Overview: New Jersey's Cottage Food Law
New Jersey allows residents to make and sell certain homemade food products directly to consumers without obtaining a commercial food processing license. This is called a "cottage food" operation, and it covers a specific set of lower-risk foods — primarily baked goods, jams, candies, and similar shelf-stable products.
New Jersey's cottage food law is a Tier 2 state — meaning registration required. You must register with the state before selling. Registration is typically free or low-cost and does not require an inspection of your home kitchen.
Annual Sales Limit
Your gross annual sales from cottage food cannot exceed $50,000. Track your sales records carefully — exceeding the cap typically requires obtaining a commercial food processor license.
Note: The sales cap applies to gross revenue — your total income from cottage food sales before any expenses. It is not net profit.
License and Registration
License status: Registration Required
You must register with the state before selling. Registration is typically free or low-cost and does not require an inspection of your home kitchen.
You must contact your state agriculture department to obtain the required license or registration before making your first sale.
What You Can Sell
New Jersey's cottage food law permits sales of non-TCS (non-Temperature Control for Safety) foods. These are foods that do not require refrigeration to stay safe. Common examples include:
- Baked goods (non-TCS)
- Jams & jellies
- Candy
- Granola
- Dried herbs
- Roasted nuts
What you cannot sell: Anything requiring refrigeration — custard pies, cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, meat products, most dairy items, and home-canned low-acid vegetables are not permitted under cottage food exemptions in most states.
Labeling Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in New Jersey must be properly labeled. At minimum, your label must include:
- Your full name and home address
- The name of the food product
- A complete list of ingredients in descending order by weight
- Net weight or volume
- A disclosure that the food was made in an uninspected home kitchen
- Allergen statement per FDA requirements
The exact wording of the required disclosure statement varies by state. Check with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for the required language. Using incorrect or incomplete wording can result in fines or being asked to stop selling.
See our complete guide: Federal Cottage Food Labeling Requirements
Where You Can Sell
In New Jersey, cottage food may be sold:
- Farmers markets — most markets welcome cottage food vendors
- Direct to consumer — at your home, at community events, or by arrangement
- Craft fairs and pop-up markets — generally permitted as direct sales
- Not online — internet sales and shipping are not permitted in New Jersey under the cottage food law
How to Get Started in New Jersey
Here is the step-by-step process for legally starting a cottage food operation in New Jersey:
- Register with the state — contact the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to complete registration
- Identify your products — confirm they are non-TCS and permitted under New Jersey's law
- Create compliant labels — include all required fields and the required disclosure statement
- Track your sales — maintain records of gross sales to stay under the cap
- Find your venues — apply to farmers markets and community events in your area
Cottage food laws in New Jersey may have changed since this page was last updated (2022). Always confirm current rules directly with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture before your first sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You need to register with the state before selling. Registration is free or low-cost.
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Yes — farmers markets are a permitted sales channel under New Jersey's cottage food law. Confirm with your specific market that they allow cottage food vendors, as individual market rules may vary.
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New Jersey does not currently permit online or internet sales of cottage food. Sales must be direct to the consumer, in person. This includes sales through websites, apps, or social media that result in shipping the product to the buyer.
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Foods that require time/temperature control for safety (TCS foods) are generally not permitted. This includes anything that must be refrigerated: custard pies, cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, meat products, most dairy products, home-canned low-acid vegetables, and fermented foods that require refrigeration. When in doubt, check with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
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At minimum, your label must include: your full name and home address, the name of the food product, a complete list of ingredients in descending order by weight, the net weight or volume, and a disclosure statement indicating the food was made in an uninspected home kitchen. Some states require specific exact language — check with New Jersey's agriculture department for the required wording.
Official Source
All cottage food operations in New Jersey are governed by N.J. Stat. Ann. § 24:5-18.7. The administering agency is the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (or equivalent).