South Carolina — the rules

Selling Food From Home in South Carolina: Cottage Food Rules (2026)

Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in South Carolina, under the Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code 44-1-143, expanded May 2022). There is no state sales cap on the books. Here is exactly what that means.

South Carolina at a glance

Home food salesAllowed
ProgramHome-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code 44-1-143, expanded May 2022)
Annual sales capNone specified
Sales channelsDirect to consumers AND through retail/indirect channels

What foods are covered

non-potentially-hazardous foods only: shelf-stable baked goods (cookies, cakes, sourdough), candy, high-acid jams/jellies and pie fillings, granola, dry mixes; no TCS foods, no home-canned aluminum goods, no charcuterie boards; sales direct to consumer (incl. online and mail order, delivered within SC only) and to retail stores including grocery stores (store must post homemade-food sign); restaurants only via approved variance

Permits and registration

None - no registration, permit, or license required and no food safety training required; labeling required incl. all-caps disclosure 'PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS'; annual well-water testing if on private well

Going legal in South Carolina: the plate-seller checklist

  1. Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
  2. Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
  3. Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
  4. Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
  5. 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: agriculture.sc.gov · hgic.clemson.edu. 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 South Carolina?

Yes — under Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code 44-1-143, expanded May 2022). Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.

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

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

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

None - no registration, permit, or license required and no food safety training required; labeling required incl. all-caps disclosure 'PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS'; annual well-wa