Guidelines for Cottage Food Businesses
This document provides guidance for allowable foods that may be produced and sold by a
Maryland Cottage Food Business. Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.15.03.02B(17-1)
Food Service Facilities, defines a cottage food business that “(a) produces or packages cottage
food products in a residential kitchen in Maryland; and (b) has annual revenues from the sale of
cottage food products in an amount not exceeding $25,000.” Additionally, it further defines a
cottage food product as a non-potentially hazardous food that is sold in the State directly to a
consumer from a residence, at a farmer's market, at a public event, by personal delivery, or by
mail delivery; or directly to a retail food store (defined below). Interstate sales or sales outside
of Maryland are prohibited.
Examples of allowable foods that may be produced under COMAR 10.15.03.27 Food
Service Facilities - Farmer's Market, Bake Sales, and Cottage Food Business:
● Baked breads, cookies and pastries without potentially hazardous topping or fillings:
o Pies, turnovers, and fruit tarts from fruits with a natural pH of 4.6 or less
o Bread, biscuits, tortillas, and muffins
o Cakes and cupcakes
● Hot-filled canned acid foods such as:
o Fruit jelly, jam, and preserves from fruits with a natural pH of 4.6 or less
o Fruit butters from apple, apricot, grape, peach, plum, prune, quince
● Snacks such as popcorn/kettle corn, popcorn balls, nuts and cotton candy
● Cereals, trail mixes, and granola
● Repackaging of commercially processed dry ingredients (i.e. spice and seasoning blends,
tea blends)
● Chocolate confections made from commercially manufactured chocolate (e.g.,
chocolate covered pretzels). Note, chocolate covered fruits, and chocolates
made from raw cocoa beans, caramel, fudge, and other soft candies are
prohibited.
● Candy such as lollipops, gummy bears, brittles, toffee
● Fruit leathers from fruits with a natural pH of 4.6 or less
● Raw unflavored honey (raw agricultural product)
● Whole roasted coffee beans
Examples of foods that cannot be allowed as cottage foods:
● Baked goods that require any type of refrigeration (e.g., meringue pies, pecan pies,
pumpkin pies, cheesecakes, cream and custard pies, and pies and cakes or pastries with
cream cheese/buttercream icings or fillings)
● Banana, pumpkin, and zucchini breads (Moist quick breads such as these are considered