Looking for Connecticut Cottage Food Laws: Where may you sell in Connecticut in 2023? Scroll down this page and follow the links.
And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make
jam, salsa or pickles, see this
page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving
directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above. If you are having a hard time
finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.
If you have questions or feedback, please let me know! There
are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
Connecticut Cottage Food Laws: Where may you sell in Connecticut
FAQs about Selling cottage foods in Connecticut and Doing Business in
Connecticut
These FAQs refer to the Connecticut Cottage food laws which went
into effect on October 1, 2018.
See this
page for the overview and general information. And these pages
for:
Where to sell FAQs
- The farmers' market where I want to sell my products says
I need a food license, even though I am a cottage food business. May
the market require a license?
Yes. Even though an entity may meet the
requirements of a cottage food operation and have a license, some
farmers' markets or other direct marketing venues may require vendors
to have a food establishment license or to meet other requirements.
- May I sell my cottage food online?
Yes. You may advertise and take
orders for your product online, but you must directly deliver such
products to consumers and you may only deliver products within the
State of Connecticut. Sales and product delivery must be directly
from the producer or designee to the consumer, in a person-to-person
transaction. Products may not be delivered by mail or by other third
party delivery services such as UPS or FedEx, or by mobile food
ordering companies.
- May I sell my cottage food to a wholesaler,
broker or distributor?
No. It is not legal for a cottage food
operator to sell to a wholesaler, broker or distributor who would
then resell the product. Cottage food may only be sold directly to
consumers.
- May I serve free samples of my cottage food products?
Yes, subject to local health department approval.
- May I advertise my
cottage food business in the newspaper or at trade shows?
Yes.
Advertising is allowed. However, the actual sale must be made in
person.
- Is it possible to place my cottage
food products in a store or restaurant on consignment?
No. Cottage
food products may not be sold wholesale or on consignment. Cottage
food products may not be sold at grocery stores, restaurants,
long-term care facilities, group homes, day care facilities, or
schools. The sale must be person-to-person, from the producer or
designee to the actual consumer.
REMEMBER: You must display your
license where you sell your cottage food products.
- Is there a
limit to how much I may sell as a cottage food producer?
Yes,
there is a yearly gross sales limit of $25,000. You must maintain
records of all sales.
- Do I need to have a "Doing Business As" (DBA)?
A DBA may be a requirement of your local municipality or the Secretary
of the State depending on how your business is organized. You are
advised to check requirements with your municipal officials.
The
Secretary of the State, https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS, has a business
start-up tool that may be helpful in navigating this process.
- May
nonprofit organizations produce and sell cottage food?
No. Nonprofits
do not have a private residential dwelling and, therefore, do not
qualify as a cottage food business.
Questions? Contact Information:
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Food and Standards Division:
Email:
[email protected].
Phone: (860) 713-6160
Website: www.portal.ct.gov/cottagefood