In Massachusetts, you can sell homemade foods with no sales cap, but cottage food runs through your local board of health — you need a Residential Kitchen permit from your city or town before your first sale, and the board approves your product list. You can sell online and by mail within Massachusetts. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to get permitted, how to label it, and how to start.
The short version: Massachusetts doesn't cap revenue, but it's locally administered. Each of the state's 351 boards of health sets its own application, fee, training, and inspection requirements within the floor set by 105 CMR 590 — so the exact process depends on your town. You need a Residential Kitchen permit and product-list approval before selling non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, and candies. You can sell direct, at markets and fairs, and by internet or mail within Massachusetts — but not wholesale, to restaurants, or out of state. Every label needs "Made in a Home Kitchen."
No. Massachusetts imposes no gross-sales cap on permitted Residential Kitchens — one of the most flexible setups in New England.
| Massachusetts rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | None |
| Permit | Required — Residential Kitchen permit from your local board of health |
| Product approval | Local board must approve your product list |
| Allowed foods | Non-TCS (shelf-stable) |
| Where you can sell | Direct, markets, fairs, in-state internet/mail; no wholesale/restaurants/out-of-state |
| Label statement | "Made in a Home Kitchen" |
| Governing rule | 105 CMR 590 |
Yes. You must obtain a Residential Kitchen permit from the board of health in your city or town before your first sale. Because Massachusetts has 351 local boards, each sets its own application form, fee schedule, training requirements, plan-review depth, and inspection cadence (within the 105 CMR 590 floor). Your board must also approve your specific product list, and different towns may interpret "non-potentially hazardous" differently — so check with yours early in the process.
Massachusetts allows non-potentially-hazardous (non-TCS) foods. Commonly approved items include:
Foods requiring refrigeration are not allowed, and your local board approves the exact list. Confirm specifics via the Massachusetts Residential Kitchen guidance.
Massachusetts labels must include:
A simple compliant label might read: *"Bay State Biscotti — [Your Name], [Address]. Ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, almonds (contains wheat, egg, tree nuts). Made in a Home Kitchen."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Under 105 CMR 590, you can sell:
Wholesale, restaurants, consignment, and out-of-state shipping are not permitted.
Because Massachusetts allows in-state online and mail sales with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup/delivery without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Massachusetts sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have a Massachusetts-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
With no cap, Massachusetts doesn't limit your income — your ceiling is demand and capacity. The main variable is your town's permitting process, so once you're permitted, focus on growth. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Massachusetts has no cap, so once your local board approves you, the dense New England market calendar of fairs and markets is the real growth engine.
Beyond the local board of health permit, a few general steps are worth handling before you grow:
Handling these early keeps your business clean as it scales.
Always confirm your town's specific requirements and the current allowed-foods list with your local board of health.
No. There is no gross-sales cap on permitted Residential Kitchens in Massachusetts.
Yes. You need a Residential Kitchen permit from your local board of health, plus approval of your product list, before your first sale.
Massachusetts has 351 local boards of health, each setting its own forms, fees, training, and inspection requirements within the 105 CMR 590 framework.
Yes, by internet or mail within Massachusetts, plus direct, markets, and fairs. Wholesale, restaurants, and out-of-state shipping are not allowed.
Product name, ingredients, allergens, producer name and address, and the statement "Made in a Home Kitchen," plus any board-required disclosures.
Non-perishable (non-TCS) foods such as baked goods, jams, jellies, and candies. Refrigerated foods aren't allowed, and your local board approves the exact list.
No. Wholesale, restaurant sales, consignment, and out-of-state shipping are not permitted under 105 CMR 590.
Search for your city or town's board of health on its municipal website; they administer the Residential Kitchen permit and product approval.
Massachusetts has no cap, but start by contacting your local board of health for the Residential Kitchen permit and product approval. Once permitted, you can sell online and by mail in-state. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Massachusetts cottage food orders with pickup and delivery, then compare the rules in nearby states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New York, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules vary by town — verify current requirements with your local board of health and Mass.gov before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
