Nevada cottage food law

The rules at a glance

Cottage food operation

• 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 food safety authority for your county: the Department or your local board of health.

  Source

  • Each natural person who wishes to conduct a cottage food operation must, before selling any food item, register the cottage food operation with the food safety authorityNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)
  • the officers and agents of the Department or the officers and agents of the local boards of healthNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)
  • means the State Department of AgricultureNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)
  • You must apply with the county you want to sell inNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)

• Food safety class?

  Not addressed

  The law doesn't mention a food safety class.

• Kitchen inspection?

  Sometimes

  No routine checks. Inspections only for adulterated food or illness outbreaks.

  Source

  • The food safety authority may inspect a cottage food operation only to investigate a food item that may be deemed to be adulterated pursuant to NRS 585.300 to 585.360 , inclusive, or an outbreak or suspected outbreak of illness known or suspected to be caused by a contaminated food itemNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)

• Yearly sales limit

  $100,000 a year

  Gross sales, per calendar year, adjusted by CPI.

  Source

  • whose gross sales of such food items are not more than $100,000, as adjusted pursuant to subsection 6, per calendar yearNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)

• Foods that need a fridge?

  No

  Only non-potentially hazardous foods; no cream, egg, custard, meringue or cream cheese in baked goods.

  Source

  • allowing limited non-potentially hazardous foods to be prepared in a person's homeNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)
  • (II) Do not contain cream, uncooked egg, custard, meringue or cream cheese frosting or garnishesNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)

• Take orders online?

  No

  No phone or internet sales. A website may be used for advertising.

  Source

  • by means of an in-person transaction that does not involve selling the food item by telephone or via the InternetNevada Revised Statutes ch. 580, Food Establishments (NRS 580.080 and 580.600)
  • Cottage foods cannot be sold over the internetNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)

• Ship or mail orders?

  No

  No shipping. Sales must be direct person-to-person.

  Source

  • A website may be used for advertising but may not have an option for online purchasing or shippingNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)
  • The sale must be direct person-to personNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)

• Sell through shops?

  No

  No consignment, stores or resale; sales must be direct.

  Source

  • Cottage foods cannot be sold by consignmentNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)
  • Can I sell my cottage items to a non-food store, restaurant, wholesaler, broker or distributor? NoNevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Cottage Food Operations, A Guide (2023) (PDF)

What goes on the label