Sell from home — Texas
After SB 541 (eff. Sept. 1, 2025) Texas flipped to an exclusion model: almost any food may be sold direct to consumers except the prohibited list, including certain TCS/refrigerated foods if the producer registers with DSHS, keeps temperature control, and adds the safe-handling statement. Non-TCS foods may also be sold wholesale through a registered cottage food vendor.
The short answer: under the Texas Cottage Food Law, home sellers in Texas face a split rule: most foods are open, but temperature-controlled (TCS) foods need a state registration first. The sales cap is $150,000. Full detail below — then run your exact food through the checker.
| Question | Texas's rule |
|---|---|
| Framework | Texas Cottage Food Law (Texas Health & Safety Code ch. 437; SB 541 (2025)) |
| Sales cap | $150,000 gross — adjusted for inflation |
| Permit class | Varies — see notes |
| Permit fee | No license/permit for non-TCS cottage foods and local governments may not require one; DSHS registration is required for TCS foods and for cottage food vendors. Registration fee not verified from a primary source opened — left null. |
| Issued by | State |
| Training | State-approved food handler training required; additional requirements apply to TCS foods. |
| Shipping | In-state only |
Baked goods, Jams, jellies and preserves, Candy and confections, Pickled and acidified foods, Dried herbs, spices and dry mixes, Honey and syrups, Coffee and dry beverages, Refrigerated and custard foods (TCS), Sauces and salsas.
Not covered: Meat and meat products, poultry, seafood/fish/shellfish, ice and ice products (ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles, gelato), low-acid canned goods, products containing CBD or THC, and raw milk and raw milk products.
Your labels must carry: Producer/business name and address (or state-allowed identifier/registration number), product name, ingredients, allergen information, and net weight/quantity — exact fields vary by state; verify on the state page before printing labels. Plus production date for TCS foods.. Required disclosure wording: "SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS: To prevent illness from bacteria, keep this food refrigerated or frozen until the food is prepared for consumption. (required on TCS food label/invoice/receipt, at least 12-point font)".
| Channel | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Direct / in person | Yes |
| Farmers markets | Yes |
| Online, in-state | Yes |
| Mail / shipped | No |
| Wholesale to shops | Yes |
| Retail shelves | Yes |
Don't read the table — run your verdict. Your food × your channel, computed against this exact framework.
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Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.
Yes: varies under the Texas Cottage Food Law, issued by state.
The cap is $150,000. Past it, the next doors are a shared kitchen or your own permitted space — both mapped on this site.
Sources: Texas DSHS / SB 541 summaries via texascottagefoodlaw.com and National Agricultural Law Center — Texas Health & Safety Code ch. 437; SB 541 (2025). This row was verified against the primary source named below.. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.