Deer Park, TX Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 (the Texas Cottage Food Law, amended by HB 1926 in 2019) allows individuals to produce and sell certain foods from their home kitchen without a food manufacturer's license, restaurant permit, or health department inspection. Qualifying cottage foods include baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, pastries), candy, coated and uncoated nuts, dried fruits, dry herbs and spice mixes, jams, jellies, and preserves processed through a water bath or atmospheric steam canner, fruit butters, dried pasta, cereals, trail mixes, popcorn and popcorn snacks, vinegar, pickled fruits and vegetables (with proper pH testing), fermented vegetables, and roasted coffee.

Annual gross sales are capped at $75,000. Products must be labeled with the producer's name and address, the product name, ingredients, allergen information, the statement 'This food is made in a home kitchen and is not inspected by the Department of State Health Services,' and net weight or volume. Sales may be made directly to consumers at the producer's home, farmers markets, farm stands, fairs, or online (with delivery within Texas). Deer Park does not impose additional local cottage food regulations, but the home occupation zoning provisions still apply. Cottage food producers should ensure their activity does not generate excessive traffic, create odors detectable beyond the property, or otherwise violate home occupation conditions.