What Is Kentucky Cottage Food Law?
Kentucky's Cottage Food Law (KRS 217.136) allows individuals to produce and sell certain homemade food products directly to consumers without obtaining a commercial food establishment license. Products typically covered include baked goods, jams, jellies, candy, roasted nuts, and similar shelf-stable items that do not require temperature control for safety.
To register as a cottage food producer in Kentucky, one of the requirements is completing a food handler training course from an approved provider. This is different from the county-level food handler card requirement — the cottage food certification requirement is a state-level rule that applies uniformly regardless of which county you live in.
The Food Handler Training Requirement for Cottage Food Producers
Under Kentucky cottage food regulations, producers must complete a food handler education course from a provider approved by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA). This is not the same as a county health department food handler card, and the two systems are administered separately.
The KDA maintains a list of approved cottage food training providers on its website at agriculture.ky.gov. The course covers food safety principles specific to home food production — safe ingredient handling, allergen labeling, and contamination prevention. Many approved courses are available online and can be completed in a few hours.
How This Interacts With County Food Handler Cards
If you are a cottage food producer who also works in a commercial food service establishment in a required-card county (such as Lexington or Louisville), you will need both: the KDA-approved cottage food training certification for your cottage food registration, and the county-issued food handler card for your food service employment. The two certifications serve different regulatory purposes and are not interchangeable.
If you only operate as a cottage food producer and do not work in a commercial food establishment, the county-level food handler card requirement does not apply to you — cottage food production from your home is regulated by the KDA, not your county health department.
Labeling and Sales Restrictions Under Cottage Food Law
Kentucky cottage food products must be labeled with the producer's name and address, the product name, all ingredients, any allergen disclosures, and the statement "Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Kentucky Department for Public Health." Sales are limited to direct-to-consumer transactions — farmers markets, roadside stands, and direct online sales with local delivery. Sales through retail stores or interstate commerce are not permitted under the cottage food law.
Annual gross sales under the cottage food law are capped. Verify the current annual cap with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, as the cap may be updated by the legislature.
Where to Register
Cottage food registration in Kentucky is handled by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Visit agriculture.ky.gov/cottage-food or call (502) 573-0282 for current registration requirements, the approved training provider list, and any fee information. Registration must be renewed annually.