Start a home kitchen in Arkansas

The steps, the costs, where to apply, and how to get inspection-ready — in Arkansas's own program terms.

Cottage food law Food freedom act

Sales cap: No sales cap under the Food Freedom Act — producers may sell any volume of qualifying non-TCS homemade food and drink products. No scheduled cap changes or effective dates found. (Raw milk sales are governed separately under A.C.A. § 20-59-248 as amended by Acts 125 and 698 of 2025.)

Allowed foods: Allowed: non-TCS (shelf-stable, no refrigeration needed) foods made at the producer's private residence — baked goods that meet pH ≤4.6 and water activity ≤0.85 (breads, cookies, cakes, pastries), candy and confections, jams/jellies/preserves/fruit butters made with real sugar, pickled cucumbers and other acidified vegetables with equilibrium pH ≤4.6 (only with an ADH-approved recipe, certified-lab testing, or per-batch calibrated pH meter testing, plus batch numbers and batch records), acidified condiments/sauces (salsa, BBQ sauce, ketchup, pH ≤4.6, heat-treated), vinegar and infused vinegar (pH ≤4.6), packaged teas/coffees/soft drinks/lemonades (pH ≤4.6 or water activity ≤0.85), heat-treated canned high-acid fruit juices, dried/dehydrated/roasted foods, honey (creamed or flavored only with dry non-TCS ingredients), maple syrup, sorghum, microgreens (cut once at harvest), and whole uncut fresh produce. Not allowed: meat, poultry, seafood, wild game, and any dairy (milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, yogurt); any time/temperature-control-for-safety food (cut leafy greens, cut tomatoes, cut melons, raw sprouts, garlic-in-oil mixtures, custard/cream pies, cheesecake, deli salads, casseroles); low-acid canned foods (pH >4.6, e.g. green beans, corn); smoked/cured/dried meats; alcoholic beverages; and fresh unpasteurized juice.

The permit steps

1. No permit, license, registration, inspection, or food-safety training is required under the Food Freedom Act for qualifying non-TCS homemade foods.
2. Check with your city/county clerk about general local business-license requirements (not food-specific).
3. If a product needs a permit (TCS foods, low-acid canned goods, meat, dairy, sprouts): contact the Environmental Health Specialist at your local Arkansas Department of Health county health unit to determine whether a Retail Food Establishment or Food Processing Plant permit is required — specific permit fees could not be verified from a primary source.

How it works, start to finish

1. Confirm your products qualify as non-TCS (shelf-stable, no refrigeration needed) and contain no meat, poultry, seafood, or dairy.
2. For pickles or other acidified foods, use an ADH-approved recipe, get a certified lab test, or test every batch with a calibrated pH meter (must read ≤4.6); assign each batch a unique number and keep records (recipe, pH/test source, batch date).
3. Make the food at your private residence.
4. Prepare the required disclosures: date made, your name/address/phone (or an ID number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture), product name, ingredients in descending order, and the statement 'This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.' — put them on the package label (or a point-of-sale placard, or your website for online sales).
5. Sell only to informed end consumers (who won't resell): from your home, farmers markets, farm stands, online, or through retail shops/grocery stores; delivery by you, an agent, or by mail is allowed.
6. If a grocery/retail store also sells inspected foods, keep your homemade products physically separate.
7. You owe applicable taxes as normal, and the Arkansas Department of Health can still investigate foodborne-illness complaints or adulterated/misbranded food.
8. If you want to sell TCS foods, meat, dairy, or low-acid canned goods instead, contact the Environmental Health Specialist at your local ADH county health unit about a Retail Food Establishment permit.

Where to apply in Arkansas

Official sources — start with the agency or department that runs Arkansas's program:

• Food Freedom Act text — Act 1040 of 2021 (SB248), Arkansas Legislature
• Arkansas Homemade Food Production Guide (Arkansas Department of Health, updated May 21, 2026)
• ADH Food Protection FAQ (cottage/homemade food permit questions)
• HB1048 bill status — Act 125 of 2025 (raw milk), Arkansas Legislature

Inspection prep (general)