Louisiana — the rules

Selling Food From Home in Louisiana: Cottage Food Rules (2026)

Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in Louisiana, under the Home-based preparation of low-risk foods (cottage food law, La. R.S. 40:4.9). Sales are capped at $30,000/year. Here is exactly what that means.

Louisiana at a glance

Home food sales	Allowed
Program	Home-based preparation of low-risk foods (cottage food law, La. R.S. 40:4.9)
Annual sales cap	$30,000
Sales channels	Direct to consumers (see details — many direct-only states still allow online orders with delivery)

What foods are covered

low-risk non-perishable foods only: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies -- this bakery subset is exempt WITHOUT the $30,000 cap), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey/honeycomb, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces/syrups, spices; no foods containing animal or fish proteins; CBD foods prohibited

Permits and registration

No permit, license, inspection, or training required. Must be registered to collect state and local sales/use taxes (current sales tax certificate) and label products as not produced in a licensed/regulated facility. Direct-to-consumer only: no sales to retail businesses or for resale; online advertising is allowed but transactions are in-person within Louisiana. The $30,000 gross annual sales cap applies to the general low-risk food exemption; hiring employees voids the exemption.

Going legal in Louisiana: the plate-seller checklist

Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
Build the storefront — a menu page, order-ahead with cutoffs, your own business line. Our free guide covers the whole playbook.

Sources and verification

Verified 2026-07 against: legis.la.gov · ij.org. Rules change — confirm with the primary source before acting; this guide is information, not legal advice.

Questions people ask

Is it legal to sell food from home in Louisiana?

Yes — under Home-based preparation of low-risk foods (cottage food law, La. R.S. 40:4.9), with an annual sales cap of $30,000. Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.

How much can you sell under Louisiana's cottage food law?

$30,000 per year under the current rules.

Do you need a permit to sell food from home in Louisiana?