Tarrant County, TX Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Texas Cottage Food Law, codified at Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 and amended by SB 572, allows Tarrant County residents to produce and sell non-potentially hazardous foods from their home kitchens without a health department license, kitchen inspection, or annual revenue cap. Permitted foods include baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, dried pasta, pickled vegetables, fermented vegetables, and popcorn. Prohibited foods include meats, cheeses, cut melons, and other time-temperature-controlled items. Cottage food producers must complete a basic food handler course (typically 2 hours, around 10 dollars online), label all products with name and address of producer, common product name, allergen statement, ingredient list, net weight, and the statement that the food was not inspected by a health department. Sales are allowed directly to consumers at the home, farmers markets, festivals, online with personal delivery or mail, and in-person transactions at retail locations. Tarrant County cannot add local licensing requirements, per state preemption. Cottage food is one of the most permissive home business categories in the county.