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Selling homemade food in Connecticut means your label has to follow the Cottage Food Operations, Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 21a-62b to 21a-62h (enacted by P.A. 18-141); labeling in § 21a-62g. Administered by the CT Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Here is exactly what that label must show in 2026 — the required fields, the allergen rule, and the verbatim disclaimer and its font size — sourced to the statute and dated.
Print this statement on the label, word for word:
Verbatim wording is fixed by statute (§ 21a-62g(5)) and verified word-for-word against the official text, including its capitalization (Cottage Food Operation / Subject / Routine Government Food Safety Inspection capitalized; 'that is not to' lowercase). It must be printed in at least ten-point type in a clear and conspicuous manner that provides contrast to the background label. Ten point is a statutory floor, not a ceiling.
Connecticut is a LICENSE state, not a pure-exemption state: every cottage food operation must hold an annual DCP license (fee set by the commissioner but capped by statute at $100), pass a premises examination, and complete a recognized food-safety training program before selling. The crucial label subtlety — verified against § 21a-62g — is that the license number does NOT go on the label. The statute lists only name/address, product name, ingredients (descending order), allergens, and the fixed disclaimer, all in English. The physical license is instead displayed at every point of sale (§ 21a-62d(d)). So a compliant CT label carries the exact statutory disclaimer at >=10 pt and never a permit number.
CT issues an annual license, so operators assume the number goes on the label like many other states. It does not — § 21a-62g omits it entirely. Instead, § 21a-62d(d) requires the physical license to be displayed at every location where products are sold.
Use the exact string 'Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.' Verified verbatim against § 21a-62g(5): capitalize Cottage Food Operation, Subject, Routine Government Food Safety Inspection; keep 'that is not to' lowercase. It must be >=10 pt and visibly contrast the background.
§ 21a-62g does not list net quantity of contents, yet packaged food sold to consumers remains subject to FDA/FPLA labeling. Include an accurate net weight/volume statement to stay federally compliant even though CT's list doesn't name it.
Only non-potentially-hazardous foods qualify; maple syrup and honey are expressly excluded from 'cottage food products' (§ 21a-62b(3)), and acidified/low-acid canned goods, garlic-in-oil, and fresh fruit/vegetable juices are prohibited (§ 21a-62f). You may only make what's listed on your license, and total annual gross sales cannot exceed $50,000/calendar year (§ 21a-62d(a), raised from $25,000 by P.A. 22-8).
Timeline: Before any sales: complete a DCP-recognized food-safety training program (including food processing and packaging), submit the DCP license application, undergo a premises examination, and — if on a private water supply — pass a potability test. The license specifies which products you may make and is issued/renewed annually. Budget a few weeks for training plus scheduling the premises exam.
Cost: Annual license fee set by the commissioner, capped by statute at $100 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-62c(a)) — confirm the current amount with DCP. Additional out-of-pocket: a recognized food-safety training course (cost varies) and, for private-well operations, a water potability test.
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Make my Connecticut label →Connecticut requires this exact statement on a cottage food label: “Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.” It must be set at a minimum of 10-point type.
No. Connecticut does not require a permit or registration number printed on the label.
At minimum: product name — the common name of the food; your business / producer name; the address of the cottage food operation; a complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight (sub-ingredients included); an allergen declaration — the 9 major FDA allergens, in the ingredient list or a “Contains:” line; net weight, in US customary and metric units; the state's required disclaimer at a minimum of 10-point type (see below).
No. CottageCompliance gives general information based on each state's published rules, dated to when we last verified them. Always confirm with your state or local agency before selling.
Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_417.htm (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 21a-62b, 21a-62c, 21a-62d, 21a-62f, 21a-62g); CT Dept. of Consumer Protection: https://portal.ct.gov/dcp Verified 2026-08-10. General information, not legal advice — confirm with your state or local agency before selling.