Start a Home Kitchen in Louisiana

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

Cottage food law

Sales cap: $100,000 gross annual sales per year to keep the cottage-food exemption, raised from $30,000 by Act 801 of 2026 (HB 403), effective August 1, 2026. (Note: the legislature's statute page text for R.S. 40:4.9(B) had not yet been updated to reflect the amendment as of this research; the official Act 801 resume digest confirms $100,000 eff. 8/1/2026.)

Allowed foods: Allowed: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, spices. Not allowed: anything containing animal muscle protein or fish protein (no meat, poultry, seafood, gumbo, jambalaya, hot/prepared meals); no CBD unless FDA approves it as a food additive. There is no MEHKO-style hot-meals program and no food freedom act in Louisiana.

🥧 Cottage track in Louisiana

🥧 Cottage Food — Shelf-Stable Cottage food law — the shelf-stable track: preorder / pickup, never reservations.

No permit required in Louisiana for this track — makers are not “permitted”; they follow the cottage food rules.

Prohibited foods: anything containing animal muscle protein or fish protein (no meat, poultry, seafood, gumbo, jambalaya, hot/prepared meals); no CBD unless FDA approves it as a food additive. There is no MEHKO-style hot-meals program and no food freedom act in Louisiana.

Sales cap (cottage track): $100,000 gross annual sales per year to keep the cottage-food exemption, raised from $30,000 by Act 801 of 2026 (HB 403), effective August 1, 2026. (Note: the legislature's statute page text for R.S. 40:4.9(B) had not yet been updated to reflect the amendment as of this research; the official Act 801 resume digest confirms $100,000 eff. 8/1/2026.)

Labeling (from the published steps):

Label each product to clearly indicate it was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility (raw unprocessed honey with natural pollen intact is exempt from the label rule, R.S

Where you may sell (from the published rules):

Sell direct to consumers at farmers markets, festivals, or home pickup
bakery items may not be resold through retail businesses
Could not verify from a primary source whether online, wholesale, or interstate sales are permitted under Louisiana's regime.

🌮 Street track in Louisiana

🌮 Street Food — Sidewalk & Mobile

Street and mobile vendors do not cook from home kitchens — a different permit stack, and walk-up sales only.

No distinct street-vendor (sidewalk / mobile) regime is documented in Louisiana's published data on this site yet — mobile food is permitted separately from home kitchens; check with the local health department.

The permit steps

No health permit, license, or inspection is required — the statute exempts low-risk home foods from the state Sanitary Code (R.S. 40:4.9(A)).
Confirm every product fits the 'low-risk foods' list (R.S. 40:4.9(E)) — no meat or fish protein.
Get a current sales tax certificate from the sales and use tax collector of each parish where you will sell (R.S. 40:4.9(D)(2)) — fee could not be verified from a primary source.
Label each product to clearly indicate it was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility (raw unprocessed honey with natural pollen intact is exempt from the label rule, R.S. 40:4.9(D)(1)).
If baking breads, cakes, cookies, or pies: no employees may assist, pets must be excluded from prep areas, perishables held at 45°F or below; custard/cream-filled items require pasteurized dairy and strict cook-to-145°F/30-min and rapid-chill rules (R.S. 40:4.9(A)(2)).
No food-safety training is required by statute; no inspection is scheduled for cottage producers.

How it works, start to finish

Choose products from the statute's low-risk list (baked goods, candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces, syrups, spices) — nothing with meat or fish protein.
Get a current parish sales-tax certificate from the tax collector in each parish where you will sell.
Label every product to clearly state it was not made in a licensed or regulated facility (except raw unprocessed honey).
If baking breads, cakes, cookies, or pies, prepare alone with no hired help, keep pets out of the prep area, hold perishables at 45°F or below, and follow the custard/cream cook-and-chill rules.
Sell direct to consumers at farmers markets, festivals, or home pickup; bakery items may not be resold through retail businesses.
Track sales and stay under $100,000 gross per year to keep the exemption.
Could not verify from a primary source whether online, wholesale, or interstate sales are permitted under Louisiana's regime.

Where to apply in Louisiana

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

Inspection prep (general)

General prep that applies in most programs — your law guide and health department have the specifics for Louisiana:

Write your standard operating procedures: foods handled, prep methods, cleaning schedule, refuse disposal, and your time/temperature control plan.
Complete the food safety training your program requires and keep the certificate where an inspector can see it.
Have a calibrated food thermometer, proper cold storage, and labels that meet your program's rules.
Keep pets out of the kitchen during production, and separate household and business ingredients.

Read the full Louisiana law guide → · Check your eligibility → · Ask the guide about Louisiana →