This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Permit and tax rules change, and your situation may differ. Always confirm current requirements with the official state agency linked in this guide, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice about your specific business.Last verified against official state sources: 2026-06-12
No food service permit, but ADPH expects you to submit a Cottage Food Review Form to your county health department, which reviews your food safety certificate and labels (some counties like Jefferson run it as a formal registration). Your city or county may also require a business license.
Yes, the big Alabama requirement: pass an ADPH-approved food safety course before selling and keep it current. The standard option is the $25 Alabama Cooperative Extension cottage food course (online or in person, certificate good 3 years); any ANSI-accredited program also counts.
Non-potentially-hazardous home-kitchen foods: cakes, breads, pastries, pies, jams and preserves, candy, dried herbs and fruits, roasted coffee, dry baking mixes, candied nuts, flavored popcorn, cheese straws, fruit butters, barbecue sauce, and infused vinegars. Acidified and fermented items (pickles, salsas, sauerkraut) are allowed only with pH below 4.2 or water activity below 0.88 verified by a processing authority or approved lab; home pH meters do not count.
Anything with meat, poultry, or fish, and anything needing temperature control: cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-topped cakes, raw cookie dough, cheese and dairy desserts, garlic in oil, and kombucha. Products over 3 percent alcohol, pet treats, and supplements are also outside the law.
Direct to consumer only, within Alabama: in person, by phone, or online, with delivery in person, by mail, or through an agent to Alabama customers. Craft fairs, festivals, and roadside booths are fine; state-sanctioned farmers markets fall under the Farmers Market Authority, so check with the FMA first. No out-of-state sales and no wholesale to restaurants or stores.
Annual sales cap: none (the old $20,000 cap was removed by SB 160 in 2021).
Labels in at least 10-point font with: the food's common name, producer or business name, home address or PO Box, ingredients with sub-ingredients by weight, a statement that the food is not inspected by the health department, and an allergen disclaimer (commonly 'This product may contain allergens'). Labels are reviewed by your county health department.
Unlike most states, Alabama taxes groceries, so plan to collect tax at every event: the state food rate dropped to 2 percent on September 1, 2025, but city and county taxes add several points on top and vary by location. Register with the Alabama Department of Revenue and check each venue's local rate.
County health departments handle the review (fees and procedures vary by county), cities may require business licenses, and zoning or HOA rules can limit home food businesses.
ADPH can issue stop-sale, seizure, or hold orders for food suspected in illness, and selling outside the cottage list without a permitted kitchen puts you under regular food establishment enforcement.
Selling non-food crafts too? See the Alabama craft fair permit and sales tax guide.
Yes, under Alabama Cottage Food Law (Code of Alabama 22-20-5.1, amended by SB 160 effective August 1, 2021). No food service permit, but ADPH expects you to submit a Cottage Food Review Form to your county health department, which reviews your food safety certificate and labels (some counties like Jefferson run it as a formal registration). Your city or county may also require a business license.
Non-potentially-hazardous home-kitchen foods: cakes, breads, pastries, pies, jams and preserves, candy, dried herbs and fruits, roasted coffee, dry baking mixes, candied nuts, flavored popcorn, cheese straws, fruit butters, barbecue sauce, and infused vinegars. Acidified and fermented items (pickles, salsas, sauerkraut) are allowed only with pH below 4.2 or water activity below 0.88 verified by a processing authority or approved lab; home pH meters do not count. Anything with meat, poultry, or fish, and anything needing temperature control: cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-topped cakes, raw cookie dough, cheese and dairy desserts, garlic in oil, and kombucha. Products over 3 percent alcohol, pet treats, and supplements are also outside the law.
Yes: none (the old $20,000 cap was removed by SB 160 in 2021).
Direct to consumer only, within Alabama: in person, by phone, or online, with delivery in person, by mail, or through an agent to Alabama customers. Craft fairs, festivals, and roadside booths are fine; state-sanctioned farmers markets fall under the Farmers Market Authority, so check with the FMA first. No out-of-state sales and no wholesale to restaurants or stores.
Labels in at least 10-point font with: the food's common name, producer or business name, home address or PO Box, ingredients with sub-ingredients by weight, a statement that the food is not inspected by the health department, and an allergen disclaimer (commonly 'This product may contain allergens'). Labels are reviewed by your county health department.
Unlike most states, Alabama taxes groceries, so plan to collect tax at every event: the state food rate dropped to 2 percent on September 1, 2025, but city and county taxes add several points on top and vary by location. Register with the Alabama Department of Revenue and check each venue's local rate.
Browse upcoming craft fairs and markets in Alabama with booth fees and application deadlines, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan a profitable season.
Last verified: 2026-06-12. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.