Nevada Cottage Laws – The Cottage Law Kitchen

Ready to turn your Nevada home kitchen into a profitable food business? Great news! Nevada just made major improvements to their cottage food laws in 2025, including nearly TRIPLING the income limit to $100,000 and allowing online sales with shipping and third-party delivery services!

Nevada's Recent Major Improvements (2025)

Big Changes with AB 352:

Nevada passed Assembly Bill 352 in 2025, bringing significant improvements to cottage food laws:

🚀 Sales Limit Nearly Tripled:

Old limit: $35,000 per year
New limit: $100,000 per year

📦 Shipping and Delivery Now Allowed:

Can ship products to customers
Can use third-party delivery services
Online sales fully permitted

🏛️ Local Government Restrictions Prohibited:

Local governments cannot impose additional regulations that restrict home food production
Creates more supportive environment for cottage food entrepreneurs

What Hasn't Changed:

Still need to register with your health district
Still limited to non-potentially hazardous foods
Direct-to-consumer sales only (no wholesale to stores/restaurants)

Nevada's Unique Regional System

Nevada operates on a regional system with different health districts:

Four Main Regions:

1. Southern Nevada Health District (Clark County – Las Vegas area)

Most expensive registration fees
Largest population base

2. Washoe County (Reno, Sparks area)

Separate registration system
Northern Nevada's major population center

3. Carson City Health and Human Services (Carson City & Douglas County)

Covers state capital area
Separate registration required

4. Other Counties (Rural Nevada)

Handled by Nevada Department of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH)
Includes: Central Nevada, plus Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Storey, and White Pine counties
Often lower or no registration fees

Important Registration Rule:

You must register in EACH health district where you plan to sell. If you live in Las Vegas but want to sell at a Reno farmers market, you need registrations in both districts.

What You Can Make and Sell

✅ Allowed Foods (Non-Potentially Hazardous):

Baked Goods:

Breads, bagels, biscuits, rolls
Cookies, brownies, cakes
Muffins, scones, sweet breads
Pies (fruit pies, not cream pies)
Wedding cakes and decorated items
Tortillas and crepes
Cannot contain: cream, uncooked eggs, custard, meringue, or cream cheese frosting

Confections:

Candies and chocolates
Nuts and nut mixes
Popcorn and popcorn balls
Trail mixes and granola

Preserves and Condiments:

Jams, jellies, and preserves
Vinegar and flavored vinegar
Dry herbs and seasoning mixes

Pantry Items:

Dried fruits
Cereals and granola
Trail mixes

Key Rule: Must be shelf-stable and not require time/temperature control for food safety.

❌ What You CANNOT Make:

Items requiring refrigeration
Baked goods with cream, custard, or meringue
Fresh dairy products
Meat or poultry products
Items with cream cheese frosting
Uncooked egg products
Any potentially hazardous foods

Special Option: Nevada Craft Food Law

Nevada also has a separate “Craft Food Law” for those who want to make acidified/canned foods:

Craft Food Allows:

Canned fruits and vegetables
Pickled items
Salsas and acidified foods
Must have pH of 4.6 or below

Craft Food Requirements:

Separate registration with Nevada Department of Agriculture
Food safety training required
Higher registration fees
Detailed transaction logs required
Use approved recipes only

Your Step-by-Step Getting Started Guide

Step 1: Determine Your Health District

Figure out which health district covers your area and where you want to sell:

Clark County (Las Vegas area): Southern Nevada Health District
Washoe County (Reno/Sparks): Washoe County Health District
Carson City/Douglas County: Carson City Health and Human Services
Central Nevada counties: Central Nevada Health District
Rural counties: Nevada DPBH

Step 2: Register with Health District(s)

Registration Requirements:

Complete application form
Pay registration fee (varies by district – some are free!)
No home inspection required
No food safety training mandated (but recommended)

Registration Fees by District:

Southern Nevada: Highest fees (check current rates)
Washoe County: Moderate fees
Carson City: Check current rates
Rural counties: Often free or low-cost

Step 3: Understand Your Sales Limitations

Annual sales limit: $100,000 (as of 2025)
Direct sales only: Cannot sell to restaurants, grocery stores, or other food establishments
Multiple districts: Need separate registration for each area where you sell

Step 4: Create Proper Labels

Every product must be labeled with:

Product name
Your name and address
Complete ingredient list (descending order by weight)
Net weight or quantity
Allergen warnings
Required statement: “This product is made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to government food safety inspection”

Step 5: Choose Your Sales Venues

Allowed Sales Locations:

From your private home
Farmers markets
Flea markets and swap meets
Church bazaars
Garage sales and craft fairs
Online (with shipping – new in 2025!)
Third-party delivery services (new in 2025!)

Step 6: Start Selling!

Once registered, you can begin selling immediately in your registered district(s).

Where You Can Sell (2025 Updates)

Traditional Venues:

Your private home
Farmers markets
Craft fairs and festivals
Church bazaars
Flea markets and swap meets
Garage sales
Roadside stands

New 2025 Options:

Online sales with shipping
Third-party delivery services (like DoorDash, Uber Eats)
Home pickup and delivery

Sample Restrictions:

If offering open samples at events, you may need a temporary health permit. However, pre-portioned and packaged samples made at home don't require additional permits.

Business Considerations

Sales Limit: $100,000 (Major Improvement!)

The 2025 increase from $35,000 to $100,000 provides much more room for business growth before needing to transition to commercial operations.

Multi-District Strategy:

Can register in multiple districts to expand market
Each registration allows sales in that specific area
Consider costs vs. market opportunities

Record Keeping:

Track annual sales to stay under $100,000 limit
Keep detailed records for tax purposes
Monitor which districts generate most sales

Scaling Options:

When you approach the $100,000 limit:

Transition to commercial kitchen
Get retail food establishment license
Consider craft food registration for expanded products

Regional Registration Details

Southern Nevada Health District (Clark County):

Covers Las Vegas metropolitan area
Largest customer base in Nevada
Highest registration fees but biggest market

Washoe County:

Covers Reno, Sparks area
Second largest market in Nevada
Separate fee structure

Carson City/Douglas County:

State capital area
Smaller but affluent market
Check current fee structure

Central Nevada Health District:

Churchill, City of Fallon, Pershing, Mineral, Eureka counties
Rural markets with specific needs

Rural Counties (DPBH):

Often lowest or no registration fees
Smaller markets but less competition
May have seasonal opportunities (tourist areas)

Safety and Quality Requirements

Kitchen Standards:

Use residential kitchen (no commercial requirements)
Maintain clean, sanitary conditions
No children or pets present during food production
No smoking during food preparation

Food Safety Best Practices:

While not required, consider:

Voluntary food safety training
Proper ingredient storage
Temperature monitoring for baked goods
Clean packaging and labeling

Product Quality:

Use quality ingredients
Maintain consistent recipes
Proper packaging to prevent contamination
Clear, professional labeling

Common Questions Answered

Q: Can I sell the same products in different districts?

A: Yes, but you need separate registrations for each district where you sell.

Q: Can I ship products anywhere in Nevada?

A: You can ship statewide, but you must be registered in the district where you're selling (not necessarily where you're shipping to).

Q: What happens if I exceed $100,000 in sales?

A: You'll need to transition to a commercial food establishment with proper licensing and inspections.

Q: Can I sell online to other states?

A: The law allows shipping, but check if receiving states allow Nevada cottage food imports.

Q: Do I need different registrations for craft foods?

A: Yes, craft foods (acidified/canned items) require separate registration with the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Resources and Support

Official Contacts by Region:

Southern Nevada Health District (Clark County):

Website: southernnevadahealthdistrict.org
Covers Las Vegas metro area

Washoe County Health District:

Covers Reno, Sparks area
Check washoe.us for current information

Carson City Health and Human Services:

Covers Carson City and Douglas County
Check carson.org for details

Central Nevada Health District:

Churchill, Fallon, Pershing, Mineral, Eureka counties
Website: centralnevadahd.org

Nevada DPBH (Rural Counties):

Phone: (775) 684-5280
Website: dpbh.nv.gov
Covers: Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Storey, White Pine

Additional Resources:

Nevada Department of Agriculture (for craft foods)
Small business development centers
Local farmers market associations

Success Tips for Nevada Entrepreneurs

Choose Your Districts Wisely:

Start with your home district
Consider population density vs. registration costs
Research farmers market opportunities in each area

Leverage 2025 Improvements:

Take advantage of higher sales limit ($100,000)
Utilize online sales and shipping capabilities
Consider third-party delivery for local markets

Build Regional Presence:

Develop customer base in home district first
Expand to adjacent districts as business grows
Consider seasonal opportunities (tourism, festivals)

Bottom Line

Nevada offers cottage food entrepreneurs a solid framework for building home-based food businesses, with the 2025 improvements making it significantly more attractive. The nearly tripled sales limit to $100,000, combined with new shipping and online sales capabilities, provides excellent growth potential.

While Nevada's regional registration system adds some complexity, it also allows you to scale strategically by choosing which markets to enter. The state's diverse geography – from Las Vegas and Reno metros to rural counties – offers various market opportunities for different types of cottage food businesses.

With reasonable registration requirements and no mandatory inspections or training, Nevada strikes a good balance between business-friendly policies and food safety oversight.

Ready to Start Your Nevada Cottage Food Business?

With the 2025 improvements providing a $100,000 sales limit and full online capabilities, Nevada now offers cottage food entrepreneurs much better growth potential. The Silver State is ready for your homemade creations!

Your Next Steps:

✓ Identify which health district(s) you want to operate in
✓ Register with appropriate health district(s) and pay fees
✓ Choose products from the allowed non-potentially hazardous list
✓ Create proper labels with required information
✓ Start selling and take advantage of the $100,000 growth potential!

Key Contacts:

Your local health district (see resources section)
Nevada DPBH: (775) 684-5280
Nevada Department of Agriculture (for craft foods)

This guide provides general information about Nevada cottage food laws as of 2025, including recent AB 352 updates. Always verify current requirements with your local health district and consult professionals for specific legal or tax questions.