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Arizona: the home-kitchen movement

Full cottage food Cottage food law

Arizona's cottage food law (A.R.S. §§36-931–36-933, expanded by 2024's HB 2042 'tamale bill') is administered statewide by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Registered home preparers may sell even potentially hazardous/perishable foods — including meat and dairy — with no sales cap and no kitchen inspection, subject to strict sale and delivery rules. Arizona has no MEHKO-style hot-meal program and no separate food-freedom act.

Where it stands

HB 2042 (56th Leg., 2nd Reg. Sess.; Laws 2024, Ch. 18) — the 'tamale bill' — signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs on March 29, 2024 and effective September 14, 2024. It created A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 8, Article 2 (§§36-931–36-933), expanding cottage food to potentially hazardous and time/temperature-control foods, including meat, dairy, and poultry within federal limits. It added the 'home kitchen' definition (≤1,000 sq ft), required in-person delivery for meat/dairy/poultry items, a single-transport/under-2-hour rule for temperature-controlled items, stronger labeling, and ADHS rulemaking and enforcement authority (rules adopted as A.A.C. R9-8-101.02). Backstory: HB 2509 (2023) was vetoed by Gov. Hobbs over food-safety concerns and the veto-override attempt failed; HB 2864 (2024), which would have added precut/processed freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, passed the House 47–9 in February 2024 but did not become law — ADHS now addresses freeze-dried foods in its program guidance instead. The 57th Legislature (2025–2026) enacted no changes to the cottage-food article and no cottage-food bills are pending; the statute compilation is current through the 57th Legislature's 2nd Regular Session.

Residents can find and support local kitchens through the Arizona hub — browse kitchens, read the law guide, and see what is cooking near you.

Read the full Arizona law guide →

Cottage food fight in Arizona

2 supporter(s) and 0 opposition entr(ies) on this page carry this track tag — see Supporters / Opposition below.

• 2023 — HB 2509 — earlier expansion vetoed
  HB 2509 (2023) was vetoed by Gov. Hobbs over food-safety concerns and the veto-override attempt failed; the expansion was later enacted in revised form as HB 2042 (2024). Source
• 2024 — HB 2042 — the 'tamale bill' expands cottage food to TCS foods
  HB 2042 (Laws 2024, Ch. 18; signed March 29, 2024, effective September 14, 2024) expanded Arizona cottage food to potentially hazardous / time-temperature-control foods, including meat, dairy, and poultry within federal limits. Source
• 2024 — HB 2864 — freeze-dried produce category (did not pass)
  HB 2864 (2024) would have added precut/processed freeze-dried fruits and vegetables; it passed the House 47-9 in February 2024 but did not become law. Source

How we got here

• 2042 — Cottage food law Cottage food fight
  HB 2042 (56th Leg., 2nd Reg. Source
• — Cottage food law
  18) — the 'tamale bill' — signed by Gov. Source
• 2024 — Cottage food law
  Katie Hobbs on March 29, 2024 and effective September 14, 2024. Source
• — Cottage food law
  Title 36, Chapter 8, Article 2 (§§36-931–36-933), expanding cottage food to potentially hazardous and time/temperature-control foods, including meat, dairy, and poultry within federal limits. Source
• 2023 — HB 2509 — earlier expansion vetoed Cottage food fight
  HB 2509 (2023) was vetoed by Gov. Hobbs over food-safety concerns and the veto-override attempt failed; the expansion was later enacted in revised form as HB 2042 (2024). Source
• 2024 — HB 2864 — freeze-dried produce category (did not pass) Cottage food fight
  HB 2864 (2024) would have added precut/processed freeze-dried fruits and vegetables; it passed the House 47-9 in February 2024 but did not become law. Source
• 2024 — HB 2042 — the 'tamale bill' expands cottage food to TCS foods Cottage food fight
  HB 2042 (Laws 2024, Ch. 18; signed March 29, 2024, effective September 14, 2024) expanded Arizona cottage food to potentially hazardous / time-temperature-control foods, including meat, dairy, and poultry within federal limits. Source

Supporters

On the public record supporting home kitchens in Arizona.

Opposition

No on-record opposition has been verified for this state yet.

The deciders

Contact the deciders

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