Under the Tennessee Food Freedom Act, foods made in a home kitchen are exempt from state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws. No state permit or Rutherford County registration is required to sell most cottage foods.
The Tennessee Food Freedom Act (TFFA), effective July 1, 2025, lets residents make and sell many non-hazardous homemade foods — baked goods, candies, jams, dried goods, and more — without a state license, permit, or inspection. The Department of Agriculture does not register or inspect these producers, though the Department of Health may investigate a reported foodborne illness. Producers should still label products accurately. Local zoning still applies: selling from home may qualify as a home occupation needing a Murfreesboro special use permit, and cities may limit on-site retail traffic.
TFFA foods are exempt from state food licensing, but misbranding, ignoring a foodborne-illness investigation, or violating local zoning can still trigger enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rutherford County, TN
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See how Rutherford County's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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