Louisiana: Unattended honesty stand?

Not addressed. The law doesn't mention unattended, self-serve or honor-system stands.

Louisiana: Sign up with the state?

Yes. Register with the parish sales tax collector before selling.

Louisiana: Food safety class?

Not addressed. The law doesn't mention a food safety class.

Louisiana: Kitchen inspection?

Not addressed. The law doesn't say whether home kitchens are inspected.

Louisiana: Yearly sales limit

$100,000 a year. Gross annual sales. The statute page may still show the old $30,000 limit.

Louisiana: Foods that need a fridge?

Sometimes. Custard and cream-filled bakery products must be chilled to 45 F or below.

Louisiana: Take orders online?

Not addressed. The law doesn't mention online or phone orders.

Louisiana: Ship or mail orders?

Not addressed. The law doesn't mention mailing or delivery.

Louisiana: Sell through shops?

Sometimes. Breads, cakes, cookies and pies can't be sold to a retail business or for resale.

Cottage food law

Louisiana cottage food law

Louisiana lets home kitchens sell low-risk foods without Sanitary Code equipment and preparation rules under $100,000 in gross annual sales. Sellers register with the parish sales tax collector and label it as not produced in a licensed or regulated facility.

Checked against the law October 21, 2026

The rules at a glance

Low-risk foods made at home

Unattended honesty stand?
Not addressed
The law doesn't mention unattended, self-serve or honor-system stands.
Sign up with the state?
Yes
Register with the parish sales tax collector before selling.
Source
- No individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home shall sell such foods unless he is registered to collect any local sales and use taxes that are applicable to the sale of such foods, as evidenced by a current sales tax certificate issued to the seller by the sales and use tax collector for the parish in which the sales occurLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption
Food safety class?
Not addressed
The law doesn't mention a food safety class.
Kitchen inspection?
Not addressed
The law doesn't say whether home kitchens are inspected.
Yearly sales limit
$100,000 a year
Gross annual sales. The statute page may still show the old $30,000 limit.
Source
- Changes gross annual sales limit for producers of low-risk, homemade foods from $30,000 to $100,000Louisiana House Summary of Senate Amendments, HB 403 (2026) (PDF)
- one hundred thousand dollars or moreLouisiana Act 801 (2026): R.S. 40:4.9(B) gross annual sales (PDF)
Foods that need a fridge?
Sometimes
Custard and cream-filled bakery products must be chilled to 45 F or below.
Source
- Only pasteurized milk or milk products shall be used in the preparation of custard and cream-filled bakery productsLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption
- Upon completion of the cooking of the mix, it shall be immediately transferred into previously sanitized containers, properly covered and chilled as rapidly as possible to forty-five degrees Fahrenheit or below and maintained at such a temperature until usedLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption
Take orders online?
Not addressed
The law doesn't mention online or phone orders.
Ship or mail orders?
Not addressed
The law doesn't mention mailing or delivery.
Sell through shops?
Sometimes
Breads, cakes, cookies and pies can't be sold to a retail business or for resale.
Source
- No individual who prepares breads, cakes, cookies, or pies in the home for sale to the public pursuant to this Section shall sell such foods to any retail business or individual for resaleLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption

What goes on the label

Required wording

No exact wording is set. The label must say it was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility.

Source

any individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home for sale, as authorized by this Section, shall affix to any such food offered for sale a label which clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facilityLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption

The label also shows

A statement that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility

Raw honey is exempt from the label rule.

Source

a label which clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facilityLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption
The food labeling requirement in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall not apply to raw honey offered for sale if the honey is not pasteurized, filtered, or otherwise processed in such a way as to remove natural pollen contained in the honeyLouisiana Revised Statutes 40:4.9, Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption

Before your first sale

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) 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.

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