Sell Homemade Food in Kentucky — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Kentucky — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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$60,000
Revenue Limit
Annual limit under cottage food law
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
Yes
Permit Required
Home-Based Processor Registration — $50 per year
moderately regulated
Regulation Level
Kentucky is considered moderately regulated for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Kentucky is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Kentucky Department of Public Health, Food Safety Branch (registration) / Kentucky Department of Agriculture (consumer guidance) explains everything you need to know about the Kentucky Home-Based Processor Law (KRS 217.136 / 217.137; HB 263).
Apply for your home-based processor registration ($50 per year)
Send your application to Kentucky Department of Public Health, Food Safety Branch (registration) / Kentucky Department of Agriculture (consumer guidance). Most states approve within 2–4 weeks.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Kentucky requires below.
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Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
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Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Kentucky
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
sorghum
dried herbs
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Kentucky Department of Public Health, Food Safety Branch (registration) / Kentucky Department of Agriculture (consumer guidance) before you start, just to be safe.
Kentucky Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Kentucky under the Kentucky Home-Based Processor Law (KRS 217.136 / 217.137; HB 263)
Home-Based Processor Registration Required
Cost: $50 per year. Apply through your state agriculture department.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Kentucky does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Kentucky allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Kentucky wants on it — copy this list.
Common name of the product
Home-based processing operation's name and address
Ingredients in descending order by weight
Net weight or volume
Processing date
Allergen disclosure
Statement declaring the product is home-produced and processed
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Kentucky requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Kentucky
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Kentucky. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
sorghum
dried herbs
Ship within Kentucky only
Kentucky home-based processors can sell online with in-state pickup or delivery to consumers, but out-of-state shipping is not authorized. All sales must be direct to the end consumer within Kentucky.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
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FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Kentucky
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Kentucky
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Kentucky
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Kentucky
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Kentucky cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Kentucky
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Kentucky
Kentucky allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in Kentucky
Bourbon & Beyond
Music and food festival at Highland Festival Grounds with local artisan food.
Visit WebsiteTaste of Louisville
Annual food festival at Waterfront Park featuring local restaurants and home food makers.
Louisville Vegan Jerk Fest
Celebration of plant-based and Caribbean food with local food entrepreneurs.
Home Food Business Types in Kentucky
Start any of these home food businesses under the Kentucky Home-Based Processor Law (KRS 217.136 / 217.137; HB 263)
Start Your Kentucky Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Kentucky Home-Based Processor Law (KRS 217.136 / 217.137; HB 263) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Kentucky? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.