State Guides4 min read
Iowa Cottage Food Laws 2026: Two Paths, No Sales Cap for Basic Foods
Iowa has two paths: cottage food under 137F.20 (no license, no sales cap) and HFPE under 137D ($50 fee, under $50,000 in sales).
At a glance
- Two paths.
- Cottage food (Iowa Code 137F.20) requires no license or registration and has no sales cap stated in the statute. Home food processing establishment (HFPE) under Iowa Code ch. 137D requires a $50 annual license, limits sales to $50,000 gross per year, and requires food safety training for at least one team member.
- Where you can sell.
- Cottage food sales must be sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent; HFPEs can sell directly to consumers or through other businesses. The statute does not state that all sales must occur within Iowa.
- Allowed foods.
- Cottage food covers foods that do not require temperature control for safety, such as bread, cookies, jams and jellies, honey, and dried fruit. Cottage food may include home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits if each batch has a pH of 4.60 or lower or water activity of .85 or lower, is measured by a pH or Aw meter, and is labeled with the processing date.
Pick your route
Cottage food under Iowa Code 137F.20
No license or registration is required if the food is sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent of the producer. Sales must be sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent; a producer may sell in person, remotely, by telephone, by internet, or by an agent. The statute does not state a sales cap for cottage food.
Home food processing establishment under Iowa Code ch. 137D
Requires a $50 license from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL); a license expires one year from date of issue. Limits sales to less than $50,000 gross annual sales. At least one team member must complete food safety training.
What you can.t sell
Cottage food includes foods that do not require temperature control for safety, such as baked goods, jams, honey, and dried herbs (DIAL Cottage Food Law). Cottage food may include home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits if each batch has a pH of 4.60 or lower or water activity of .85 or lower, is measured by a pH or Aw meter, and is labeled with the processing date (DIAL Cottage Food Law).
The following foods and food products cannot be sold as a cottage food or without regulation: any food that must be kept hot or cold for safety, milk or milk products, meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products (DIAL Cottage Food Law).
Labels
Label rules last verified Oct 3, 2026 against 4 official sources.
Make a Iowa labelMore
Per DIAL, a cottage food is prepared in a private residence, does not need to be kept hot or cold for safety, and is not unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juice, a milk or milk product regulated under Iowa Code chapters 192 and 194, or a meat or poultry product regulated under Iowa Code chapter 189A. DIAL also says the only food establishment where cottage foods can be sold is a temporary food establishment operated by the producer. The label information must be 'affixed or labeled' on the food. There is one label regime; the only variation is the conditional items below.Required on the label
This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.
- Product nameThe common name of the food.
- IngredientsThe ingredients of the cottage food in descending order of predominance.
- Business or producer nameThe name of the person preparing the food.
Depends on your product or how you sell
- AllergensWhen: The cottage food contains one or more major food allergens.An allergen statement that identifies each major allergen in the food by its common name.
- Date madeWhen: The food is home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables or fruits permitted under the cottage food section.The date that the food was processed and canned.
- AddressWhen: The label identifies the producer by address.Neither saved source says whether the address must be a physical address, whether a P.O. box is allowed, or whether it must be the home address.
- Phone numberWhen: The label identifies the producer by phone number.
- Email addressWhen: The label identifies the producer by email address.
The cottage food rules say nothing about net quantity. That does not make them optional: general food labeling rules may still apply, and the label generator lets you add them.
General labeling law: Partly answered by the saved pages.
Sources (4)
- Iowa Code 2026, § 137F.20 (Cottage food - requirements)
- Iowa DIAL, Cottage Foods & Farmers Markets fact sheet
- Iowa DIAL, Cottage Foods & Farmers Markets fact sheet (download copy; same text as the /media/7351 page, both cut off at the same point)
- Iowa DIAL, Cottage Food Law page (label section is a collapsed heading)
Before your first sale
- To do: Determine which path fits your business: cottage food (no license, no sales cap stated) or HFPE license ($50 fee, under $50,000 gross annual sales cap).
- To do: If choosing HFPE, complete food safety training for at least one team member, submit the required application form and list all homemade food items, and obtain the license before opening.
- To do: Ensure your products meet Iowa's allowed foods criteria and avoid prohibited items such as foods that must be kept hot or cold for safety, milk or milk products, meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products.
- To do: Prepare labels that include information to identify the name and address, phone number, or email address of the person preparing the food; the common name of the food; the ingredients in descending order of predominance; an allergen statement if needed; and the required disclaimer.
- To do: For HFPE, add the net quantity of contents, expiration date for refrigerated time/temperature control for safety foods, and the statement "This product was produced at a home food processing establishment."
- To do: Verify cottage food sales are sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent of the producer.
Common questions
What foods are allowed under Iowa cottage food laws?
Cottage food covers foods that do not require temperature control for safety. Examples of foods that do not require temperature control for safety include baked goods, jams, honey, and dried herbs. For a complete list, refer to the Iowa Code and DIAL guidance.
Can I sell cottage food online and ship it to customers?
Cottage food may be sold by internet; the statute does not state a within-Iowa restriction. Sales by phone or internet count as direct sales and can be fulfilled by mail or an agent of the producer; the statute does not state that both producer and customer must be in Iowa.
Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Iowa?
Cottage food under Iowa Code 137F.20 is exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws of the state if the food is sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent of the producer. However, the home food processing establishment path under Iowa Code ch. 137D requires a $50 annual license from DIAL and limits sales to $50,000 gross per year.
Where can I sell cottage food in Iowa?
Cottage food sales must be sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent; the only food establishment where cottage foods can be sold is a temporary food establishment operated by the producer. The statute does not state that all sales must occur within Iowa.
