Maryland Guide What You Can Sell Shelf-Stable Foods Prepared Meals Beverages Licenses & Permits Label Requirements Start Your Business Special Categories
Guides → Maryland Guide → Licenses & Permits
Maryland · Page 5 of 8

Licenses & Permits in Maryland

Maryland's cottage food rules are some of the most seller-friendly in the country — no permit required to start. But selling to retail stores, using a label ID number, or collecting sales tax each have their own steps. Here's exactly what you need and when.

The Direct Answer

Do You Need a Permit to Sell Cottage Food in Maryland?

✅
Bottom Line
No permit, no license, no inspection — just start.
Maryland Health-General Code § 21-330.1 explicitly exempts cottage food businesses from the food establishment licensing requirement. You do not need any permit, license, or approval from MDH to begin making and selling allowed cottage food products from your home — as long as your annual gross sales stay under $50,000 and you comply with labeling requirements. This applies whether you're selling at farmers markets, from your home, by mail, or online within Maryland.

There are two situations that do require action before selling: (1) if you want to list a unique ID number on your label instead of your home address, and (2) if you want to sell directly to retail food stores. Both involve submitting the same MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form — and both are free.

Complete Permit & Registration Reference

Every registration, certification, or review that may apply to a Maryland cottage food business — organized by what it is, whether it's required, the issuing agency, cost, and where to apply.

Permit / Registration Required? Agency Cost Renewal Where to Apply
MDH Food Establishment License ✓ Not Required
Cottage food is exempt		 Maryland Dept. of Health $0 (exempt) N/A No action needed
Home Kitchen Inspection ✓ Not Required
Complaint-based only		 Maryland Dept. of Health $0 N/A No action needed
MDH Unique ID Number Optional
Replaces home address on labels		 Maryland Dept. of Health, Office of Food Protection Free Does not expire MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form health.maryland.gov → Cottage Foods →
MDH Retail Store Approval Required if selling to retail Maryland Dept. of Health, Office of Food Protection Free Status-based (not time-limited) MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form + food safety cert + label submission health.maryland.gov → Cottage Foods →
Food Safety Course (ANAB-Accredited) Required for retail store sales only ANAB-accredited provider (FoodSafePal, Learn2Serve, ServSafe) $7–$25 online Every 3 years Online — same day completion available foodsafepal.com or learn2serve.com →
Maryland Sales & Use Tax License Required if collecting sales tax
Most food is exempt; confirm your products		 Comptroller of Maryland Free No renewal required Combined Registration Application (CRA) — online marylandtaxes.gov → CRA →
Trade Name (DBA) Registration Required if using a business name
Not required if selling under your legal name		 Maryland SDAT $25 (5-year registration) Every 5 years Maryland Business Express — online businessexpress.maryland.gov →
Home Occupation / Zoning Permit Varies by county & municipality Local county / municipal planning dept. Varies ($0–$100+) Varies Contact your local county zoning office — requirements differ significantly
Federal EIN (Tax ID) Recommended
Required for LLCs, bank accounts; optional for sole props		 IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Free Permanent — no renewal IRS online — instant issuance irs.gov → EIN Application →
Label Review (Recommended) Recommended
Not legally required for direct sales		 Maryland Dept. of Health Free N/A Submit via MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form or email MDH [email protected]
Step by Step

How to Set Up Your Maryland Cottage Food Business

Follow these steps in order — from the moment you decide to start selling to your first retail store delivery. Skip what doesn't apply to your situation.

1
Choose Your Products & Verify They're Allowed
Before anything else, confirm your products are on Maryland's allowed cottage food list — non-perishable, shelf-stable, non-TCS foods only. Use the MDH Cottage Food Guidelines (March 2025) as your reference, including the decision tree in the appendices. If your product falls in a gray area, contact MDH before investing in production.
See the allowed foods list →
2
Create Compliant Labels
Every product must be pre-packaged with a complete label before it's sold. Your label needs: business name and address (or MDH ID), product name, full ingredient list, net weight in both U.S. and metric, allergen declarations, and the mandatory cottage food disclaimer in 10-point type. No label = no sale.
See label requirements →
3
(Optional) Request Your MDH Unique ID Number
If you don't want your home address printed on every product label — a reasonable privacy concern — you can request a free unique identification number from MDH. Once issued, you use the ID number and your phone number on labels instead of your home address. Submit via the MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form. Allow approximately 3 weeks for processing.
MDH Cottage Food page →
4
Register for Sales Tax (If Applicable)
Maryland generally exempts most food items from sales tax — but candy and certain confections may be taxable. If any of your products are taxable, you need a Maryland Sales & Use Tax License before you make your first taxable sale. Register free using the Combined Registration Application (CRA) with the Comptroller of Maryland. Processing takes approximately 2 weeks.
Register with Comptroller →
5
Register a Business Name (If Needed)
If you're operating under any name other than your own full legal name, you must register a Trade Name (DBA) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). The fee is $25 for a 5-year registration. File online through Maryland Business Express — takes a few minutes, processes in 4–6 weeks standard (or faster with expedited filing).
Maryland Business Express →
6
Check County & Local Zoning Requirements
Maryland cottage food sellers must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws. Many counties require a home occupation permit or zoning variance before operating any business from a residence. Fees and requirements vary widely — some counties charge nothing and have no process; others require formal application. Contact your local county planning or zoning office before you start selling.
7
Start Selling — Home, Markets, Online
With products made, labels printed, and any local requirements cleared, you're ready to sell. Maryland allows sales from home, at farmers markets, at public events, by mail delivery, and online (within Maryland). No permit is required for any of these channels. You can start today.
List on SellFood →
+R
Retail Stores Only: Get MDH Approval First
If you want to sell to grocery stores, food co-ops, or other retail food establishments, you must do two things before your first delivery: (1) complete an ANAB-accredited food safety course (online, ~90 minutes, ~$7–$25); (2) submit the MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form with your food safety certificate and retail-compliant labels. MDH will issue a written compliance letter — you may not sell at retail until you receive it. Allow several weeks for review.
MDH Cottage Food Business Form →
📋 Your Maryland Permit Checklist
Always Required
✓
Allowed products only (non-TCS, shelf-stable)
✓
Compliant labels on every product
✓
Stay under $50,000 annual gross sales
✓
Sell only within Maryland
If Using a Business Name
→
Trade name (DBA) filed with SDAT — $25 · businessexpress.maryland.gov
Optional But Recommended
MDH Unique ID number (privacy — replaces home address on labels)
Federal EIN from IRS (needed for LLC; helpful for banking)
Label review by MDH before first sale
Maryland Sales & Use Tax License (if any products are taxable)
If Selling to Retail Stores
ANAB food safety course completed (within past 3 years)
Retail-compliant labels (add phone, email, date made)
MDH Cottage Food Business Request Form submitted
Written MDH compliance letter received before first delivery
Local Requirements
County home occupation / zoning permit confirmed (varies by county)
Inspections

Do I Have to Let MDH into My Home?

The short answer: not unless a complaint is filed. Here's how the inspection framework works for Maryland cottage food businesses.

🏠
Routine Inspections: Not Required
Maryland does not conduct routine inspections of cottage food businesses. You will not have annual visits or proactive health department audits. The cottage food exemption from licensing also means you are exempt from routine inspection schedules that apply to licensed food establishments.
📝
Complaint-Based Investigations
If MDH receives a complaint about your products — a customer reports illness, or there's a concern about misbranding or adulteration — MDH has the legal right to investigate. This can include accessing your premises and sampling products. Under COMAR 10.15.03.27, you cannot refuse or interfere with a complaint investigation.
🏪
Retail Store Label Review
Before your first retail store sale, MDH reviews your submitted labels and food safety certificate for compliance. This is a document review — not a physical inspection of your home. However, MDH may visit if they have concerns about specific products or if complaints arise after retail sales begin.
🛡️
Best Practice: Keep Good Records
Even without routine inspections, keeping basic records — product batch notes, ingredient suppliers, sales dates — puts you in a strong position if MDH ever does investigate. If you can demonstrate your process and trace a batch, it shows good faith and greatly simplifies any complaint resolution.
🗺️
Local & County Requirements Vary Significantly
Maryland's cottage food statute (§ 21-330.1) explicitly requires sellers to comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances governing preparation, storage, and sale of cottage food products. This means your county may have its own zoning, home occupation, or food handling requirements that layer on top of state rules. Some counties are very permissive with no extra requirements; others require a home occupation permit before you can operate any business from your residence. Always contact your local county planning or zoning office before you start selling — and confirm you don't need a county-level business license or sanitation permit.

Zoning Tip: If your county or HOA restricts home-based businesses, this applies to cottage food operations too. Common restrictions include prohibitions on customer foot traffic at the residence, signage bans, and limits on business-related vehicle traffic. Your county's planning department can tell you what rules apply to your specific address.

🔧

Permit Tracker

Upload your permits, certificates, and registrations — track expiration dates and get renewal reminders so you never fall out of compliance.

Create Free Account to Use This Tool →
Agency Contacts

Who to Call for Maryland Food Business Questions

These are the primary regulatory contacts for Maryland home food sellers. MDH is your primary point of contact for cottage food questions.

Primary Contacts
Maryland Regulatory Agencies for Food Sellers
All contact information is current as of the 2025 MDH Cottage Food Guidelines and official agency pages.
Maryland Dept. of Health (MDH)
Office of Food Protection — Cottage Food Line
Phone(410) 767-8444 — Cottage Foods & Retail Foods direct line
General(410) 767-8400
Email[email protected] — include "Cottage Foods" in subject
Webhealth.maryland.gov → Cottage Foods
Address6 St. Paul St., Suite 1301, Baltimore, MD 21202
Maryland Dept. of Agriculture (MDA)
Food Quality Assurance — Value-Added Foods
Phone(410) 841-5769
Email[email protected]
Webmda.maryland.gov
ForOn-farm licenses, acidified foods, honey, farmers market licenses
Maryland SDAT
State Dept. of Assessments & Taxation
Phone(410) 767-1340 — Charter / Business
Email[email protected]
Webbusinessexpress.maryland.gov
ForLLC formation, DBA/trade name registration, annual reports
Comptroller of Maryland
Business Tax Registration
Phone1-800-638-2937 (1-800-MDTAXES)
Sales Tax(410) 260-7980
Webmarylandtaxes.gov
ForSales & use tax license, income tax filing, CRA registration
Ready to Go?

Start Selling on SellFood

Maryland makes it easy to start selling home-made food without a permit. Join other Maryland cottage food sellers on SellFood.com and build your business from day one.

Create Your Free Seller Account → Check Label Requirements →