Overview: Wisconsin's Cottage Food Law
Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin's cottage food law is a Tier 1 state — meaning no license required. No state license or registration is required before selling cottage food in Wisconsin. You can begin selling as soon as you meet the labeling requirements.
Annual Sales Limit
Your gross annual sales from cottage food cannot exceed $20,000. 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: No License Required
No state license or registration is required before selling cottage food in Wisconsin. You can begin selling as soon as you meet the labeling requirements.
What You Can Sell
Wisconsin'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 & fudge
- Granola & cereals
- Dried herbs & spices
- Roasted nuts
- Honey (from licensed beekeeper)
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 Wisconsin 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
- Any major food allergens (FDA allergen labeling rules apply)
The exact wording of the required disclosure statement varies by state. Check with the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin under the cottage food law
How to Get Started in Wisconsin
Here is the step-by-step process for legally starting a cottage food operation in Wisconsin:
- Identify your products — confirm they are non-TCS and permitted under Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin may have changed since this page was last updated (2021). Always confirm current rules directly with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture before your first sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No license or registration is required in Wisconsin. However, you must comply with labeling requirements and stay under the $20,000 annual gross sales limit.
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Yes — farmers markets are a permitted sales channel under Wisconsin'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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Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's agriculture department for the required wording.
Official Source
All cottage food operations in Wisconsin are governed by Wis. Stat. § 97.30. The administering agency is the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (or equivalent).