Pennsylvania Cottage Food Laws

Comprehensive Guide to Pennsylvania ‘Cottage Food’ (Limited Food Establishment) Law

This guide explains Pennsylvania’s Limited Food Establishment program (the state’s equivalent to cottage food laws), detailing registration, fees, inspection, allowed foods, labeling, sales venues, and how to begin.

Quick Facts

Overview / Introduction

Pennsylvania does not use the term “cottage food law”; instead it operates under the Limited Food Establishment program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). This program allows limited food processing in home-style kitchens (“residential‑style kitchens”) that don’t meet full commercial standards, to produce and sell non-hazardous foods directly to consumers, under the Food Safety Act and relevant federal rules (Title 21 CFR) (agriculture.pa.gov).

Sales Limits

The sources reviewed do not specify any annual revenue or production limits for Limited Food Establishments in Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for such limits, PDA guidance or the application packet does not indicate a cap at present.

Licensing & Registration

To operate under this program, you must:

1. Download and complete the Application Packet – Limited Food Establishment from the PDA website and submit it at least 60 days prior to operation (agriculture.pa.gov).
2. Submit via email (preferred) or mail/fax to the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services at the PDA address in Harrisburg; do not include payment with the application (agriculture.pa.gov).
3. Upon approval, you'll receive an approval letter by email, then an inspector schedules an on-site inspection. If compliant, you pay the $35 registration fee, and receive your Food Establishment Registration (agriculture.pa.gov).
4. Annual renewal is required at $35; PDA notifies proprietors about 45 days prior to expiration. Renewals can be done online using your business ID code via the PDA’s online food safety portal (agriculture.pa.gov).

Training Requirements

The provided sources do not mention any required food handler training or certifications, nor renewal of training. Entrepreneurs should check PDA or local health department guidance for any implied training expectations.

Home Kitchen Inspection

Yes, an on-site inspection of the home-style kitchen is required after plan approval. Only upon passing this inspection does one pay the registration fee and receive the permit (agriculture.pa.gov).

Allowed Foods

Pennsylvania’s Limited Food Establishment program is limited to non‑hazardous foods, meaning those that do not require strict temperature control for safety. Hazardous foods—those needing temperature control—must be produced in fully compliant commercial kitchens and cannot be made at home unless additional approved facilities are used (agriculture.pa.gov).

The specific application packet likely contains examples (e.g., baked goods, jams, dry mixes), but the accessible summary page does not list permitted products.

Prohibited Foods

Hazardous foods are prohibited. These typically include items requiring refrigeration to remain safe (e.g., meat, dairy-based sauces, prior cooked foods, etc.). Since not detailed in sources, entrepreneurs should refer to Title 21 CFR or PDA’s canned/acidified food guides for specifics (agriculture.pa.gov).

Labeling Requirements

The sources do not provide specific label requirements or mandatory label statements for Limited Food Establishments. For general labeling standards—including allergen declarations and ingredient labeling—manufacturers should follow FDA’s Food Labeling Guide and allergen labeling rules, which require listing allergens either in parentheses in the ingredient list (e.g., “lecithin (soy)”) or in a “Contains” statement adjacent to ingredients (fda.gov).

Exact wording such as “Made in a home kitchen” or cooling disclaimers are not specified in PDA materials, so producers should consult the application packet or contact PDA for clarification.

Where You Can Sell

The PDA summary does not restrict sales venues; the program enables home processing for sale directly to consumers. It does not explicitly state that sales must occur at farmers markets or face-to-face only—it permits sales under the Food Safety Act. However, products likely must be sold directly to the end consumer (e.g., at farmers markets or community venues), not wholesale or across state lines without FDA registration (agriculture.pa.gov).

Sales Tax

The sources contain no information regarding sales tax collection for cottage-style food sales in Pennsylvania. Entrepreneurs should consult the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue or local revenue departments for obligations relating to collecting and remitting sales tax.

Special Exemptions

PDA provides specific guideline documents for certain product types, such as Honey, Maple Syrup, Kombucha (brewing‑bottling), and Canning of Acid, Acidified, Fermented Food & Beverages (agriculture.pa.gov). These likely offer more tailored requirements or methods for those products operating under the Limited Food Establishment program.

Getting Started

To begin:

1. Download the application packet from PDA.
2. Submit completed plans at least 60 days before starting operation.
3. Await plan approval via email, then schedule and pass the on-site inspection.
4. Pay $35 registration fee and receive permit.
5. Renew annually for $35, ~45 days before expiration, online or by mail.
6. Refer to relevant guidelines (honey, maple, canning, kombucha) if applicable.
7. Ensure labels comply with FDA requirements for allergen and ingredient disclosures.

Official Resources

Key official resources:

• Limited Food Establishment Program summary: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture site (agriculture.pa.gov)
• Application Packet – Limited Food Establishment (PDF) – downloadable from PDA (link in summary page) (agriculture.pa.gov)
• Guideline documents: Honey, Maple Syrup, Kombucha, Canning, etc., accessible via PDA site (agriculture.pa.gov)
• FDA Food Labeling Guide – for general labeling standards (fda.gov)
• FDA Allergen Labeling Requirements – for compliant allergen notices (fda.gov)

Official Sources

This guide was compiled from the following official sources:

• www.pa.gov
• www.fda.gov
• www.fda.gov

Important Notes

⚠️ This summary is based on PDA’s publicly available summary page; the actual Application Packet PDF may include more detailed rules (e.g., permitted food lists, label statements). Entrepreneur should review that packet carefully.

⚠️ Labeling requirements are derived from federal (FDA) guidance, not PDA-specific – verify if PDA imposes additional labeling requirements in packet or via consultation.

⚠️ Sales tax, online sales, delivery/shipping rules are not addressed in PDA materials and must be confirmed with Department of Revenue or FDA if interstate.