# Can I Legally Sell Food Made in My Home Kitchen in Alberta?

> In Alberta, yes: the Food Regulation lets you prepare and sell certain low-risk home-prepared foods (what US readers call "cottage food") from your home kitchen without a commercial food licence, a rule in force since June 1, 2020. The food must be shelf-stable, properly labelled, and sold only from home, online, at special events, or at farmers' markets.

Published 2026-08-11 · Last reviewed 2026-08-11 · [Canonical page](https://canadalegalcenter.ca/articles/can-i-legally-sell-food-made-in-my-home-kitchen-in-alberta/)

Legal information, not legal advice.

## Yes, but only under Alberta's low-risk home-prepared food rule

**Yes, if the food qualifies as "low-risk" and you follow the conditions in Alberta's Food Regulation.** Since June 1, 2020, a section of the Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 42.1, has allowed Albertans to make certain low-risk foods in a home kitchen and sell them to the public, subject to restrictions and safe food handling. The regulation defines a "low-risk home-prepared food operator" as an individual who processes, prepares, packages, or labels this kind of food, and it lets that operator (or someone assisting them) run a food stand at a special event to sell it. Outside these conditions, home-kitchen food sales fall back under the regulation's normal commercial rules, which generally require a licensed facility.

## Which foods actually qualify

The exemption only covers foods that do not need refrigeration. Alberta's own guidance gives examples: baked goods, candies, whole fresh produce, and some canned goods.

<div class="table-scroll">

| Likely eligible (shelf-stable) | Not eligible under this rule |
|---|---|
| Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes) | Anything needing refrigeration |
| Candies | Prepared meals or meal kits |
| Whole fresh produce | Dairy-based products |
| Some canned goods | Foods requiring refrigerated storage or delivery |

</div>

If a food needs refrigeration to stay safe, it falls outside the low-risk category described in the regulation, and the home-kitchen exemption in s 42.1 does not apply to it.

## Where you're allowed to sell it

The regulation limits where low-risk home-prepared food can be sold. It can be sold from home (including online or mail-order sales), at special events such as craft fairs and festivals, and at farmers' markets, where it was already being sold before the rule changed. Selling through other retail channels, such as a storefront or grocery shelf, is not covered by this exemption.

## Labelling and handling conditions you must meet

Two conditions run alongside the "where" and "what" rules:

1. **Labelling.** Home-prepared foods sold to the public, including at farmers' markets, must be clearly and appropriately labelled so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions (Food Regulation, s 42.3).
2. **Who can handle the food.** A low-risk home-prepared food operator must not handle food if they are prohibited from working under the Communicable Diseases Regulation, Alta Reg 238/85 (Food Regulation, s 42.1(4)). This is a health-based restriction tied to the operator personally, not just the kitchen.

## What's still prohibited even under the exemption

The exemption does not turn a home kitchen into an open marketplace for anyone's home cooking. Two things remain off-limits:

- **No reselling.** No person may resell low-risk home-prepared food they bought from someone else (Food Regulation, s 42.2(2)).
- **No using it as an ingredient in another product for sale.** You cannot buy someone's home-prepared low-risk food and fold it into a different food you then sell to the public.

Both restrictions exist to keep the traceability and accountability of the exemption tied to the person who actually prepared the food.

## What you can do next

If you're planning to sell food from a home kitchen in Alberta:

- Confirm the specific food you want to sell fits within the low-risk categories described in the Food Regulation before you start production or take orders.
- Prepare labelling that meets the requirements in s 42.3 before your first sale, not after.
- If you plan to sell at a farmers' market or special event, check with the market or event organizer, since they may have their own additional requirements on top of the provincial rule.
- If you're unsure whether a specific food or sales channel qualifies, Alberta Health Services administers the Food Regulation and can be contacted directly for a determination on your specific situation.

## Frequently asked questions

**What counts as a low-risk home-prepared food in Alberta?**

It means foods that do not require refrigeration, such as baked goods, candies, whole fresh produce, and some canned goods (Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 1(1)(y.1)-(y.2)). This is an Alberta-specific rule and does not apply in Ontario or federally.

**Can I sell my home-baked goods online or by mail order in Alberta?**

Yes. Alberta's Food Regulation allows low-risk home-prepared foods to be sold from home, including online or mail-order sales, as well as at special events and farmers' markets.

**Do I have to label food I sell from my home kitchen in Alberta?**

Yes. Alberta requires home-prepared foods, including those sold at farmers' markets, to be clearly and appropriately labelled so buyers can make an informed choice (Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 42.3).

**Can I resell baked goods someone else made at home?**

No. Alberta's Food Regulation prohibits reselling low-risk home-prepared food made by someone else, and prohibits using it as an ingredient in another food sold to the public (s 42.2(2)).


## Sources

1. [Alberta.ca - Low-risk home-prepared foods](https://www.alberta.ca/low-risk-home-prepared-foods), Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 42.1 (retrieved 2026-07-17)
2. [Open Government - Low-risk home-prepared food: fact sheet for operators](https://open.alberta.ca/publications/low-risk-home-prepared-food-fact-sheet-for-operators/resource/c462be1f-77ab-4409-bced-b29f3e5a37b7), Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 42.1 (as amended, in force June 1, 2020) (retrieved 2026-07-17)
3. [CanLII - Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006](https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/alta-reg-31-2006/latest/alta-reg-31-2006.html), Food Regulation, Alta Reg 31/2006, s 1(1)(y.1)-(y.2), s 42.1, s 42.2, s 42.3 (retrieved 2026-07-17)