North Carolina Cottage Food law, administered by the NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA&CS) under Chapter 106, allows home-based production of low-risk shelf-stable foods (baked goods, jams, candies) for direct sale. Winston-Salem residents may operate cottage-food businesses subject to NC labeling and inspection rules.
Under NCGS Chapter 106 and NCDA&CS rules, North Carolina permits Home Processor Inspection for cottage-food producers. Allowed products include baked goods that do not require refrigeration, jams and jellies meeting pH and sugar thresholds, hard candies, dry mixes, and similar non-potentially-hazardous foods. Producers must pass an NCDA&CS home-kitchen inspection, label products with name, address, ingredients, allergens, and a statement that the food was prepared in a home kitchen not subject to full commercial regulation. There is no statutory revenue cap, which makes NC more permissive than many states. Direct-to-consumer sales at farmers markets, fairs, and online are allowed. Meat, seafood, canned low-acid vegetables, and refrigerated items are excluded. At the city level, cottage-food operation fits under the UDO home-occupation standards - no exterior alterations, limited client traffic, and no outside employees.
Unlabeled or unapproved products: NCDA&CS enforcement, order to cease, product seizure. Zoning violations handled separately by the city.
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