New Hampshire cottage food law
New Hampshire cottage food bakers: Sell legally under the Homestead exemption
New Hampshire's Homestead Food Operations exemption is the simplest cottage food path in New England: no permit, no license, and no inspection, up to a $35,000/year exemption ceiling. Above that line you don't stop selling — you move to the licensed NH Homestead Food License path. The catch — exempt-tier sellers are restricted to shelf-stable, non-TCS products and must render a verbatim disclosure on every label. CottageOps configures itself for the Homestead exemption when you sign up.
What New Hampshire cottage food law actually says
New Hampshire's home-based food framework is the Homestead Food Operations exemption administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). The exemption is straightforward by design: home-based sellers who limit themselves to a defined list of low-risk, shelf-stable foods can sell directly to consumers in New Hampshire without a state permit, license, or inspection — up to a $35,000/year exemption ceiling. The ceiling isn't a hard stop: above it you move to the licensed NH Homestead Food License path rather than ceasing sales.
Under the Homestead exemption, New Hampshire operators can sell shelf-stable baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, dried mixes, granola, and similar non-TCS products direct to consumers — provided every label carries the mandatory home-kitchen disclosure at a 10-point minimum. Operators who want to offer broader products or sell via wholesale need the separate Homestead Food License (a licensed path with inspection, outside the exempt regime).
NH Homestead Food Operations exemption at a glance
- Revenue cap
- $35,000/year homestead-exemption ceiling (RSA 143-A; NH HB 1565, 2024). Not a hard stop — above $35,000 you don't stop selling, you move to the licensed NH Homestead Food License path
- Where you can sell
- Direct to New Hampshire consumers — farmers markets, festivals, pickup, in-state delivery, online sales to in-state customers; some retail under the exempt path
- Where you cannot sell
- Wholesale (sub-regimes outside the exempt path require a license); out-of-state shipping
- License required
- None for the exempt path — no permit, no registration, no inspection
- Inspection
- Exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection (mandatory disclosure on label)
- TCS foods
- Not allowed on the exempt path — shelf-stable products only
- Font requirement
- Disclosure at 10-point minimum on every label
Label requirements in New Hampshire
The NH Homestead Food Operations exemption mandates the following verbatim disclosure on every cottage food label: “This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection” — rendered at 10-point minimum font on the label. CottageOps's label generator pins the disclosure text verbatim and renders it well above the 10-point minimum. Our generated labels also include product name, producer name and address, ingredients, Big-9 allergens, and net quantity.
What CottageOps does for New Hampshire bakers
When you sign up and select New Hampshire as your state, CottageOps configures itself for the Homestead Food Operations exemption specifically:
- Verbatim disclosure on every surface. The NH-specific disclosure text is locked in; we render it on storefront listings, order confirmation emails, and every label PDF.
- 10-point minimum honored on labels. Our PDF generator renders the disclosure at 12-point by default, exceeding the NH 10-point minimum on every label.
- TCS prohibition warning. The exempt path is shelf-stable only. If you mark a SKU as containing TCS ingredients (cream filling, custard, fresh dairy), the product setup wizard surfaces a warning and points you toward the separate Homestead Food License regime (which CottageOps doesn't support in v1.0.9).
- No registration friction. The exempt path requires no state permit, no registration, no inspection. Onboarding skips the registration-number prompts that other states require.
Who New Hampshire's law is for
The New Hampshire cottage food baker is typically a Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, or rural-NH operator selling shelf-stable baked goods, candy, jams, or granola at farmers markets and via in-state pickup. With no permit, no inspection, no revenue cap, and a simple verbatim-disclosure rule, the Homestead exemption is one of the lowest-friction cottage-food paths in New England — well-suited to hobbyists, side-hustle bakers, and homesteaders.
Watch out for
- Shelf-stable only on the exempt path. The Homestead exemption blocks cream-based pastries, custards, cheesecakes, and any other TCS items. If you want to offer those, you need the separate Homestead Food License (a licensed path with inspection) — which CottageOps doesn't support in v1.0.9.
- Verbatim disclosure wording. The exact string “This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection” must appear on every label. CottageOps pins the wording; don't edit it manually.
- No wholesale on the exempt path. Sub-regimes outside the exempt path require a license. If a grocery store or restaurant wants to carry your product, that requires the licensed Homestead Food path, not the exempt path.
- Local ordinances may add rules. Some New Hampshire towns add their own food-handling or cottage-food rules on top of the state exemption — confirm with your municipality before booking a farmers market booth.
Ready to sell legally in New Hampshire?
CottageOps configures itself for the NH Homestead Food Operations exemption the moment you sign up. Verbatim disclosure rendering, 10-point font minimum honored, TCS prohibition warnings — all included. $19/mo in 2027 — free in 2026. No transaction fees.
Start selling in New HampshireNew Hampshire cottage food FAQ
Do I need a license to sell cottage food in New Hampshire?
No state license is required for the Homestead Food Operations exemption path. The exemption requires no permit, no registration, and no inspection — just the mandatory verbatim disclosure on every label. Operators who want to offer broader products or sell via wholesale need the separate Homestead Food License regime.
Can I sell cream-based pastries or cheesecake in New Hampshire?
Not on the exempt path. The Homestead exemption is shelf-stable only — cream fillings, custards, and any other TCS items require the separate Homestead Food License (with inspection), which CottageOps doesn’t support in v1.0.9.
Is there a revenue cap?
Yes — $35,000/year (RSA 143-A; NH HB 1565, 2024). But it works differently from a hard cap: crossing $35,000 doesn’t mean you stop selling. It’s the boundary of the exempt path — to keep selling above it you move to the licensed NH Homestead Food License path. Both paths are legal; CottageOps flags the line so you know when to transition.
Can I ship my New Hampshire cottage food to a customer in another state?
The Homestead exemption covers in-state direct-to- consumer sales. Out-of-state shipping crosses into federal interstate commerce and isn’t covered by the exemption. CottageOps defaults New Hampshire operators to in-state-only delivery.
Can I sell to a New Hampshire grocery store or restaurant?
Not on the exempt path. Sub-regimes outside the exemption (the Homestead Food License) cover wholesale channels with inspection. The exempt path is direct-to- consumer only. CottageOps focuses on direct sales.
Does CottageOps handle sales tax for New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has no general statewide sales tax. Some town meals-and-rooms taxes may apply on specific product categories — confirm with the NH Department of Revenue. CottageOps tracks the transaction data; any applicable tax filing is on you (or your accountant).
Selling in another state? Read our state-specific guides:
Free in 2026 — no card required.
NH Homestead Food Operations exemption compliance, verbatim disclosure rendering, 10-point font minimum honored, and TCS prohibition warnings — built in from day one. Cancel anytime; the most-recent month is refundable.
Start selling in New HampshireLast verified: 2026-05-20. Research-grade information — not legal advice. Confirm cottage-food requirements with the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services; consult a New Hampshire licensed attorney for legal questions.