Portland, ME Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

There is no broad Maine 'cottage food' exemption that lets a home cook sell food to the public without state oversight. 22 M.R.S. § 2167 provides: 'A person, firm, corporation or copartnership may not operate a food establishment or a food salvage establishment or act as a salvage broker unless licensed for that purpose by the commissioner.' Operating without a license is a civil violation with a fine of up to $500 per offense, and the license may also be suspended, revoked or denied renewal. License fees are set by the commissioner under 22 M.R.S. § 2168 and are scaled to establishment size; licenses may be issued for one, two or three years. A narrow carve-out at 22 M.R.S. § 2174 lets a licensed person 'display and sell unpackaged baked goods in a manner that allows customers to directly select' them at farmers' markets — covering breads, rolls, buns, flatbreads, cakes, cookies, pies and other pastries. Portland-based home food businesses must (1) obtain the applicable state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry license, (2) comply with Portland Code § 14-410 home-occupation limits, and (3) check whether any City health permit, mobile vendor license (for off-site sales), or fire-marshal review applies.