Rockville, MD Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Maryland's cottage food law under Health-General 21-330.1 allows residents to prepare and sell non-potentially hazardous food products from their home kitchen without a state food establishment license. To qualify for the exemption, annual revenues must not exceed $50,000 and only foods that do not require time or temperature control for safety may be sold. Eligible products include baked goods, candies, jams, granola, dried herbs, and similar shelf-stable items. Cottage food products may be sold directly to consumers from the home, at farmers markets, at public events, by personal delivery, by mail delivery, or to retail food stores. All products must be prepackaged and labeled with the business name and address and a printed statement in at least 10-point type reading: Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations. Rockville does not impose additional municipal restrictions on cottage food operations. However, the business must comply with Rockville's home-based business enterprise zoning requirements, including the prohibition on altering the residential character of the property. Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services oversees food safety for non-exempt food service establishments but does not license cottage food businesses operating within the state exemption.