Who can get a Connecticut cottage food license
A cottage food operation makes food only in the home kitchen of a private residential dwelling, the house or apartment its owner or tenant lives in, and sells only directly to the consumer.
- Not in a shed, barn, garage or other outbuilding, and not in a group or communal residence
- Not in a rented commercial kitchen: that needs a food establishment license
- Not at a second home: production and storage stay in your permitted area
- No commercial equipment like large rotary mixers
- Nonprofits don't qualify, because they have no private residence
Which foods are allowed
Cottage food products are baked goods, jams, jellies and other foods that don't need time and temperature control. DCP approves each product during your application. Common ones:
- Plain breads, rolls and biscuits
- Cakes, not cheesecake
- Cookies, brownies, pastries
- Fruit pies, not pumpkin
- Jams and jellies (21 CFR Part 150)
- Candy, fudge, chocolates, cake pops
- Cotton candy and freeze-dried candy
- Dried fruits and vegetables
- Granola, cereals, trail mix
- Coated or plain nuts
- Dry herbs, seasonings, tea and coffee
- Popcorn and popcorn balls
- Vinegars and flavored vinegars
- Dried pasta without egg
DCP lists these as not allowed, among others:
- Pickled vegetables, relishes, salsa, hot sauce and other acidified foods
- Beverages, syrups, extracts, soups and fire ciders
- Ice cream and frozen desserts
- Buttercream, whipped cream and cream cheese frostings
- Flan and tres leches cakes
- Chocolate, candy or caramel covered fruit
- Pepper and mango jams
- Dehydrated meat and poultry
- Infused oils
Buttercream has a way in: frosting that is store-bought, shelf stable, or made only from shelf-stable ingredients like shortening, sugar and meringue powder is accepted. Not on the list? Send DCP a New Food Request Form. A request is not a guarantee.
Where and how you can sell
| Way of selling | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Direct to consumers, person to person | Yes |
| Farmers markets and other direct venues | Yes, but a market may ask for more |
| Advertising and taking orders online | Yes |
| Mail, UPS, FedEx or food delivery apps | No |
| Delivery outside Connecticut | No |
| Wholesale, consignment, brokers, distributors | No |
| Grocery stores, restaurants, schools, day care | No |
Free samples are allowed if your local health department approves them. A farmers market may still require its vendors to hold a food establishment license, even when you have a cottage food license.
How to get licensed
Processing takes about 5 to 7 business days. A DCP inspector then emails you if anything is missing and asks for a detailed product list. If you use a well, you send a new water analysis every year.
Honey and maple syrup are not cottage food
Since Public Act 19-18, honey and maple syrup are no longer cottage food products. If you keep bees or tap maples in Connecticut, the Department of Agriculture regulates you instead of DCP. Producers selling $25,000 or less a year are exempt from its license; above that, they register for one every year.
When you outgrow the cottage food license
Selling to stores or passing $50,000 takes you outside the cottage food license, and DCP says a rented commercial kitchen means a food establishment license. Then the federal label applies in full, usually with a Nutrition Facts panel.
Nutrition Facts Label Requirements →