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Public Health and Food Protection Program

Virginia Wheatley
Project Coordinator

Rashida Hussain
Project Specialist

cfo@doh.nj.gov 

(609) 913-5099

 

Cottage Food Operators - Home Bakers

COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR RULE ACTIVE COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR PERMITS [XLSX]
INITIAL APPLICATION FORM RENEWAL APPLICATION FORM
FOOD PROTECTION MANAGER CERTIFICATION CITY WATER OR PRIVATE WELL WATER
DEFINITIONS COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR PERMIT RULE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  

 

New rules creating a cottage food operator (home baker) permit became effective as of October 4, 2021.

New Jersey historically prohibited the sale of home baked goods but has now joined other states in allowing cottage food operations.  The Department has been working on this issue for some time and carefully balanced allowing home bakers to operate small businesses while instituting appropriate safeguards.  While developing these new regulations, the Department received input from many stakeholders, including local health departments, home bakers, the retail food industry, and others. 

 

COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR RULE

 

ACTIVE COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR PERMITS

Currently Active Cottage Food Operator Permits [.xlsx]

This is a list of active Cottage Food Operator Permits, updated weekly.

 

INITIAL APPLICATION

We strongly recommend using Adobe Reader on a laptop or desktop computer to fill out your application form. If you do not use Adobe Reader, the dropdown fields may not operate correctly or your form answers may be lost when it is opened in our office: all forms are optimized for Adobe Reader. Use the following link to download and install Adobe Reader FREE: https://get.adobe.com/reader

If you are unable to use Adobe Reader, please open your completed form and select PRINT, then select a PRINT TO PDF option or a PDF printer. This will generate a new file where your form field answers are locked in. Send us the new PDF file to ensure the information will appear the same in our office as it does on your screen.

 

IMPORTANT: Successful email submissions will receive an automated email confirmation of receipt. If you do not receive an automated email confirmation within 24 hours of submission, contact this office or submit your printed application and attachments via US Postal Service to the following address:

NJ Department of Health
Public Health and Food Protection Program
P.O. Box 369
Trenton, NJ 08625

 

 

RENEWAL APPLICATION

We strongly recommend using Adobe Reader on a laptop or desktop computer to fill out your application form. If you do not use Adobe Reader, the dropdown fields may not operate correctly or your form answers may be lost when it is opened in our office: all forms are optimized for Adobe Reader. Use the following link to download and install Adobe Reader FREE: https://get.adobe.com/reader

If you are unable to use Adobe Reader, please open your completed form and select PRINT, then select a PRINT TO PDF option or a PDF printer. This will generate a new file where your form field answers are locked in. Send us the new PDF file to ensure the information will appear the same in our office as it does on your screen.

 

IMPORTANT: Successful email submissions will receive an automated email confirmation of receipt. If you do not receive an automated email confirmation within 24 hours of submission, contact this office or submit your printed application and attachments via US Postal Service to the following address:

NJ Department of Health
Public Health and Food Protection Program
P.O. Box 369
Trenton, NJ 08625

 

 

FOOD PROTECTION MANAGER CERTIFICATION

The New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health and Food Protection Program, does not offer Food Protection Manager courses or programs. This office cannot provide status updates or copies of your Food Protection Manager certificate.

For more information about Food Protection Manager certification, to register for a course, or to inquire about individual courses or testing, contact any of the accredited programs listed below.

To inquire about your individual registration or to request a copy of your Food Protection Manager Certificate, contact the accredited organization with which you registered.

Only Food Protection Manager certificates issued by New Jersey accredited organizations are accepted. All New Jersey accredited organizations are listed below. Food Protection Manager certificates issued by any of the below accredited organizations are equally accepted as proof of credential.

 

IMPORTANT: Food Handler Certification is NOT accepted as a part of the Cottage Food Operator permit application. Only Food Protection Manager Certification is accepted for the Cottage Food Operator permit.

 

New Jersey Accredited Food Protection Manager Organizations

 

CITY WATER OR PRIVATE WELL WATER
  • Submit a copy of your most recent city water bill for the location of the cottage food kitchen

    OR

  • If the location uses private well water, submit a copy of a microbiological (total coliform) analysis of the private well water that is conducted using sample collected no earlier than 60 days prior to the filing date of this application.

    NOTE: In order to ensure sample integrity, the well water sample must be collected and delivered to the Certified Drinking Water Lab (CDWL) by a representative of the laboratory.  Well water samples collected and submitted to the CDWL by the CFO permit applicant or anyone other than the CDWL representative will be considered to be invalid.

    Click here to find a list of Certified Drinking Water Labs in New Jersey. Follow the instructions provided by DEP to search for Certified Drinking Water Labs.

 

N.J.A.C. 8:24-1.5 DEFINITIONS

Cottage food product means non-TCS* food that a cottage food operator prepares and includes:

  1. Baked goods, including bread, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, pastries, and cookies;
  2. Candy, including brittle and toffee;
  3. Chocolate-covered nuts and dried fruit;
  4. Dried fruit;
  5. Dried herbs and seasonings, and mixtures thereof;
  6. Dried pasta;
  7. Dry baking mix;
  8. Fruit jams, fruit jellies, and fruit preserves;
  9. Fruit pies, fruit empanadas, and fruit tamales (excluding pumpkin);
  10. Fudge;
  11. Granola, cereal, and trail mix;
  12. Processed honey and sweet sorghum syrup. 
    NOTE: Raw, unprocessed honey is not a cottage food and is not subject to permit requirements;
  13. Nuts and nut mixtures;
  14. Nut butters;
  15. Popcorn and caramel corn;
  16. Roasted coffee and dried tea;
  17. Vinegar and mustard;
  18. Waffle cones and pizzelles; and
  19. Upon written application to the Public Health and Food Protection Program, other non-TCS food.

Cottage food operator means a person who holds a New Jersey Cottage Food Operator Permit.

Department means the New Jersey Department of Health.

Health authority means a local board of health with jurisdiction, and/or the Department.

Major food allergen:

  1. Means any of the following, and/or a protein derived from any of the following:
    1. Milk;
    2. Eggs;
    3. Fish;
    4. Crustacean shellfish;
    5. Tree nuts;
    6. Wheat;
    7. Peanuts; and
    8. Soybeans; and
  2. Excludes:
    1. Any highly refined oil derived from a food specified in paragraph 1 above and any ingredient derived from such highly refined oil; and
    2. Any ingredient that is exempt under the petition or notification process specified in the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-282).

*Non-TCS food means a food which will not support the growth of disease-causing bacteria. A non-TCS food does not need time and temperature controls to remain safe for consumption.

PHFPP means the Public Health and Food Protection Program.

TCS food means a food that requires time and/or temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.

 

N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 COTTAGE FOOD OPERATOR PERMIT RULE

§ 8:24-11.1 Requirement and procedure to obtain a Cottage Food Operator Permit

(a) A person or entity that engages in the production, distribution, and/or sale of food to consumers shall:

1. Have a Cottage Food Operator Permit; or

2. Comply with applicable laws to retail food establishments.

(b) A person seeking to obtain a Cottage Food Operator Permit shall submit to the Public Health and Food Protection Program:

1. A completed application in the form at N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 Appendix, incorporated herein by reference, which is available at https://www.nj.gov/health/forms and on request to the Public Health and Food Protection Program;

2. A copy of a certificate issued by an accredited program showing that the applicant is a food protection manager in good standing with the accredited program;

3. If the cottage food operator's kitchen:

i. Uses private well water, a microbiological (total coliform) analysis of the private well water that is conducted using samples collected no earlier than 60 days prior to the filing date of the application, which is the postmark date, if the application is mailed, or the date of submission, if hand-delivered; and

ii. Does not use private well water, a copy of most recent water bill for the location of the cottage food kitchen; and

4. The nonrefundable application fee established at N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.6, payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

(c) The Department will conduct a completeness review of the application and notify the applicant in writing of any deficiency or incompleteness therein that the applicant must correct before the Department will process further the application.

1. If an applicant fails to correct a deficient or incomplete application within 30 days of the issuance of a notice pursuant to (b) above, the Department will deem the application abandoned.

(d) Upon determining an application to be complete, the Department shall issue a cottage food operator permit to the applicant.

(e) An applicant for a cottage food operator permit shall ascertain and comply with applicable local laws of the municipality in which the applicant seeks to operate a cottage food operation.

 

§ 8:24-11.2 Authorized cottage food operator activity

(a) A Cottage Food Operator Permit authorizes a holder thereof:

1. To produce cottage food products in the private kitchen of the operator's residence and at no other location; and

2. Subject to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.5, to distribute cottage food products to consumers thereof without being subject to initial or periodic inspection by a health authority and other requirements applicable to retail food establishments pursuant to this chapter and the Public Health Practice Standards of Performance for Local Boards of Health in New Jersey at N.J.A.C. 8:52, other than as specified in this subchapter.

(b) A cottage food operator may transact activities that are ancillary to the delivery or relinquishment of cottage food products to a consumer by means of United States postal mail, common carrier, electronic communication, internet, and/or telephone, provided the delivery or relinquishment of cottage food products occurs in New Jersey in compliance with N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.3(a).

1. Authorized ancillary transactions include:

i. Accepting order placements;

ii. Receiving payments;

iii. Engaging in marketing or advertising activities; and

iv. Participating in other business activities other than cottage food product delivery and relinquishment.

 

§ 8:24-11.3 Prohibited cottage food operator activity

(a) A cottage food operator shall not deliver or relinquish cottage food products:

1. At a location other than:

i. The home of the cottage food operator, but not for onsite consumption;

ii. The home of the consumer, provided the home is in New Jersey;

iii. A New Jersey farmers' market or farm stand;

iv. To consumers, at a New Jersey temporary retail food establishment; or

v. In New Jersey, to the consumer, provided applicable law does not otherwise prohibit the delivery or relinquishment at the location;

2. To a person who is not the consumer;

3. To a wholesale establishment as N.J.A.C. 8:21-9 defines that term;

4. To a retail food establishment;

5. By United States postal mail or a common carrier, subject to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.2(b); and/or

6. In interstate commerce, that is, outside of the State of New Jersey, subject to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.2(b).

(b) The gross annual sales (that is, before deductions of taxes and operating expenses) that a cottage food operator generates from the sale of cottage food products shall not exceed $ 50,000.

 

§ 8:24-11.4 Cottage food point-of-sale notice, packaging, and labeling

(a) A cottage food operator shall make available for inspection, on request, the operator's permit if the point of sale is the residence of the operator or the consumer.

(b) If the point of sale is a location other than the residence of the operator or the consumer, the operator shall place at the point of sale, on conspicuous and unobstructed display, the cottage food permit and a placard that states, "This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health."

(c) A cottage food operator shall affix one or more labels or tags on cottage food that collectively state at least the following:

1. The common name of the cottage food product;

2. The cottage food product ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight;

3. If the cottage food product contains a major food allergen, the word, "Contains" followed by a list of the major food allergens that the cottage food product contains;

4. The cottage food operator's name, business name, and Cottage Food Operator Permit number;

5. The name of the municipality in which the cottage food operator prepares the cottage food product, which shall be the same as the municipality that appears of record with the Department as the cottage food operator's residence, followed by either "New Jersey" or "NJ"; and

6. The statement, "This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health."

 

§ 8:24-11.5 Health authority's right of access

(a) Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 24:1-1 et seq., especially 24:2-1 et seq., and 24:3-1 et seq., and 26:1A-1 et seq., especially 26:1A-16, 17, 18, and 19, a health authority is authorized to enter upon, examine, and survey any premises, including the home kitchen of a cottage food operator, and things thereof, including materials, equipment, books, and records:

1. To enforce or confirm compliance with any health law or other law under the official's jurisdiction; and/or

2. To investigate complaints associated with cottage food products, such as contamination, foodborne illness, misbranding, or adulteration.

 

§ 8:24-11.6 Application fees; permit duration; permit renewal

(a) The fee to apply for a Cottage Food Operator Permit is $ 100.00.

(b) A Cottage Food Operator Permit is valid for two years from date of issuance.

(c) The fee to apply for renewal of a Cottage Food Operator Permit is $ 100.00.

(d) To prevent permit lapse, a cottage food operator permittee should submit an application for permit renewal by no later than 45 days before the expiration of the permit that is in effect.

 

§ 8:24-11.7 Suspension, revocation, and/or denial of issuance or renewal of a permit; monetary penalties

(a) A person or entity that violates any provision of this chapter or refuses to comply with a lawful order or direction of a health authority is liable for penalties as provided by N.J.S.A. 24:17-1 et seq., and 26:1A-10, and/or injunctive action as provided by law.

(b) The Department may impose a monetary penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 24:17-1 et seq., and 26:1A-10, and/or suspend, revoke, and/or refuse to issue or renew, a Cottage Food Operator Permit, if the applicant or permit holder fails to comply with applicable provisions of this subchapter, Titles 24 and 26 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, and/or any other applicable rules or statutes, and/or if a health authority determines that the applicant or permit holder poses a threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

1. The Department shall provide the applicant or permit holder notice of the monetary penalty, suspension, revocation, or denial of issuance or renewal, of a permit, and the reason for the action taken.

(c) The Department may issue a summary suspension of the permit of a cottage food operator if the permit holder's continued operation poses an immediate or serious threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

1. The Department shall provide the permit holder notice of a summary suspension and the reason for the action taken.

2. A summary suspension is effective as of the date of issuance.

3. A cottage food operator whose permit the Department summarily suspends shall have the right to apply for emergency relief, as provided at N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.8.

(d) If a person, entity, or cottage food operator operates as a cottage food operator without a valid permit issued by the Department, fails or refuses to comply with an order of a health authority, poses a threat to public health, safety, and welfare, and/or engages in activity that is violative of applicable provisions of Titles 24 and 26 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey and/or this chapter, the Department may:

1. Issue an order requiring the person, entity, or cottage food operator to cease and desist operations;

2. Take action in the New Jersey Superior Court against the person, entity, or cottage food operator to enjoin its operations;

3. Confiscate, condemn, seize, sell, destroy, detain, and/or embargo articles of food in accordance with N.J.S.A. 24:1-1 et seq., especially 24:4-1 et seq.; and/or

4. Impose monetary penalties pursuant to N.J.S.A. 24:17-1 et seq., and 26:1A-10.

(e) A monetary penalty that the Department imposes pursuant to N.J.S.A. 24:17-1.1 et seq., and/or 26:1A-10, shall become due 45 days after the deadline to file an appeal has ended.

1. If an applicant for a Cottage Food Operator Permit or a permit holder files an appeal with the Department, then the monetary penalty shall become due in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.8(b).

(f) Failure to pay a monetary penalty when it becomes due pursuant to (e) above and/or N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.8(b) may result in one or more of the following actions being imposed on the applicant for a cottage food operator permit or the permit holder:

1. Institution of a summary civil proceeding by the State, pursuant to the Penalty Enforcement Law, N.J.S.A. 2A:58-1 et seq.;

2. The Department's denial of, or refusal to issue, a permit or a permit renewal; and/or

3. Revocation of an existing permit.

 

§ 8:24-11.8 Hearing on enforcement actions

(a) When the Department summarily suspends the permit of a cottage food operator, the operator maintains the right to petition the Commissioner of the Department for emergency relief.

1. To request emergency relief, the cottage food operator must submit to the Department, within 30 days from the date of the notice of summary suspension, a request in writing accompanied by a response to the notice of summary suspension.

i. Failure to submit a request for emergency relief within 30 days from the date of the notice of summary suspension shall result in the cottage food operator's forfeiture of all rights to emergency relief.

2. All applications for emergency relief will be handled in accordance with N.J.A.C. 1:1-12.6(c).

3. Unless emergency relief is granted, the summary suspension shall remain in effect until lifted by either the Department or a court of competent jurisdiction.

4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Department from simultaneously, or thereafter, moving to suspend or revoke the permit of a cottage food operator or to issue the cottage food operator a monetary penalty.

(b) If the Department issues a notice of proposed assessment of a monetary penalty, permit suspension or revocation, and/or denial of permit issuance or renewal, the Department shall afford the applicant or permit holder an opportunity for a hearing to contest the proposed action.

1. A monetary penalty, permit suspension (excluding summary suspensions) or revocation, and/or denial of permit issuance or renewal shall become effective and final 30 days from the date of the notice of proposed action, unless the applicant or permit holder, within that 30-day period, submits a written request for a hearing to the Department with a response to the proposed action.

i. Failure to submit a written request for a hearing within 30 days from the date of the notice of proposed action shall result in the applicant or permit holder forfeiting all rights to such a hearing.

ii. If the applicant or permit holder submits a timely request for a hearing, then the monetary penalty, and/or the suspension (excluding summary suspensions), revocation, and/or denial of permit renewal shall be held in abeyance until the hearing is concluded and a final decision is rendered.

iii. A monetary penalty that is the subject of a hearing, which the applicant or permit holder timely requests pursuant to this section, is due 45 days after the Commissioner's issuance of a final agency decision determining the penalty.

iv. A revocation, suspension, or denial of issuance or renewal of a Cottage Food Operator Permit is effective immediately upon the Commissioner's issuance of a final agency decision on the action.

(c) The Department shall transmit hearing requests to the Office of Administrative Law.

(d) Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 et seq., and 52:14F-1 et seq., and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Rules, N.J.A.C. 1:1.

 

Last Reviewed: 6/30/2023