North Richland Hills, TX Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Texas Cottage Food Law under Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 preempts local prohibition of small-scale home food production, and North Richland Hills does not impose additional cottage food licensing. Cottage food producers may sell baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, pies that do not require refrigeration), candies, jams, jellies, pickles meeting approved pH standards, dried fruits and herbs, popcorn, granola, nut mixes, roasted coffee and dry tea, vinegar, mustard, fermented vegetables meeting pH standards, dry goods, and certain frozen raw fruits and vegetables. Meats, raw dairy, and potentially hazardous refrigerated items are not allowed. The producer must complete a state-accredited food handler course, keep the gross annual sales from cottage food under $50,000, label each product with the producer name and address, all ingredients, allergens, the net weight, and the statement that the food was made in a home kitchen not subject to state inspection. Products may be sold at the home, at farmers markets, at festivals, through online orders for in-person or delivery fulfillment to Texas customers, and to individual non-resale buyers. Sales to restaurants and grocery stores for resale are not allowed under cottage food; wholesale operations require a commissary kitchen. City home occupation rules still apply to customer traffic (see Customer Traffic).