2 listingsOhio County
Wheeling
5 listingsWetzel County
New Martinsville
4 listingsNorth Central West Virginia (31 listings)
Barbour County
Belington, Philippi
2 listingsHarrison County
Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Shinnston
4 listingsLewis County
Jane Lew, Weston
2 listingsMarion County
Fairmont
8 listingsMonongalia County
Morgantown, Cheat Lake, Core, Westover
8 listingsPreston County
Bruceton Mills, Masontown, Terra Alta
3 listingsTaylor County
Grafton
1 listingUpshur County
Buckhannon
3 listingsEastern Panhandle (13 listings)
Berkeley County
Martinsburg, Falling Waters, Hedgesville
9 listingsJefferson County
Charles Town, Shepherdstown
4 listingsPotomac Highlands (9 listings)
Hampshire County
Augusta, Romney
3 listingsMineral County
Burlington, Fort Ashby
2 listingsPendleton County
Circleville
2 listingsPocahontas County
Marlinton
1 listingRandolph County
Elkins
1 listingMid-Ohio Valley (14 listings)
Calhoun County
Grantsville
1 listingJackson County
Ripley
1 listingPleasants County
Saint Marys
1 listingRitchie County
Cairo, Pennsboro
2 listingsRoane County
Walton
1 listingTyler County
Middlebourne
1 listingWood County
Parkersburg, Mineralwells, Belleville, Williamstown
7 listingsCharleston, Huntington and the Metro Valley (19 listings)
Boone County
Uneeda
1 listingCabell County
Huntington, Barboursville, Milton, West Huntington
6 listingsKanawha County
Charleston, Cross Lanes, Elkview
8 listingsMason County
Point Pleasant
1 listingPutnam County
Hurricane, Scott Depot
3 listingsSouthern West Virginia (12 listings)
West Virginia cottage food rules in plain English
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state and local rules. Last reviewed Oct. 13, 2026.
What it is
West Virginia exempts the making and selling of nonpotentially hazardous foods, meaning foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety, from state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling laws when done under W. Va. Code 19-35-6 and its rules.
License or permit
No state permit for nonpotentially hazardous foods. Home cooks who sell potentially hazardous foods, such as baked goods that need time or temperature control and canned acidified foods like pickles, salsas and sauces, need a West Virginia Department of Agriculture potentially hazardous cottage food vendor permit, which includes a kitchen inspection.
What you cannot sell
Meat, meat products, poultry, seafood and Grade A dairy products are not cottage foods, and neither are wild-harvested mushrooms or sprouted seeds. Foods that need time or temperature control may be sold only with the WVDA permit.
How you can sell
Nonpotentially hazardous foods may be sold in person or remotely, by the producer, an agent or a third-party vendor, and delivered by the producer, an agent, a third-party vendor or a third-party carrier. Federal law and other states' laws still apply to out-of-state sales. Potentially hazardous cottage foods may be sold only within West Virginia.
Labels
Product name, the producer's name, city, state and ZIP code, ingredients in descending order by weight, net contents, major food allergens and the statement "This product was made in a non-commercial kitchen that may not be subject to inspection and may contain cross-contact allergens not included in the allergen statement." Unpackaged or online items may show the label information on a placard, receipt or website.
Read the full West Virginia cottage food law guide and FAQs