Kentucky: Unattended honesty stand?

Not addressed. The rules don't mention self-serve or honor-system stands.

Kentucky: Sign up with the state?

Yes. Register with the Food Safety Branch each year; registration expires March 31.

Kentucky: Food safety class?

Not addressed. The home-based processor rules don't mention a food safety class.

Kentucky: Kitchen inspection?

Sometimes. The cabinet may inspect annually, and responds to complaints.

Kentucky: Yearly sales limit

$60,000 a year. Gross income from sales, not profit.

Kentucky: Foods that need a fridge?

No. Nonpotentially hazardous foods; no acidified or low-acid canned foods.

Kentucky: Take orders online?

Yes. Order and pay online or by phone; food is picked up or delivered.

Kentucky: Ship or mail orders?

No. Pick-up or delivery is allowed, but items cannot be shipped.

Kentucky: Sell through shops?

No. Direct to consumers only; no permitted retail markets.

Cottage food law

Kentucky cottage food law

Kentucky's Home-Based Processing Program lets you sell nonpotentially hazardous foods from your home kitchen directly to consumers, up to $60,000 a year. You must register, and orders can be taken online or by phone, but food cannot be shipped.

Checked against the law October 21, 2026

The rules at a glance

Home-Based Processing Program

Unattended honesty stand?
Not addressed
The rules don't mention self-serve or honor-system stands.
Sign up with the state?
Yes
Register with the Food Safety Branch each year; registration expires March 31.
Source
- Beginning January 1, 2020, a home-based processor shall register with the Department for Public Health, Food Safety Branch902 KAR 45:090, Home-based processors and farmers market home-based microprocessors
- A home-based processor shall be registered with the cabinet and include the following informationKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
- Registration for home-based processors is ongoingKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Home-Based Processing
Food safety class?
Not addressed
The home-based processor rules don't mention a food safety class.
Kitchen inspection?
Sometimes
The cabinet may inspect annually, and responds to complaints.
Source
- The processing facilities of a home-based processor may be inspected annually by the cabinetKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
- A home-based processor shall be subject to product sampling and inspection if it is determined that its product is misbranded pursuant to subsection (4) of this section or adulterated, or if a consumer complaint has been receivedKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
- Inspection of a home-based processor facility shall be made upon complaint902 KAR 45:090, Home-based processors and farmers market home-based microprocessors
Yearly sales limit
$60,000 a year
Gross income from sales, not profit.
Source
- and who has a gross income of no more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) annually from the sale of the productsKentucky Revised Statutes 217.015, Definitions for KRS 217.005 to 217.215
- Home-based processors will have a gross income of no more than sixty thousand ($60,000) annually from the sale of these productsKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Summary of Updates to Home-Based Processing (PDF)
Foods that need a fridge?
No
Nonpotentially hazardous foods; no acidified or low-acid canned foods.
Source
- produces or processes pork lard or tallow-based cosmetic products or nonpotentially hazardous foodsKentucky Revised Statutes 217.015, Definitions for KRS 217.005 to 217.215
- A home-based processor shall not produce or process for sale acid foods, acidified food products, formulated acid food products, or low-acid canned foodsKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
Take orders online?
Yes
Order and pay online or by phone; food is picked up or delivered.
Source
- A home-based processor may advertise and accept orders and payments in person, electronically, or via the internet or phone902 KAR 45:090, Home-based processors and farmers market home-based microprocessors
- While home-based processors may advertise and accept orders and payments in person, electronically, or via internet or phone, all items shall be provided in person, directly to consumers within this stateKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Summary of Updates to Home-Based Processing (PDF)
Ship or mail orders?
No
Pick-up or delivery is allowed, but items cannot be shipped.
Source
- Home-based processors are not permitted to ship itemsKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Summary of Updates to Home-Based Processing (PDF)
- A home-based processor shall provide all home-based processed foods direct to the consumer through pick-up or delivery902 KAR 45:090, Home-based processors and farmers market home-based microprocessors
Sell through shops?
No
Direct to consumers only; no permitted retail markets.
Source
- may only be offered for sale directly to consumers within this state, including from the home-based processor's home, whether by pick-up or delivery, at a market, roadside stand, community event, or onlineKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
- at a market (not a permitted retail market), a roadside stand, or community eventKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Summary of Updates to Home-Based Processing (PDF)

What goes on the label

Required wording

This product is home-produced and processed.

In 10-point type.

Source

This product is home-produced and processedKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Labeling Requirements for Home-based Processors (PDF)

The label also shows

The common or usual name of the food
The name and address of the home-based processing operation
The ingredients, in descending order of predominance by weight
The net weight and volume by standard measure, or numerical count
The date the product was processed
Allergen identification for the major food allergens

Source

The common or usual name of the food or cosmetic productKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
The name and address of the home-based processing operationKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
The ingredients of the food or cosmetic product, in descending order of predominance by weightKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
The net weight and volume of the food or cosmetic product by standard measure, or numerical countKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
The date the product was processedKentucky Revised Statutes 217.136, Home-based processors of food and cosmetic products
Allergen identification for all ingredients that contain any of the Major Food Allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, soybean (soy), peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfishKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Labeling Requirements for Home-based Processors (PDF)

Before your first sale

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Food Safety Branch before you sell, and again if you add a new food or a new way of selling.

We check these sources every month and update this page when they change.

Other states · Start a stand on GoodStand