Utah Cottage Food Laws (2026): Selling Homemade Food Legally
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
Quick answer
- Law / program
- Two paths: the UDAF Cottage Food Program (Utah Code 4-5-501) and the Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (Title 4, Ch. 5a, the 2018 food freedom law)
- Annual sales cap
- none on either path
- Official details
- State cottage food page
Do you need a license to sell homemade food in Utah?
Path 1 (Cottage Food): register with UDAF: application with a recipe for each product, labels, storage plan, and sales locations, a registration fee (UDAF invoices the amount; commonly reported around $50 but unpublished, so confirm at 801-538-7152), a home kitchen inspection, and a food handler permit. Path 2 (Homemade Food Act): no registration, permit, training, or inspection at all; only the Act's labeling and direct-sale conditions plus a city business license.
Path 1: a valid Utah food handler permit. Path 2: none.
What foods are allowed
Path 1: shelf-stable non-PHF foods: baked goods without cream or cream cheese frostings, jams, candy and chocolates, freeze-dried and cotton candy, dry mixes, dried fruit, herbs, nuts, popcorn, honey (with hive registration), roasted coffee, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Path 2: almost any homemade food or nonalcoholic drink including refrigerated TCS foods, with only raw dairy and most meat excluded (poultry under the federal 1,000-bird exemption is allowed).
Path 1: anything refrigerated, foods of animal origin, jerky, cheesecakes, custards, and canned low-acid or acidified foods. Path 2: raw dairy and meat products (with the poultry and pending rabbit carve-outs). Neither path covers alcohol.
Where you can sell and how much
Both paths are Utah-only. Path 1 is broader on venues: direct sales at markets, fairs, and from home, plus sales to stores for resale within Utah (restaurants cannot use cottage products as ingredients). Path 2 is direct-only: in-person sales to an informed final consumer at your home, farm, a direct-to-sale farmers market, or any agreed location (craft fair booths qualify), with the buyer told the product is uninspected; no retail, wholesale, or out-of-state shipping. A 2026 amendment lets a contracted designated representative sell on your behalf.
Annual sales cap: none on either path.
In-person events are where most cottage food sellers move product. Browse upcoming craft fairs in Utah to find shows with dates, booth fees, and application deadlines.
Labeling requirements
Path 1: full label with food name, ingredients, net quantity, allergens, business contact info, and the words 'Home Produced' (custom orders like wedding cakes are label-exempt with ingredients available on request). Path 2: producer's name and address, a disclosure like 'Not for Resale - Processed and prepared without the benefit of state or local inspection,' and an allergen statement, plus verbally informing the buyer; minor producers are exempt from labeling.
Sales tax and local rules
Utah taxes grocery food at a reduced 3 percent statewide rate, which covers packaged cottage foods sold without utensils. Prepared food (heated, combined for a single sale, or sold with utensils you provide) is taxed at the full combined rate, which matters for ready-to-eat fair items. A Utah sales tax license is needed.
Both paths require a city or county business license. State law preempts local health regulation of registered cottage operations, and Homemade Food Act producers are statutorily exempt from local food licensing, but zoning and event organizer rules still apply.
Utah Agricultural Code violations can bring civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation or class B misdemeanor prosecution, plus registration revocation; health authorities retain foodborne illness investigation powers under both paths.
Selling non-food crafts too? See the Utah craft fair permit and sales tax guide.
Utah cottage food FAQ
Can I sell homemade food in Utah?
Yes, under Two paths: the UDAF Cottage Food Program (Utah Code 4-5-501) and the Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act (Title 4, Ch. 5a, the 2018 food freedom law). Path 1 (Cottage Food): register with UDAF: application with a recipe for each product, labels, storage plan, and sales locations, a registration fee (UDAF invoices the amount; commonly reported around $50 but unpublished, so confirm at 801-538-7152), a home kitchen inspection, and a food handler permit. Path 2 (Homemade Food Act): no registration, permit, training, or inspection at all; only the Act's labeling and direct-sale conditions plus a city business license.
What foods can I sell under Utah's cottage food law?
Path 1: shelf-stable non-PHF foods: baked goods without cream or cream cheese frostings, jams, candy and chocolates, freeze-dried and cotton candy, dry mixes, dried fruit, herbs, nuts, popcorn, honey (with hive registration), roasted coffee, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Path 2: almost any homemade food or nonalcoholic drink including refrigerated TCS foods, with only raw dairy and most meat excluded (poultry under the federal 1,000-bird exemption is allowed). Path 1: anything refrigerated, foods of animal origin, jerky, cheesecakes, custards, and canned low-acid or acidified foods. Path 2: raw dairy and meat products (with the poultry and pending rabbit carve-outs). Neither path covers alcohol.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Utah?
Yes: none on either path.
Where can I sell cottage food in Utah?
Both paths are Utah-only. Path 1 is broader on venues: direct sales at markets, fairs, and from home, plus sales to stores for resale within Utah (restaurants cannot use cottage products as ingredients). Path 2 is direct-only: in-person sales to an informed final consumer at your home, farm, a direct-to-sale farmers market, or any agreed location (craft fair booths qualify), with the buyer told the product is uninspected; no retail, wholesale, or out-of-state shipping. A 2026 amendment lets a contracted designated representative sell on your behalf.
What has to be on my label in Utah?
Path 1: full label with food name, ingredients, net quantity, allergens, business contact info, and the words 'Home Produced' (custom orders like wedding cakes are label-exempt with ingredients available on request). Path 2: producer's name and address, a disclosure like 'Not for Resale - Processed and prepared without the benefit of state or local inspection,' and an allergen statement, plus verbally informing the buyer; minor producers are exempt from labeling.
Do I charge sales tax on cottage food in Utah?
Utah taxes grocery food at a reduced 3 percent statewide rate, which covers packaged cottage foods sold without utensils. Prepared food (heated, combined for a single sale, or sold with utensils you provide) is taxed at the full combined rate, which matters for ready-to-eat fair items. A Utah sales tax license is needed.
Find places to sell in Utah
Browse upcoming craft fairs and markets in Utah with booth fees and application deadlines, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan a profitable season.
Official sources
- Cottage Food Production, UDAF
- Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act, UDAF
- Utah Code 4-5-501, Cottage Food Operations
- Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 5a, Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act
- Grocery Food Sales Tax Rate, Utah State Tax Commission
Last verified: 2026-06-12. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.