Idaho Cottage Food Law (2026): Rules, Limits and How to Start
Do you need a license to sell homemade food in Idaho?
Idaho replaced its old cottage food rule on March 20, 2026 with the Idaho Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act. You can now sell homemade shelf-stable foods, perishable foods and nonalcoholic drinks straight to Idaho consumers with no license, no permit, no registration, no fee and no sales cap. You only need to tell the buyer, by sign, label or card, that the product was not inspected or licensed.
Idaho keeps the path to selling short. There is no state permit and no annual sales cap, so foods like homemade shelf-stable foods and homemade perishable foods can go to market once your label carries what the state asks for. The rules below are the whole picture.
Idaho sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales, so the ceiling on your growth is your own kitchen and time rather than a statutory cap. The other rules that matter, the label, the allowed foods and where you can sell, are in the tables below.
Senate Bill 1283 took effect March 2026. Idaho enacted a new cottage food framework in 2026. Some procedural details were still settling at verification, so confirm the current rules with the Idaho agency before you rely on them. This page reflects the rule in force today; the full history sits in the law-updates log.
How much can you sell? The Idaho sales cap
The annual sales limit for a Idaho cottage food operation.
| Item | Idaho rule |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | No annual dollar cap in Idaho |
| How it works | The Idaho Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act sets no annual sales cap for qualifying direct-to-consumer food sales. |
What foods can you sell in Idaho?
Allowed and prohibited categories under current Idaho law.
| Allowed (examples) | Prohibited |
|---|---|
| Homemade shelf-stable foods; Homemade perishable foods; Nonalcoholic drinks; Sold to an informed end consumer within Idaho. | Milk and dairy products, or products derived from them; Raw milk and raw milk products; A product sold as an ingredient into a food establishment. |
These lists follow Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program's published guidance. Confirm your own product against Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program before you commit to a batch.
Idaho cottage food label requirements
Every package you sell needs a label with the elements below in legible print.
- The disclosure above, by conspicuously displayed sign, an affixed label, or a card given to the consumer
- Producer name and contact information
- Complete ingredient list when the product has two or more ingredients
Idaho requires this disclosure statement, word for word:
This product is not subject to government food safety inspection or licensing requirements. It may contain allergens.
Reproduced from Idaho's cottage food labeling requirements. Confirm the current wording with Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program before you print a run of labels.
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The one-page map of the steps, in order, so you can see the whole path at a glance.
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Where can you sell in Idaho?
The venues and channels Idaho cottage food operators may use.
| Channel | Allowed in Idaho? |
|---|---|
| Direct to consumer in person within Idaho | Yes |
| Wholesale | No. Remains separately regulated, outside the Act. |
| Out-of-state / interstate carrier sales | Not clearly authorized. Secondary sources note out-of-state sales may require separate FDA approval; not independently confirmed. |
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program has not settled every channel in one published place. Confirm your specific channel, for example online or out-of-state shipping, with Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program.
Registration, training and inspection
Registration and permits. No license, permit or registration is required for a qualifying direct-to-consumer food sale under the Idaho Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act.
Food safety training. No food safety training or certification requirement was found for sales under the Act.
Kitchen inspection. Products sold under the Act are exempt from government food safety inspection. The Department of Health and Welfare retains authority to investigate a confirmed foodborne illness.
The fees a Idaho cottage food seller can expect.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Direct-to-consumer food sale under the Act | No state fee |
Confirm the exact course or certificate Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Food Protection Program accepts before you enroll.
