Cottage food label requirements in New York
Home Processor Exemption (Article 20-C license exemption), 1 NYCRR 276.4 (exemption from Agriculture & Markets Law Article 20-C licensing). Regulated by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Food Safety and Inspection. Checked against state sources on .
The statement your label needs
Made in a Home Kitchen
Type size and placement: The font size for this phrase should be 1/16th inch or larger.
What is different in New York
- Wholesale to NY restaurants, cafes and grocery stores is allowed
- Internet sales allowed within NY only; shipping out of state not permitted
- Registration is free and location-specific
- Pet foods/treats need a separate registration
- Approved-product list is narrow (e.g. no cheesecake, no tempered chocolate, no freeze-dried foods)
- Permit
- Registration required. Home Processor registration request (form FSI-898c); no fee currently; no expiration but location-specific (re-apply if you move). Private wells need a Total Coliform/E. coli water test. Products must be approved; allow up to 16 weeks for review. Not available to holders of a DOH permit or Ag & Markets license.
- Sales cap
- No annual sales cap found in state sources
- Where you can sell
- Farms, farm stands, farmers' markets, green markets, craft fairs, flea markets, home delivery; within New York State only. Products must be packaged and labeled at home (not at the event).
- Online orders
- Yes
- Ship in state
- Yes
- Ship out of state
- No
- Sell to shops / cafés
- Yes
- Allowed foods
- Only Department-approved non-potentially-hazardous foods: listed baked goods (no cream fillings, buttercream or cream cheese frosting), high-acid fruit jams/jellies/marmalades, fudge, popcorn, brittle, granola, trail mix, repackaged dried spices/herbs/mixes. Anything needing refrigeration, no-bake items, tempered chocolate/candy melts, raw nuts, nut butters, freeze-dried foods, beverages and coffee roasting are prohibited.
What a New York cottage food label must show
- Common/usual name of the product
- Ingredient list in predominance by weight
- Net quantity of contents
- Processor name and full address (street or PO Box, city, state, ZIP)
- Major allergens clearly identified in the ingredient statement
- Home-kitchen phrase such as "Made in a Home Kitchen"
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). New York allows cottage food orders online or by phone. Shipping within the state is allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Make a New York label now
The New York 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 New York’s rules above before selling.
True size. New York statement.
New York cottage food questions
What statement has to be on a New York cottage food label?
New York requires: “Made in a Home Kitchen” (The font size for this phrase should be 1/16th inch or larger).
Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in New York?
Registration required. Home Processor registration request (form FSI-898c); no fee currently; no expiration but location-specific (re-apply if you move). Private wells need a Total Coliform/E. coli water test. Products must be approved; allow up to 16 weeks for review. Not available to holders of a DOH permit or Ag & Markets license.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in New York?
No annual cap appears in the state sources we checked. No sales cap stated by the Department.
Can I sell cottage food online or ship it in New York?
New York allows cottage food orders online or by phone. Shipping within the state is allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Sources
- NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets: Home Processing (agency)
- NYSDAM Home Processor Registration Request (FSI-898c) (agency)
Checked October 17, 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.
Tell us what to build next
Everything in Proofsheet is free during the beta. Leave your email and pick the feature you would pay for; we will write when it ships.