In Arkansas, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods with no license, no food-safety course, and no sales cap under the Food Freedom Act. You can sell online to Arkansas customers for pickup or local delivery. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to label it, where you can sell it, and how to start this week.
The short version: Arkansas's Food Freedom Act is one of the simplest in the country — no state permit (registration is optional), no required food-handler training, and no revenue limit. You can sell a wide range of non-perishable (non-TCS) foods directly to Arkansas customers. Online sales for pickup and local delivery are allowed; mail shipping is a grey area, so most sellers stick to pickup or personal delivery. Just label products with the required "private residence... exempt from state licensing" statement.
No. The Food Freedom Act sets no revenue cap — Arkansas cottage food operations have unlimited sales potential.
| Arkansas rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | None |
| State permit / license | None (optional ADH registration for label privacy) |
| Food-safety training | Not required |
| Allowed foods | Non-perishable (non-TCS) |
| Where you can sell | Direct to AR consumers; online for pickup/local delivery |
| Label statement | "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection." |
| Regulator | Arkansas Department of Health |
No. Arkansas requires no state permit and no food-handler card or training. Registration with the Arkansas Department of Health is optional — its main benefit is letting you use an ID number on labels instead of your home address. That makes Arkansas one of the easiest states to start in: there's essentially nothing to apply for before you sell.
Under the Food Freedom Act, Arkansas allows a wide variety of non-potentially-hazardous (non-TCS) foods that don't require temperature control. Commonly sold items include:
Not allowed:
Confirm specifics with the Arkansas Department of Health.
Each Arkansas cottage food label must include:
A simple compliant Arkansas label might read: *"Razorback Raspberry Jam — Made [date] by [Your Name], [Address], [Phone]. Ingredients: raspberries, sugar, pectin. This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
You can sell directly to Arkansas customers. Allowed channels include:
Mail shipping is a grey area under the law (some read "direct sales" to include shipping, others read it as in-person), so most producers offer pickup or personal delivery to stay safe.
Because Arkansas allows online orders for pickup and local delivery with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Arkansas sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup/local-delivery scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have an Arkansas-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
With no cap and nothing to apply for, Arkansas doesn't limit your income — your ceiling is demand and capacity. Most successful Arkansas sellers start at a weekly market or a pickup window, build a base of repeat customers, then expand their menu. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Arkansas asks for nothing up front, so the win is speed — get to a weekly market or pickup window fast and let repeat customers compound.
Always confirm the current allowed-food list and any online-sales updates with the Arkansas Department of Health.
Cottage food laws cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For Arkansas: Arkansas levies state and local sales tax; register with the Department of Finance and Administration and confirm whether your products are taxable. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:
None of these are part of the cottage food exemption itself, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.
No. The Food Freedom Act sets no revenue cap — Arkansas cottage food sales are unlimited.
No. No state permit or food-safety training is required. Registration with the Department of Health is optional and only provides label privacy.
Yes, to Arkansas customers for pickup or local delivery. Mail shipping is a grey area, so most sellers offer pickup or personal delivery only.
Non-perishable, non-TCS foods — shelf-stable baked goods, breads, jams and jellies, uncut fruits and vegetables, and honey. Refrigerated foods are not covered.
Production date, your name and address (or ID number), phone, product name, ingredients in descending order, allergens, and the statement "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection."
No. Arkansas does not require a food-handler card or training for cottage food operations.
It's a grey area. The law's "direct sales" language is read differently by different sellers, so most stick to pickup or local delivery to stay clearly compliant.
No. Registration with ADH is optional and only provides a label ID for privacy. You may want a local business license for tax purposes.
With no license, no training requirement, and no cap, Arkansas is one of the easiest states to start a home food business. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Arkansas cottage food orders with pickup and local delivery, then compare the rules in nearby states like Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — verify current requirements with the Arkansas Department of Health before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
