Maine — the rules

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

Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in Maine, under the Home Food License (Home Food Processor), Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF). There is no state sales cap on the books. Here is exactly what that means.

Maine at a glance

Home food sales	Allowed
Program	Home Food License (Home Food Processor), Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF)
Annual sales cap	None specified
Sales channels	Direct to consumers AND through retail/indirect channels
Approximate fee	$20

What foods are covered

shelf-stable (non-potentially-hazardous) foods only: baked goods without cream fillings or cream-cheese frostings, jams/jellies, pickles, relishes, sauces; refrigerated/frozen products require a commercial food processing license; canned acidified products must first be reviewed by a process authority (e.g., University of Maine Food Testing Services)

Permits and registration

State license required: $20/year Home Food License with an initial home-kitchen inspection (no routine annual inspections), sanitation and two-bay-sink/hot-water requirements, annual well-water test for private wells, and labeling rules. License allows sales from home and to retail stores/wholesale. Separately, ~100 Maine towns have local 'food sovereignty' ordinances allowing unlicensed direct producer-to-consumer sales within those municipalities.

Going legal in Maine: 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: www.maine.gov · www.maine.gov. 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 Maine?

Yes — under Home Food License (Home Food Processor), Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF). Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.

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

Maine does not specify a state sales cap in the current rules.

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