Can I sell food from home in Arkansas?

Q: Can I sell food from home in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas lets you make certain foods at home and sell them, under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (replaced the Cottage Food law). No state permit, license or registration is needed (training, a food handler card or local rules may still apply; see below). There is no state sales cap. Last checked 2026-10-24. Not legal advice.

AllowedOnline ordersShips in-stateSells to stores

Yes. Arkansas lets you make certain foods at home and sell them, under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (replaced the Cottage Food law). No state permit, license or registration is needed (training, a food handler card or local rules may still apply; see below). There is no state sales cap.

Not legal advice. This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm with your state agency and local health department, using the official sources below, before you sell.

Arkansas cottage food law at a glance

Home food sales allowed	yes Arkansas Food Freedom Act (replaced the Cottage Food law)
Law	Ark. Code Ann. § 20-57-501 et seq. (Act 1040 of 2021)
Sales cap	No cap
Permit or registration	none. No Arkansas Department of Health permit, inspection, or training requirement for homemade non-TCS foods. Producers may optionally get an identification number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to use instead of name/address/phone on labels. Local business licenses/zoning may still apply.
Sell in person	yes
Take online orders	yes
Ship within the state	yes
Ship to other states	limited
Sell to shops and cafes	yes
Where you can sell, details	Sales to informed end consumers in person, by phone, or online, by the producer, an agent, or a third-party vendor (retail shop/grocery). Third-party vendors must keep homemade items separate from inspected foods. Delivery by producer, agent, vendor, or third-party carrier (mail/parcel). Out-of-state sales allowed only if seller complies with federal and destination-state law. No sales to restaurants for use in the restaurant.

yes = allowed; limited = allowed with conditions; no = not allowed; unverified = we could not confirm it from an official source.

What foods can you sell from home in Arkansas?

Allowed: Homemade non-TCS foods and drinks: baked goods without perishable fillings, candy, jams/jellies, dried foods and mixes, acidified/pickled vegetables at pH 4.6 or below (approved recipe, lab-tested, or batch-tested), shelf-stable beverages, certain frozen fruit treats, icings, etc. Foods must be made in the producer's private residence.

Not allowed: Meat, poultry, seafood; TCS foods (e.g., cheesecake, cream/custard pies, dairy-based items, cut leafy greens, cut tomatoes/melons, garlic-in-oil); low-acid canned foods; raw sprouts; dairy products (see Act 698 of 2025); unpasteurized juice; hemp extracts/CBD.

Label requirements in Arkansas

Required statement: This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens. exact wording from an official source

Other label items: Date made; producer name, address, and phone (or Department of Agriculture ID number); common or usual name of the food; ingredients in descending order of predominance. Bulk items need a container label plus a written document at sale; unpackaged items need a point-of-sale placard; online listings must show all label info and the package must also be labeled. Acidified foods need a batch number and records.

Selling from home in Arkansas? The Cottage Kitchen Toolkit prices your recipes for markets, pre-orders and shops. It scales batches and prints ingredient and allergen labels with Arkansas's required statement filled in. It also has this guide for all 50 states and DC. One-time price, and it works offline.

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Notes

Act 1040 of 2021 replaced the Cottage Food Act (Act 399 of 2017). ADH Homemade Food Production Guidelines updated May 21, 2026; Act 698 of 2025 changed raw-milk rules and ADH notes dairy is not sellable under the Food Freedom Act. No liability protection for producers.

Sources

Last checked: 2026-10-24 · confidence: high (high = key facts confirmed on an official page; medium = partly confirmed or secondary sources agree; low = a single secondary or outdated source). Summaries are our own wording, not the text of the law.

This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm with your state agency and local health department, using the official sources below, before you sell.

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