Connecticut Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.

Exact statement, printed "in at least ten-point type in a clear and conspicuous manner" (DCP Cottage Food Label Checklist; DCP Cottage Food Manual, Labeling). DCP writes it in title case with a final period — print as shown. Hand-printed labels are acceptable if clearly legible, in durable permanent ink and large enough to equal 10-point type. For wedding/birthday/specialty cakes that cannot be labelled, all label elements go on the invoice delivered with the cake.

What must be on your label

• Name of the cottage food product (all caps or upper/lower case both acceptable) (DCP checklist; manual p. 9)
• Name and address of the cottage food operation — the physical address of the home kitchen (not a P.O. Box), including city, state and ZIP code (DCP checklist; manual p. 10)
• Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, with sub-ingredients of prepared items listed, e.g. "soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt)" (DCP checklist; manual p. 9)
• Net weight or net volume of the product, including the metric equivalent (DCP checklist; manual p. 9)
• Allergen labeling as specified in federal requirements (milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, fish/shellfish, tree nuts — name the specific tree nut) (DCP allergen article; manual p. 9-10)
• The statement "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection." in at least ten-point type in a clear and conspicuous manner (DCP checklist; manual p. 9)
• Hand-printed labels allowed if clearly legible, durable permanent ink, at least 10-point equivalent (DCP checklist)
• Products must be prepackaged and labelled before sale; specialty cakes that cannot be labelled carry all label elements on the invoice delivered with the cake (manual p. 6, 11)
• The sample label is submitted to DCP for review with the licence application (DCP 2026 news release)

Example: a Connecticut label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Connecticut requires, and placeholders for your own details. It is not an approved product label or a tested recipe. Replace the ingredients and the measured package quantity with your actual product information.

The example ingredient order follows the input weights in our butter-cookie recipe. It does not establish the weight of a finished bag. Any additions or supplier sub-ingredients must be reflected in your own label. The statement's size on this web page is not a print-size check; compare the printed label with the rule above.

Before you print

1. Match every ingredient and sub-ingredient to your actual recipe and supplier labels.
2. Check the allergen declaration, the filled package's net quantity, and producer details.
3. Include the Connecticut statement and check its size on the final printed label.
4. Review the whole package, including any required information placed outside the Nutrition Facts panel.

Connecticut cottage food label questions

Does a Connecticut cottage food label need a home-kitchen statement?

Yes. The label must say "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection." in at least 10-point type. Exact statement, printed "in at least ten-point type in a clear and conspicuous manner" (DCP Cottage Food Label Checklist; DCP Cottage Food Manual, Labeling). DCP writes it in title case with a final period — print as shown. Hand-printed labels are acceptable if clearly legible, in durable permanent ink and large enough to equal 10-point type. For wedding/birthday/specialty cakes that cannot be labelled, all label elements go on the invoice delivered with the cake.

Do I need a license or registration to sell cottage food in Connecticut?

Yes. DCP Cottage Food Operator licence required before selling: written local zoning approval, an approved food safety course certificate, a private-well water test (E. coli, total coliform, nitrates, nitrites, dated within one year), product descriptions and a sample label, applied for on eLicense with a $50 application fee (DCP application-process page). The licence must be displayed where products are sold. Licences are renewed annually (DCP licensing reports); renewal fee not stated on the fetched pages.

Is there a sales limit for Connecticut cottage food?

Yes: $50,000 gross sales per calendar year (DCP sales-limit page: "there is a yearly gross sales limit of $50,000"; raised from $25,000 effective 1 Oct 2022 — older DCP manual still says $25,000).

Where can I sell cottage food in Connecticut?

Direct, person-to-person sales from the producer or designee to the consumer, within Connecticut only; home, farmers' markets (market may require its own licence) and similar direct venues. Online advertising and order-taking allowed, but the producer must deliver directly inside Connecticut — no mail, UPS/FedEx, third-party or mobile food ordering delivery, no shipping. No wholesale, consignment, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, day care or long-term care facilities (DCP online-sales article; manual p. 14-15).

Does a Connecticut cottage food label need a Nutrition Facts panel?

Not by state cottage-food law unless a nutrient content or health claim is made; the federal small-business exemption usually applies. If you choose to print a panel, it has to be complete and correctly formatted.