Howard County, MD Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- COMAR 10.15.03 (state)
- License
- None required for cottage food
- Annual sales cap
- $50,000
- Allowed foods
- Non-hazardous baked goods, jams, honey
- Label
- Required disclosure statement
Summary
Maryland lets Howard County residents sell certain non-hazardous homemade foods, such as baked goods, jams, jellies, hard candy, and honey, from a home kitchen without a food license under COMAR 10.15.03. Annual cottage-food sales are capped at $50,000, and products must carry a required disclosure label.
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland food safety regulations.
Full Breakdown
Cottage food is governed statewide by the Maryland Department of Health under COMAR 10.15.03; Howard County has no separate license for it. A cottage food business makes non-potentially-hazardous products, high-acid jams and jellies, baked goods, hard candy, and honey, in its home kitchen and may sell them at registered farmers markets, farm markets, public events, and permitted online/direct channels. Sales are limited to $50,000 per year (raised from $25,000 by 2022 reform). Every product must display the state-required statement that it was made in an unregulated cottage food kitchen. Zoning still requires the operation to remain an incidental home occupation.
Violations & Fines
Selling potentially hazardous foods, exceeding the sales cap, or omitting the required label can lead to Health Department enforcement and loss of the license exemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell homemade baked goods in Howard County?
Where can I sell my cottage foods?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
Compare Howard County to another location·View the Maryland home business overview
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