Williamson County, TN Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- TN Food Freedom Act
- Citation
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-1-118
- License
- None required
- Revenue cap
- None
- Sales
- Direct to consumer
Summary
Tennessee's Food Freedom Act lets you make and sell most homemade foods from a Williamson County kitchen with no license, no inspection, and no sales cap. Products go directly to the consumer, and the exemption is one of the broadest in the country.
exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspecting, packaging, and labeling laws of this state, except when the Department of Health is investigating a reported foodborne illness
Full Breakdown
Cottage food in Williamson County is governed by the Tennessee Food Freedom Act at Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-1-118, not by a county permit. Foods produced in a home kitchen under the Act are exempt from state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling requirements, except when the Department of Health investigates a reported foodborne illness. There is no revenue cap and no unit limit. Sales must be direct to the end consumer, in person, online, by mail, or at events, rather than wholesale to stores or restaurants. Both shelf-stable and, since 2025, certain temperature-controlled foods may qualify. Producers should still disclose allergens and handle food safely.
Violations & Fines
Selling through wholesale or retail channels rather than direct to the consumer falls outside the Food Freedom Act and pulls the operation under full state food-manufacturing licensing and inspection, enforced by the Department of Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell homemade food in Williamson County?
Is there a limit on how much I can sell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee home business overview
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