Sell Homemade Food in North Carolina — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in North Carolina — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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No revenue cap
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
Yes
Permit Required
Home Processor Inspection (kitchen inspection, no permit issued) — Free (no fee for inspection)
moderately regulated
Regulation Level
North Carolina is considered moderately regulated for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in North Carolina is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Food and Drug Protection Division explains everything you need to know about the North Carolina Home Processor program (NC Gen. Stat. 106-129; 02 NCAC 09B).
Apply for your home processor inspection (kitchen inspection, no permit issued) (Free (no fee for inspection))
Send your application to North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Food and Drug Protection Division. Most states approve within 2–4 weeks.
Schedule your kitchen inspection
North Carolina needs to inspect your home kitchen before you can sell. Your local health department will walk you through what to prep.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what North Carolina requires below.
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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 North Carolina
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
dried herbs
fruit butter
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned low-acid foods
Rules can change — quickly check with North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Food and Drug Protection Division before you start, just to be safe.
North Carolina Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in North Carolina under the North Carolina Home Processor program (NC Gen. Stat. 106-129; 02 NCAC 09B)
Home Processor Inspection (kitchen inspection, no permit issued) Required
Cost: Free (no fee for inspection). Apply through your state agriculture department.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
North Carolina does not require a food handler certification.
Kitchen Inspection Required
Your home kitchen must pass an inspection before you can begin selling.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what North Carolina wants on it — copy this list.
Product name
Ingredients listed in descending order of predominance by weight
Top 9 allergens (milk, eggs, fish [species], shellfish, tree nuts [type], wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame) called out by common name
Net weight or volume
Producer name and address
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from North Carolina. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
dried herbs
fruit butter
Ship within North Carolina only
North Carolina home processors can sell direct, online, and to retail/restaurants within the state once their kitchen has passed inspection. Out-of-state shipping is generally not permitted under the home processor program.
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 North Carolina
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in North Carolina
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in North Carolina
Farmers Markets
Allowed in North Carolina
Wholesale to Stores
Allowed in North Carolina
Start Your Home Food Business in North Carolina
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in North Carolina
North Carolina allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in North Carolina
Taste of Charlotte
Annual uptown food festival with 100+ local restaurants and food artisans.
Visit WebsiteCharlotte Food + Wine Weekend
Multi-day culinary celebration featuring local food producers and artisans.
YallFest Food Festival
Southern food celebration in NoDa featuring local home food makers.
Home Food Business Types in North Carolina
Start any of these home food businesses under the North Carolina Home Processor program (NC Gen. Stat. 106-129; 02 NCAC 09B)
Start Your North Carolina Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the North Carolina Home Processor program (NC Gen. Stat. 106-129; 02 NCAC 09B) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond North Carolina? 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.