Louisiana Cottage Food Law
A complete guide to cottage food regulations in Louisiana (LA) — revenue limits, allowed products, labeling, and permitting requirements.
Requirements & Restrictions
Permitting & Registration
- Food Handler Certification
- Not required
- Business License
- Not required
- State Registration
- Required — Local parish sales and use tax collector (sales tax certificate required from the sales and use tax collector for the parish in which sales occur)
Allowed Products
- Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies
- Candies
- Cane syrup
- Dried mixes
- Honey and honeycomb products
- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- pickles and acidified foods
- sauces and syrups
- spices
Prohibited Products
- Foods containing animal muscle protein
- Foods containing fish protein
- Foods sold to retail businesses or individuals for resale
Labeling Requirements
The following information must appear on every cottage food product label sold in Louisiana:
Required Disclaimer
No specific wording, must clearly state that food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility
Additional Notes
Current law is Louisiana R.S. 40:4.9 ('Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption'). The cottage food exemption does NOT apply to any preparer whose gross annual sales equal $30,000 or more (i.e., the law only applies when gross annual sales are under $30,000; the revenue limit is expressed as a threshold above which the exemption is lost). The $2,999,999 cents figure represents $29,999.99 — i.e., the law ceases to apply at $30,000 gross annual sales. Labeling: The label must clearly indicate the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility; raw honey is exempt from this labeling requirement. The statute's full list of low-risk foods was truncated in the fetched text after item (6) — items (1)–(6) are confirmed from the current statute text (legis.la.gov). A prior enrolled act (Act 542, 2014) also listed pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices; subsequent amendments added cane syrup and dried mixes — the complete current list may include additional items beyond those six listed here. Employment restriction: The cottage food exemption for breads, cakes, cookies, and pies does not apply if the preparer employs any individual to assist in preparation. No sale to retail businesses or individuals for resale is permitted (for breads, cakes, cookies, pies). Tax registration: Sellers must be registered to collect local sales and use taxes (current sales tax certificate from parish sales and use tax collector). Pending law change: HB 150 (2025 Regular Session) proposes to repeal R.S. 40:4.9 in its entirety and enact new R.S. 40:4.13 ('Homemade food production'), which would among other things eliminate the revenue cap, expand selling venues to include online/telephone sales, expand the product list, allow retail resale of non-potentially hazardous foods, add name/address/phone labeling requirements, and add ingredient list requirements. No effective date was confirmed in the fetched source — treat as pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual revenue limit for cottage food businesses in Louisiana?
- Louisiana cottage food producers may earn up to $30,000 per year from cottage food sales.
- Do I need a food handler certification to sell cottage food in Louisiana?
- No. Louisiana does not require a food handler certification for cottage food producers.
- Is a business license required for cottage food sales in Louisiana?
- No. Louisiana does not require a business license to operate a cottage food business.
- Does Louisiana require cottage food producers to register with the state?
- Yes. Louisiana requires cottage food businesses to register with Local parish sales and use tax collector (sales tax certificate required from the sales and use tax collector for the parish in which sales occur).
- What allergen labeling standard applies to cottage food in Louisiana?
- Louisiana follows the FDA Big Nine allergen standard for cottage food labeling.
- What products are allowed under Louisiana cottage food law?
- The following product categories are permitted for cottage food production in Louisiana: Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies, Candies, Cane syrup, Dried mixes, Honey and honeycomb products, Jams, jellies, and preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, spices.
- What products are prohibited under Louisiana cottage food law?
- The following products may not be sold under Louisiana's cottage food exemption: Foods containing animal muscle protein, Foods containing fish protein, Foods sold to retail businesses or individuals for resale.