New Jersey: the home-kitchen movement
Cottage food (restricted) Cottage food law
New Jersey allows home production of shelf-stable (non-TCS) foods under a state Cottage Food Operator Permit issued by the NJ Department of Health (N.J.A.C. 8:24, Subchapter 11, effective October 4, 2021). Gross annual sales are capped at $50,000; permits cost $100 for two years and require manager-level food-safety certification, water-potability proof, and local zoning approval. No MEHKO-style hot-meal program or food freedom act exists.
Where it stands
No amendments to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 during 2024-2026; the $50,000 cap is unchanged since the rules took effect October 4, 2021. No New Jersey microenterprise home-kitchen (MEHKO-style) program or food freedom act exists or is pending. The only 2026 NJ bill touching home-baked goods is A3166 (Assemblyman Webber, 222nd Legislature, pre-filed for the 2026 session): 'Concerns baked goods sold at farm markets' — a minor weights-and-measures amendment to R.S. 51:1-17 allowing producers of baked goods to sell in covered or wrapped containers at farm markets; introduced pending technical review, not a cottage-food expansion or cap change.
Residents can find and support local kitchens through the New Jersey hub — browse kitchens, read the law guide, and see what is cooking near you.
Cottage food fight in New Jersey
1 supporter(s) and 0 opposition entr(ies) on this page carry this track tag — see Supporters / Opposition below.
How we got here
- — Cottage food law
No amendments to N.J.A.C. Source - 2024 — Cottage food law
8:24-11 during 2024-2026; the $50,000 cap is unchanged since the rules took effect October 4, 2021. Source - — Cottage food law
No New Jersey microenterprise home-kitchen (MEHKO-style) program or food freedom act exists or is pending. Source - 2026 — Cottage food law
The only 2026 NJ bill touching home-baked goods is A3166 (Assemblyman Webber, 222nd Legislature, pre-filed for the 2026 session): 'Concerns baked goods sold at farm markets' — a minor weights-and-measures amendment to R.S. Source
Supporters
On the public record supporting home kitchens in New Jersey.
Institute for Justice Cottage food fight
Its lawsuit prompted the state rules that lifted the ban on homemade food sales, making New Jersey the 50th state to allow them
Source: https://ij.org/activism/a-timeline-of-recent-cottage-food-expans
Opposition
No on-record opposition has been verified for this state yet.
The deciders
Governor
Office of the Governor of New Jersey (name not yet verified in this research pass)
Contact the deciders
A pre-written letter in New Jersey's own terminology. The buttons open it in your email — addressed by you to the office above. Nothing sends until you press send.