Cottage food label requirements in Louisiana
Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption (cottage food), La. R.S. 40:4.9, as amended by Act 357 of 2022 (HB 828) and 2026 HB 403 (eff. Aug. 1, 2026). Regulated by Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services (exempt from Sanitary Code; no state program). Checked against state sources on .
Not fully verified. We could not confirm every detail for Louisiana on a primary state source when we checked. Treat these items as unconfirmed and check them with Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services (exempt from Sanitary Code; no state program) before you print: disclaimerText, sources, annualCapUSD, onlineSales/shipping, statuteCitation.
The statement your label needs
Not produced in a licensed or regulated facility
No type-size rule stated for the statement; keep it clearly legible.
What is different in Louisiana
- Statute requires the statement's meaning, not a fixed sentence: label must state the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility
- Sales tax certificate and local sales tax registration required
- Baking rules: pest protection, refrigeration at or below 45°F, cooking standards for custard or cream fillings
- Cap raised to $100,000 by 2026 HB 403 (from $30,000)
- Permit
- No permit or registration for most baked goods. No permit; low-risk foods prepared in the home are exempt from the Sanitary Code. Seller must hold a Louisiana sales tax certificate and be registered to collect applicable local sales and use taxes. Exemption does not apply to home bakers who employ someone to help prepare food for sale.
- Sales cap
- $100,000 a year. 2026 HB 403 raised the gross annual sales threshold from $30,000 to $100,000, effective Aug. 1, 2026; exemption ends when gross annual sales equal the threshold or more. $30,000 applied Aug. 1, 2022 to July 31, 2026 (Act 357).
- Where you can sell
- Sold to the public from the home; home bakers may not sell breads, cakes, cookies or pies to retail businesses or individuals for resale.
- Online orders
- Not addressed clearly by state sources
- Ship in state
- Not addressed clearly by state sources
- Ship out of state
- Not addressed clearly by state sources
- Sell to shops / cafés
- No
- Allowed foods
- Low-risk foods: baked goods, candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams, jellies, preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices; none may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. CBD-containing food prohibited.
What a Louisiana cottage food label must show
- Label stating the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility (raw honey not pasteurized, filtered or processed to remove pollen is excepted)
Federal rules still apply on top: ingredients in descending order by weight (21 CFR 101.4), the nine major allergens declared by name (FALCPA and the FASTER Act), and net quantity in ounces and grams (21 CFR 101.7). Louisiana’s sources do not clearly address online orders — ask the agency before you set up a web shop. Shipping within the state is not clearly addressed, and shipping to other states is not addressed (selling across state lines also brings in federal rules).
Make a Louisiana label now
The Louisiana statement is already on it. Type your ingredients, tick the allergens and print on Avery sheets or a thermal roll. To have the ingredient order and allergens worked out from a costed recipe, use the workbench.
Still missing: business name and address.
Print at 100% scale with no margins. Check the result against Louisiana’s rules above before selling.
True size. Louisiana statement.
Louisiana cottage food questions
What statement has to be on a Louisiana cottage food label?
Louisiana requires: “Not produced in a licensed or regulated facility”.
Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in Louisiana?
No permit or registration for most baked goods. No permit; low-risk foods prepared in the home are exempt from the Sanitary Code. Seller must hold a Louisiana sales tax certificate and be registered to collect applicable local sales and use taxes. Exemption does not apply to home bakers who employ someone to help prepare food for sale.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Louisiana?
Yes: $100,000 in gross sales a year. 2026 HB 403 raised the gross annual sales threshold from $30,000 to $100,000, effective Aug. 1, 2026; exemption ends when gross annual sales equal the threshold or more. $30,000 applied Aug. 1, 2022 to July 31, 2026 (Act 357).
Can I sell cottage food online or ship it in Louisiana?
Louisiana’s sources do not clearly address online orders — ask the agency before you set up a web shop. Shipping within the state is not clearly addressed, and shipping to other states is not addressed (selling across state lines also brings in federal rules).
Sources
- La. R.S. 40:4.9 (Louisiana State Legislature) (statute)
- 2026 HB 403 enrolled text (Louisiana State Legislature) (statute)
- Act 357 of 2022 (HB 828) enrolled (statute)
- Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services (exempt from Sanitary Code; no state program) (agency)
Checked October 18, 2026. This is a checklist built from the sources above, not legal advice. Rules change; your county or the agency has the final word. Spotted something out of date? The about page explains how we check.
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