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Can I sell food from home in Kentucky?
Kentucky cottage food law at a glance
| Home food sales allowed | yes Home-Based Processor (plus separate Home-Based Microprocessor program for farmers) |
|---|---|
| Law | KRS 217.015(56)-(57), KRS 217.136, KRS 217.137-.139; 902 KAR 45:090 |
| Sales cap | $60,000 gross income annually from sale of the products (same cap for home-based microprocessors) |
| Permit or registration | registration. Annual registration with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Dept. for Public Health Food Safety Branch (form DFS-250, $50 fee, expires March 31). Must be a Kentucky resident. Kitchen may be inspected annually and on complaint. No training required for home-based processors; microprocessors need UK Extension food processing school (renew every 3 years), scheduled process per product, $50 annual certification. |
| Sell in person | yes |
| Take online orders | yes |
| Ship within the state | unverified |
| Ship to other states | no |
| Sell to shops and cafes | no |
| Where you can sell, details | Statute limits sales to direct-to-consumer within Kentucky: from home by pick-up or delivery, at markets, roadside stands, community events, or online. Regulation lists flea/farmers markets, festivals, fairs, craft fairs, charity events. Mail/carrier shipping is not expressly addressed. Microprocessed foods may not go to retail food establishments or interstate. |
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 Kentucky?
Allowed: Non-potentially hazardous foods such as dried herbs, spices, nuts, candy (no alcohol), dried grains, whole fruits/vegetables, mixed greens, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, sweet sorghum syrup, bread, fruit pies, cakes, cookies; regulation adds dried/freeze-dried produce, maple syrup, pecan pies, granola, trail mix, popcorn. Since July 15, 2026 also pork lard or tallow-based cosmetic products.
Not allowed: Acid foods, acidified foods, formulated acid foods and low-acid canned foods (only via microprocessor program); cream-filled, custard and meringue pies/pastries; cheesecake; raw seed sprouts; garlic-in-oil; pureed baby food; vacuum packaging other than mason-type jars. TCS foods not allowed.
Label requirements in Kentucky
Required statement: This product is home-produced and processed exact wording from an official source
Other label items: Statement in 10-point type. Also: name and address of the home-based processing operation; common or usual product name; ingredients in descending order by weight; net weight and volume or numerical count; date processed; allergen info per federal law (902 KAR 45:090). Jam/jelly glass jars need rigid metal lids.
Selling from home in Kentucky? The Cottage Kitchen Toolkit prices your recipes for markets, pre-orders and shops. It scales batches and prints ingredient and allergen labels with Kentucky'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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2026 Ky. Acts ch. 52 (effective July 15, 2026) added pork lard/tallow-based cosmetics to the program. 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 181 set the $60,000 cap and allowed online sales. HB 756 (2026, would repeal KRS 217.136 and exempt home processors from non-federal rules) stalled in House Agriculture Committee (last action 3/4/26). 902 KAR 45:090 page shows a 5-14-2026 certification. Home = primary residence, max 2 ranges/ovens and 3 refrigerators.
Sources
- KRS 217.136 Home-based processors (effective July 15, 2026) official
- KRS 217.015 Definitions (effective July 15, 2026) official
- 902 KAR 45:090 Home-based processors and microprocessors official
- Kentucky HB 756 (2026 RS) bill record official
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.