New Hampshire cottage food law

The rules at a glance

Homestead Food Operation

• Unattended honesty stand?

  Not addressed

  The law doesn't address unattended, self-serve or honor-system stands.

• Sign up with the state?

  No

  No license for direct sales, except freeze-dried. Online or resale needs one; localities can't require one.

  Source

  • A homestead food license is not required if: You only sell your non-potentially hazardous food from your own residence, from your own farmstand, at a farmer's market or retail food storeNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Homestead Food Operations
  • Homestead food operations selling food, excluding potentially hazardous food, from the homestead residence, at the owner's own farm stand, at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores are exempt from licensure and departmental inspection under this subdivisionNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • Homestead food operations processing and selling freeze dried foods, from the homestead residence, at the owner's own farm stand, at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores shall be licensed under RSA 143-A:4New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • Homestead food operations that wish to sell food products, excluding potentially hazardous food, to restaurants or other retail food establishments, over the Internet, by mail order, or to wholesalers, brokers, or other food distributors who will resell the homestead product shall be licensed under RSA 143-A:13New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • Neither the governing body of a municipality nor the health officers of a town or city under RSA 47:12 shall make regulations requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for activities or products that are exempt under RSA 143-A:12 or RSA 143-A:5, VIINew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 147:1, Local Regulations

• Food safety class?

  Not addressed

  The homestead food law and rules don't mention a food safety class.

• Kitchen inspection?

  Sometimes

  No routine checks. The department can inspect only if it suspects an imminent health hazard.

  Source

  • exempt from licensure and departmental inspection under this subdivisionNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • except that the department may inspect when the department has reason to suspect an imminent health hazard as defined in RSA 143-A:3, IV-bNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required

• Yearly sales limit

  No limit

  The homestead food law sets no yearly sales cap.

  Source

  • Homestead food operations selling food, excluding potentially hazardous food, from the homestead residence, at the owner's own farm stand, at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores are exempt from licensure and departmental inspection under this subdivisionNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required

• Foods that need a fridge?

  No

  Only non-potentially hazardous foods. No refrigeration or low acid canned foods.

  Source

  • Exempt homestead food operations shall not produce or sell potentially hazardous foods, including any food which requires refrigeration or low acid canned foodsNew Hampshire Administrative Rules He-P 2310.01, Exempt Homestead Food Operations Requirements, effective August 25, 2026 (PDF)
  • You cannot make potentially hazardous food as an exempt homestead food operatorNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Homestead Food Operations

• Take orders online?

  Sometimes

  Selling over the Internet needs a homestead food license.

  Source

  • over the Internet, by mail order, or to wholesalers, brokers, or other food distributors who will resell the homestead product shall be licensed under RSA 143-A:13New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • A Homestead License is required if: You wish to offer your non-potentially hazardous products to restaurants, other food establishments excluding retail food stores, over the Internet, by mail order or to wholesalers, brokers or other food distributorsNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Homestead Food Operations

• Ship or mail orders?

  Sometimes

  Mail order sales need a homestead food license.

  Source

  • over the Internet, by mail order, or to wholesalers, brokers, or other food distributors who will resell the homestead product shall be licensed under RSA 143-A:13New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • A Homestead License is required if: You wish to offer your non-potentially hazardous products to restaurants, other food establishments excluding retail food stores, over the Internet, by mail order or to wholesalers, brokers or other food distributorsNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Homestead Food Operations

• Sell through shops?

  Sometimes

  You can sell at retail food stores. Restaurants and resale need a license.

  Source

  • Homestead food operations selling food, excluding potentially hazardous food, from the homestead residence, at the owner's own farm stand, at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores are exempt from licensure and departmental inspection under this subdivisionNew Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required
  • to restaurants or other retail food establishments, over the Internet, by mail order, or to wholesalers, brokers, or other food distributors who will resell the homestead product shall be licensed under RSA 143-A:13New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated s. 143-A:12, Homestead Food License Required

What goes on the label