Comprehensive Guide to Iowa Cottage Food Laws
This guide outlines Iowa’s cottage food and home food processing establishment (HFPE) regulations as enacted under HF2431 (effective July 1, 2022). It covers definitions, licensing, sales limits, allowed/prohibited foods, labeling, sales channels, and practical startup steps—all based on official Iowa sources.
Quick Facts
| Requirement | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Annual Sales Limit | $50,000 for HFPE (no limit for cottage foods under exemption) |
| License Required | HFPE: $50/year license; Cottage foods: no license if criteria met |
| Registration Required | HFPE requires application and listing products; Cottage foods: no registration |
| Home Inspection | HFPE: periodic inspections allowed; Cottage foods: no inspection if criteria met |
| Food Safety Training | HFPE: at least one food safety training required; Cottage foods: none specified |
| Labeling Required | Yes, for cottage foods: name/contact, common name, ingredients, exemption statement, allergens, processing date (for canned goods) |
| Online Sales | Yes, cottage foods can be sold remotely (internet, mail, phone) |
| Delivery | Yes, by producer or agent |
| Shipping | Yes, via mail or agent for cottage foods |
Overview / Introduction
Iowa’s cottage food law was established by House File 2431 (HF2431), enacted in 2022 and effective July 1, 2022, expanding home-based food production regulations to include both cottage foods and a new Home Food Processing Establishment (HFPE) category (legiscan.com).
Sales Limits
• For HFPEs, gross annual sales must not exceed $50,000 (dial.iowa.gov).
• There are no explicit sales limits for cottage foods, as they are exempt from licensing when sold directly to consumers per statutory definition (legiscan.com).
Licensing & Registration
Cottage Foods: No license, permitting, or inspection is required if all criteria are met, including direct sale and proper labeling (dial.iowa.gov).
HFPE: Requires a $50 annual license, valid for one year and renewable; application via DIA, listing all homemade food items; update when products change (dial.iowa.gov).
Training Requirements
HFPE applicants must have at least one team member complete food safety training; details on required training content or renewal timelines are provided in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 34 (dial.iowa.gov).
No training requirement is specified for cottage food producers under the exemption (dial.iowa.gov).
Home Kitchen Inspection
Cottage Foods: Exempt from inspection as long as criteria are met (dial.iowa.gov).
HFPE: Subject to periodic inspection by DIA; inspectors may enter reasonable hours and inspect food-preparation areas (legiscan.com).
Allowed Foods
Cottage Foods may include any food prepared in a private home that does not require time/temperature control for safety and is sold directly with proper labeling (dial.iowa.gov).
Specifically allowed: Home-processed or home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with pH ≤ 4.60 or water activity ≤ 0.85, measured per batch, and labeled with process date (ia.foodprotectiontaskforce.com).
Prohibited Foods
Cottage Foods may not include:
• Foods that require time/temperature control for safety;
• Milk or dairy regulated under Iowa Code chapter 192;
• Meat, meat products, poultry, poultry products regulated under chapter 189A;
• Unpasteurized juice, raw sprouts, game animals, fish or shellfish, alcoholic beverages, bottled water, packaged ice, consumable hemp products, or foods destined for further processing (ia.foodprotectiontaskforce.com).
Labeling Requirements
Labels for cottage foods must include:
- Name and address, phone number, or email of producer;
- Common name of the food;
- Ingredients in descending order;
- Statement: “This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.”;
- Allergen statement listing major food allergens if present;
- For home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits, the processing and canning date (scottcountyiowa.gov).
Where You Can Sell
Cottage foods must be sold directly by the producer to the consumer, including in person, by phone, internet, mail, or via agent (e.g., employee) (legiscan.com).
They may also be sold at temporary food establishments operated by the producer, provided they are packaged and labeled properly (dial.iowa.gov).
Sales Tax
Sources do not specify Iowa sales tax obligations for cottage foods or HFPEs. Entrepreneurs should consult the Iowa Department of Revenue or relevant tax authorities for details.
Special Exemptions
Iowa law (§ 335.35) protects no-impact home-based businesses, ensuring cities cannot prohibit them or require rezoning or permits, so long as they are secondary to residential use and have no adverse impacts (e.g., noise, traffic) (legiscan.com).
Getting Started
- Determine if your product qualifies as a cottage food (non–TCS, home-prepared, direct sale, proper labeling). If yes, no license—just follow labeling rules.
- If planning to exceed $50,000 in sales or offer TCS foods, apply for an HFPE license:
• Complete DIA application listing all items; allow 30 days processing.
• Fee: $50/year, renewable before expiry (up to 90 days early).
• Ensure at least one team member completes food safety training.
• Be prepared for periodic kitchen inspections. - For cottage foods:
• Develop compliant labels with required info.
• For canned goods, maintain pH or water activity records and label batches with dates. - Consult the Iowa Department of Revenue for tax compliance.
- Keep documentation (batch records, calibration logs) ready in case of inspection or request (legiscan.com).
Official Resources
- Iowa HF2431 Bill and details via LegiScan page (legiscan.com)
- DIA Cottage Food Law page for definitions and selling rules (dial.iowa.gov)
- DIA HFPE page for licensing requirements, fees, templates (dial.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Administrative Code 481‑30.13 for rule implementation details (law.cornell.edu)
Official Sources
This guide was compiled from the following official sources: