Do you need a license for cottage food in Georgia?

No. HB 398 (effective July 1, 2025) eliminated the state Cottage Food License. No registration, no $100 fee, no renewal.

Is there a sales cap in Georgia?

No. Georgia has no statutory annual revenue limit for cottage food operations.

What training is required?

ANSI-accredited Food Handler training — not the more rigorous Food Manager certification. Typical cost $5–$15 online.

Can I sell to grocery stores and restaurants?

Yes. HB 398 expanded sales channels to include third-party retailers, provided they display cottage foods in a separate, clearly labeled section. Local ordinances may further restrict this.

Georgia Cottage Food Law (2025 Guide): What Home Bakers and Food Entrepreneurs Must Know

If you are researching cottage food law Georgia, you are looking for the state's current rules after a major 2025 reform. Georgia's cottage food regime changed materially on July 1, 2025 when House Bill 398 took effect. The new law removed the state license and fee, added third-party retail sales, and clarified the training requirement.

At a Glance

Effective date of current rules: July 1, 2025 (HB 398)
State license required: No — HB 398 eliminated the state Cottage Food License
Annual fee: $0 — the $100 annual license/renewal fee is no longer charged
Sales cap: None — Georgia has no statutory annual revenue limit
Food safety training: ANSI-accredited Food Handler training required (not the more rigorous Food Manager certification)
Where you can sell: Direct-to-consumer AND through third-party retailers (grocery, convenience, restaurants) with separate display
Shipping: Within Georgia only; interstate shipping triggers FDA jurisdiction
Optional GDA identifier: Free ID number available for label privacy

Overview: How Georgia's 2025 Reform Works

Before HB 398, Georgia required a state-issued Cottage Food License from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, with a $100 annual renewal. HB 398 removed that license entirely. Operators may now sell approved non-potentially-hazardous foods direct-to-consumer without registering with the state. An optional GDA identifier (free) can be used on labels in place of a home address for privacy.

HB 398 also expanded sales channels. Georgia cottage food may now be sold to third-party retailers — grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants — provided the retailer displays cottage foods in a separate, clearly labeled section. Local governments may prohibit third-party retail sales by ordinance, so verify local rules before approaching a retailer.

Step-by-Step: Operating Under Georgia's Cottage Food Law

1. Confirm Your Foods Are Allowed

Only shelf-stable, non-potentially-hazardous foods qualify. Common approved items:

Loaf breads, biscuits, rolls
Cakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, pastries (no cream fillings)
Candies and confections
Fruit jams, jellies, and fruit butters (approved recipes)
Dry mixes, granola, roasted coffee, dry tea blends
Fruit pies (high-acid, shelf-stable)

Foods requiring refrigeration (cheesecakes, cream pies, meat, dairy-based items) and acidified or canned foods are not allowed under the cottage food exemption.

2. Complete ANSI-Accredited Food Handler Training

Georgia still requires food safety training under the HB 398 regime, but only at the Food Handler level — NOT the more rigorous Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential. Food Handler courses are typically $5–$15 online and take 1–2 hours. Keep your certificate available for inspection.

3. Follow Georgia's Labeling Rules (O.C.G.A. § 26-2-473)

Every cottage food sale must be accompanied by two pieces of information:

1. Operator contact info:

Business name and telephone number
Physical address OR a GDA-issued Identification Number in lieu of address (request one in writing from GDA for privacy)

2. The following statement, verbatim, in at least 10-point font:

"This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state inspection. This product may contain allergens."

HB 398 does not mandate a specific font face, all-caps, or a contrast color — only "at least 10 point font." The old Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 40-7-19-.09 requirements (Times New Roman or Arial, contrasting color) are no longer the governing standard. GDA has stated it will amend Rule 40-7-19 to conform to HB 398; until then, GDA is exercising enforcement discretion.

Where the disclosure appears (operator chooses one):

On the package label (if packaged), or
On the bulk container (if sold from bulk), or
On a placard at the point of sale (if neither packaged nor bulk), or
On the webpage where the item is offered (for online sales)

For telephone or custom orders, you may disclose verbally, but full label information must be readily available on request. Third-party vendors (grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) must display cottage food items in a separate section clearly labeled as exempt from state inspection.

Standard ingredients-list, net-weight, and allergen-list best practices still apply. FALCPA allergen labeling applies separately under federal law if the product ships interstate.

4. Sell Through Approved Channels

Post-HB 398 channels include:

Direct-to-consumer at home, farmers markets, roadside stands, craft fairs, festivals
Online orders with shipping or pickup within Georgia only
Mail order to Georgia addresses
Third-party retailers (grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants) with separate cottage-food display

Interstate shipping is not permitted — crossing state lines triggers FDA jurisdiction and requires a Manufactured Food Establishment License, which cannot be issued for a domestic kitchen.

5. There Is No Annual Sales Cap

Georgia has never had a statutory revenue cap on cottage food operations. HB 398 did not introduce one. You may scale as large as your kitchen capacity allows, subject to food safety and labeling compliance.

Legal and Food-Safety Considerations

Cottage food operators remain legally responsible for producing safe food, maintaining sanitation, preventing cross-contamination, and complying with allergen labeling. HB 398 removed the license but did not remove enforcement authority — GDA may act on complaints.

Common Mistakes

Paying the old $100 license fee — HB 398 eliminated it
Assuming Georgia imposes a $50,000 annual cap — it does not
Completing a Food Manager certification when Food Handler training is sufficient
Using an outdated disclaimer — confirm the HB 398 wording before printing labels
Shipping across state lines
Placing cottage foods in a retailer's general merchandise without a separate cottage-food display

External Resources

Internal Links

Final Thoughts

Georgia's cottage food regime is simpler and more permissive in 2026 than it was before HB 398. No license, no fee, no cap, and expanded retail channels — but the same food-safety responsibility and careful labeling. Confirm the HB 398 disclaimer wording against the current GDA guidance before printing labels, and check local ordinances before approaching third-party retailers.