Virginia Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION

All-caps statement on a label placed on the principal display panel (front of the package) — Va. Code § 3.2-5130(C)(3)(v) and (C)(4)(iv). No type size, font or colour is fixed. Wording note: the Code of Virginia web text renders the sentence without a dash ("NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION"); VDACS's official FAQ (REV 07/2024 and REV JUL 2026) prints it with an em dash between RESALE and PROCESSED, which is the form used here. Packaging too small for an easily read label: a sign at the point of sale carrying all the required information is an acceptable alternative.

What must be on your label

• Name of the person preparing the food product (Va. Code § 3.2-5130(C)(3)(v))
• Physical address OR post office box number of the person preparing the food product (PO box allowed since 2026 c. 605, eff. July 1, 2026)
• Telephone number of the person preparing the food product
• The date the food product was processed (every exempt product)
• The statement "NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION" on the principal display panel
• Packaging not large enough to bear such a label (or product sold for on-site consumption): a sign displayed where the product is sold, carrying all the required information, is an acceptable alternative (§ 3.2-5130(C)(3)(v); VDACS FAQ July 2026)
• Standard food-labeling items still apply per VDACS: product name, net weight statement, name and address of the manufacturer, list of ingredients and sub-ingredients, and nutrition labeling if a nutrient/health claim is made (VDACS FAQ July 2026, Section I Q6; general Virginia Food and Drink Law / FDA rules, not the exemption clause itself)
• Pickles and acidified vegetables (equilibrium pH 4.6 or lower): same label items and statement; gross sales capped at $9,000 per calendar year (§ 3.2-5130(C)(4))
• Honey from the producer's own hives (under 250 gallons/yr): label "PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION. WARNING: Do Not Feed Honey to Infants Under One Year Old." (§ 3.2-5130(C)(5))

Example: a Virginia label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Virginia 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 Virginia 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.

Virginia cottage food label questions

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

Yes. The label must say "NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION". All-caps statement on a label placed on the principal display panel (front of the package) — Va. Code § 3.2-5130(C)(3)(v) and (C)(4)(iv). No type size, font or colour is fixed. Wording note: the Code of Virginia web text renders the sentence without a dash ("NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION"); VDACS's official FAQ (REV 07/2024 and REV JUL 2026) prints it with an em dash between RESALE and PROCESSED, which is the form used here. Packaging too small for an easily read label: a sign at the point of sale carrying all the required information is an acceptable alternative.

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

No. No permit, registration, inspection or fee: private homes operating within § 3.2-5130(C)(3)–(5) are exempt from the VDACS permit, inspection and $40 annual inspection-fee requirements (§ 3.2-5130(D); VDACS FAQ July 2026). VDACS may still inspect on a consumer complaint. Products or sales outside the exemption need a VDACS Food Safety Program permit.

Is there a sales limit for Virginia cottage food?

No annual cap is set: none for low-risk foods (no cap appears in § 3.2-5130(C)(3)); acidified vegetables capped at $9,000 gross sales per calendar year (§ 3.2-5130(C)(4), up from the $3,000 shown in VDACS's 11/2020 fact sheet); honey under 250 gallons per year (§ 3.2-5130(C)(5)).

Where can I sell cottage food in Virginia?

Virginia only. Since July 1, 2026 (2026 c. 605): sold at any location, through the internet, or by phone to an individual in the Commonwealth for his own consumption; delivered in person, by mail, or by delivery service. Not for resale or consignment, not for use or consumption in retail food establishments, not to other businesses, not across state lines (§ 3.2-5130(C)(3)(ii)–(iv); VDACS FAQ July 2026).

Does a Virginia cottage food label need a date?

Yes. Virginia prints the date processed on every package, so the label changes with each batch.

Does a Virginia 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.