Haltom City, TX Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Under the Texas Cottage Food Production Operations law (TX Health and Safety Code Chapter 437), expanded by House Bill 970 and subsequent amendments, Haltom City residents may produce and sell many non-potentially hazardous foods from their home kitchens without a commercial food permit. Permitted items include baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes that do not require refrigeration), candies, dried pasta, jams and jellies, dehydrated fruit and vegetables, nuts, granola, roasted coffee, pickled products made with vinegar, fermented vegetables, and certain frozen fruits and vegetables. Annual gross sales are capped at 50,000 dollars. Sales may occur directly to consumers at the producers home, at farmers markets, municipal events, and by delivery, mail, or online order. The law explicitly preempts city bans on cottage food (see also TX Local Government Code 229.001) - Haltom City cannot prohibit the activity, though general home occupation rules still apply (no external evidence, no customer traffic exceeding residential norms, no commercial signage beyond the 2 square foot limit). Producers must complete a state-approved food handler course, label products with producer name, address, and allergens, and use a compliant cottage food label. Sales tax permits from the Texas Comptroller are required for taxable foods.