Maryland just raised its cottage food sales cap, doubling it to $100,000 starting in late 2026. For home bakers and jam makers, selling at a farmers market needs no permit at all. Vendors selling meat or other products have a few specific licenses to know. Here's how Maryland works after the 2026 change.
The short version: Maryland cottage food makers need no permit, no registration, and no training to sell non-perishable home foods at farmers markets. The sales cap is $50,000 now, rising to $100,000 on October 1, 2026 under a newly signed law (HB 535). Vendors selling meat or poultry need a $100/year Producer Mobile license from the state health department. About a third of Maryland counties offer a sampling license. Cottage food is regulated mostly at the county level. Everyone collects and remits sales tax.
The goal is getting cleared to sell. Once you are, a Homegrown storefront ($10/month, 0% commission) makes taking Maryland orders, pickups, and payments easy.
Maryland's cottage food law lets you sell non-temperature-controlled homemade foods at farmers markets with no food service permit, no registration, and no training for direct sales. That's a light path compared with many states.
The sales cap is the headline. It's $50,000 a year now, but HB 535 (signed April 28, 2026) raises it to $100,000, effective October 1, 2026. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers. You can sell at farmers markets, special events, and retail outlets like grocery stores and food co-ops, and you can do personal delivery. Products need a label reading "Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations." For the full list and rules, see our Maryland cottage food law guide and our walkthrough on how to start a cottage food business in Maryland.
If you sell meat and poultry at farmers markets, Maryland requires a specific license: the Producer Mobile Farmer's Market Unit License from the Maryland Department of Health. It costs $100 a year and is valid statewide. This is separate from cottage food and applies to vendors moving between markets with meat products.
Farmer-processors with under $40,000 in sales who make foods like flavored honey, herb vinegars, or acidified canned goods on-farm need an On-Farm Home Processing License from the state health department. This covers products that go beyond the basic cottage food list.
Raw produce and shell eggs need no food service permit to sell at a Maryland market. The permit and license requirements apply to processed and prepared foods.
Sampling is uneven across Maryland. About one-third of counties offer a sampling license, while others handle it differently. If you plan to offer tastes, check with the health department in the county where your market operates.
Maryland cottage food sales are subject to sales tax, so you must collect and remit it. Register with the Maryland Comptroller (through bFile or online).
Start at the official sources: the Maryland Department of Health farmers markets and cottage food page, and the HB 535 legislation page for the cap change. Your county health department handles county-level permits and sampling licenses.
For cottage food (non-perishable home foods), no permit, registration, or training is required for direct sales. Vendors selling meat or poultry need a $100/year Producer Mobile license. Raw produce and eggs are exempt. Everyone collects sales tax.
It's $50,000 a year now, rising to $100,000 on October 1, 2026, under HB 535 (signed April 28, 2026). The bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.
Yes. The Producer Mobile Farmer's Market Unit License from the Maryland Department of Health costs $100 a year and is valid statewide. It's separate from cottage food and applies to meat and poultry vendors.
Yes. Maryland cottage food can be sold at farmers markets, special events, and retail outlets like grocery stores and food co-ops, plus personal delivery. That's broader than many states allow.
Yes. Maryland cottage food sales are subject to sales tax, so you must collect and remit it. Register with the Maryland Comptroller.
Maryland is easy for home bakers: no permit for cottage food, a generous cap rising to $100,000 in late 2026, and the ability to sell to stores. Meat vendors need the $100 Producer Mobile license, and sampling varies by county. Collect sales tax regardless. Once you're cleared to sell, a simple storefront makes pickups and payments easy. Set up a Homegrown storefront for $10/month at 0% commission, and check other states on our farmers market vendor permits by state guide.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules change; the cottage food cap rises to $100,000 on October 1, 2026. Verify current requirements with the Maryland Department of Health and Comptroller before selling. Last updated: June 2026.*
