Queens County, NY Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Home Processing — Overview: If you plan to make foods such as certain baked goods, jellies, or snack mixes, you may qualify for a Home Processor Exemption. This will allow you to prepare food in your home kitchen for wholesale or retail sale at agricultural farm venues. You will be exempt from Article 20-C licensing. [...] In general, these rules apply to home processors: All items are for marketing products at wholesale and/or retail, including agricultural venues such as farms, farm stands, farmers markets, green markets, craft fairs and flea markets, via home delivery, or via the internet. All items must be sold within New York State and must be pre-packaged in the home and properly labeled. Packaging of food items at an agricultural event (craft fair, farmers' market, etc.) is not permitted. If you are on a private well, a copy of the potability test results showing negative/absent results, performed by a certified lab, for Total Coliform and E. Coli must be submitted with the application. Be sure to consult with your local zoning officials for approval before commencing any home-based business. [...] Approved Home Processed Foods — The Home Processing licensing exemption is allowed under Agriculture & Markets Regulation- 1 CRR-NY 276.4. Its intent is to allow certain types of food processing to be conducted without having to comply with the licensing requirement if the Department determines that the protection of the consumers of the state as a whole will not be impaired.