The federal baseline, for pure honey
These rules come from the FDA food labeling guide and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and they apply in every state. For a jar of nothing but honey, you need:
- The name of the food. The word "Honey" on the front. You can put the floral source in front of it when that source is the main character, like "Clover Honey" or "Wildflower Honey."
- Net weight, in two units. The amount of honey by weight, shown in both US customary and metric, for example "Net Wt 16 oz (454 g)." It goes in the bottom 30 percent of the front label. Note this is weight, not the fluid-ounce size of the jar. Honey is denser than water, so a jar sold as a certain fluid size holds more than that number in honey weight.
- Your name and address. The name and place of business of whoever produced, packed or distributed the honey. A city, state and ZIP is the minimum, and a full street address if you are not listed in a phone directory.
Pure honey does not need an ingredient list, because it is a single ingredient. It also does not need a Nutrition Facts panel in most small operations. More on both of those next.
When you need a nutrition panel
Most hobby and sideline sellers are exempt from the Nutrition Facts panel under the federal small-business exemption for low-volume producers. You keep that exemption only while you stay quiet about nutrition. The instant you put a nutrient or health claim on the jar, anything like "no sugar added," "all natural energy" or "good source of antioxidants," you trigger the full nutrition labeling requirement.
The safe move for a small producer is simple: make no nutrition or health claims, and you almost certainly do not need the panel. If you want to make those claims, look up the current exemption thresholds and file the notice, or add a compliant panel.
When you need an ingredient list
A single ingredient needs no list. But the moment you add anything, cinnamon, chili, fruit, or another producer's honey, you have a multi-ingredient food. Now you need an ingredient list in descending order by weight, allergen labeling if any apply, and in most states you have moved from "raw agricultural product" into cottage food or processed food rules. Adding ingredients is the single biggest thing that changes your labeling and licensing burden.
The infant advisory
The statement "Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age" is not required by federal law. It is a widely recommended best practice because of infant botulism risk, and a handful of states or stores ask for it. It costs nothing to include and reads as responsible, so many beekeepers add it even where it is optional.
The part that varies: your state
The federal rules above are the floor. Almost every state adds something, and this is where you have to check your own rules rather than trust a generic list. The pattern across states is remarkably consistent, though, so here is what to expect:
- Pure honey is usually the easy case. Most states treat honey from your own bees with nothing added as a raw agricultural product or an allowed cottage food, sellable without a license.
- Selling under a cottage food law often adds a disclaimer. Many states require a "made in a home kitchen, not inspected" style statement, in a minimum type size, when you sell under their cottage food exemption. The exact wording is set by the state.
- Cottage food usually comes with limits. An annual sales cap and limits on where you can sell, such as farmers markets and public events only, with online and out-of-state sales sometimes off the table.
- The regulator is not always "agriculture." In some states honey sits with the Department of Health, in others the Department of Agriculture. That decides who you ask.
A worked example: Maryland
To make this concrete, here is one real state, verified from the state's own guidance. Maryland allows raw unflavored honey as a cottage food under COMAR 10.15.03, through the Maryland Department of Health. A cottage food business there is a home kitchen with under $25,000 a year in cottage food sales, and those products may be sold only at a farmers market or public event, with internet and out-of-state sales not allowed under that track.
The Maryland cottage food label must carry:
- The name and address of the cottage food business
- The name of the product
- The ingredients in descending order by weight
- The net weight or net volume
- Allergen information per federal rules, and nutrition information only if a nutrition claim is made
- In 10 point or larger type, in a color that contrasts with the background: "Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations."
That is the shape of it in every state: the federal basics, plus a state disclaimer and a set of limits. Your state's wording and numbers will differ, but the categories are the same.
State-by-state quick reference
Find your state below for the shape of its rules and a link to the official source. Every row here is checked against the state's own document or agency page, but rules change and the exact wording is what governs your label, so open the source link and confirm before you print. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Alabama Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
The Alabama Honey Law (AL Code 2-11-121) is a purity rule: nothing may be labeled "honey" or "pure honey" or show a bee, beehive or honeycomb on the label unless it is pure honey, and mixtures must list ingredients and cannot be sold as honey. Selling under the cottage food law separately requires a statement that the food is not inspected by the department or local health department, in 10-point type; that statute sets the requirement without one fixed sentence, so confirm wording with the county health department.
Honey standards are in the Alabama Honey Law (linked, Dept of Agriculture & Industries). The cottage-food home-kitchen disclaimer is under the Dept of Public Health (Code of Alabama §22-20-5.1); register with the county health dept, food-handler course, no sales cap since 2021.
- Alaska Pure honey, no license? Varies
No home-kitchen disclaimer on the state labeling page. Standard Alaska Food Code labeling applies: common name, ingredients in descending order, net weight in US and metric, and the name and address of the producer or packer.
This is the state packaged-food labeling requirement (18 AAC 31.060(f) plus 21 CFR 101). Check Alaska DEC separately for any home/cottage exemption on licensing.
- Arizona Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection." (ARS 36-932). Plus preparer name, AZDHS registration number, ingredients and production date.
Register with AZDHS and complete food-handler training. No open sampling or assembly.
- Arkansas Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." (Ark. Code 20-57-505)
Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021). Honey is an allowed non-TCS product, no state license or inspection.
- California Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
None for pure honey from your own bees. Selling under the Cottage Food (CFO) channel requires "Made in a Home Kitchen" in 12-point type plus the CFO permit number and issuing agency.
Beekeepers who own the bees and process their own honey do not need CFO registration. Apiary registration with the County Ag Commissioner is required (Food & Ag Code §29043).
- Colorado Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish." Plus a point-of-sale placard.
Cottage food (C.R.S. §25-4-1614). Food-safety training required. Sales cap has changed recently, verify the current figure.
- Connecticut Pure honey, no license? No
"Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection", at least 10-point type.
A cottage food license (about $50/yr, home inspection plus a food-safety course) is required; own-hive honey qualifies.
- Delaware Pure honey, no license? No
No home-kitchen disclaimer found. Label needs the establishment name, product name, contact, net weight, production date or lot, ingredients and allergens.
Cottage Food Establishment registration (about $30/yr) plus state inspection and a food-safety course. The linked Delaware honey label guide is the official label reference.
- Florida Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." In 10-point type, contrasting color.
Cottage food (§500.80, "Home Sweet Home Act"), $250,000/yr cap. Honey also subject to Florida honey standard of identity (Rule 5K-4.027): net weight in bottom 30% of the front panel.
- Georgia Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Honey-producer exemption (not cottage food): direct-to-consumer sales of your own honey are exempt from the Food Sales Establishment License. No home-kitchen disclaimer for the honey exemption. Store/wholesale needs the license.
- Hawaii Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is home-produced and processed and has not been inspected by the Department of Health." plus a clear infant warning such as "Honey should not be consumed by infants under one year of age." (HRS 328-79)
Honey has its own DOH track under 500 gallons/yr: no permit, but DOH food-safety training and a honey workshop/exam. The linked statute is the state honey standard; confirm the home-kitchen disclaimer with the Hawaii DOH Food Safety Branch.
- Idaho Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"The food was prepared in a home kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority; and the food may contain allergens." On the label or a visible placard.
Honey can be sold direct with no food permit, no income limit and no registration.
- Illinois Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Honey is not covered by the Illinois cottage food law, so the cottage disclaimer does not apply to it; check requirements with IDPH. For cottage foods the full statement is "This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department."
Honey house framework: under 500 gal/yr can extract in your own honey house. Annual apiary registration required (510 ILCS 20).
- Indiana Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE." In 10-point type. An infant warning is also required.
Home-Based Vendor (IC 16-42-5.3). Food-handler certificate required, no fee or sales cap. Confirm exact agency phrasing.
- Iowa Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection." Plus producer name/address and allergen statement.
Cottage food (Iowa Code §137F.20). Direct-to-consumer honey exempt; wholesale/resale needs a Home Food Processing license.
- Kansas Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
None. Kansas does not require a home-kitchen disclaimer. Label needs product name, name and address, ingredients, net quantity and allergens.
Non-TCS (shelf-stable) foods including honey can be sold direct with no license, permit or inspection.
- Kentucky Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is home-produced and processed." In 10-point type, contrasting color.
Honey-specific exemption up to 150 gallons/yr without registering. Above that, Home-Based Processor (KRS 217.136), form DFS-250, $50/yr.
- Louisiana Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Raw honey (not pasteurized, filtered or processed) is exempt from the statement. Other exempt foods need a statement clearly indicating the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility; the law sets the requirement, not one fixed sentence.
Cottage food exemption (LRS 40:4.9). Low-risk foods including honey are capped at $30,000/yr.
- Maine Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Raw honey is not produced under license or inspected by the State of Maine and is not intended for sale outside of the State." (exact statutory wording).
Raw honey for in-state sale is exempt from permit and inspection when labeled with the required statement. The Food Sovereignty Act also allows unlicensed home sales under municipal ordinances.
- Maryland Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations." In 10-point or larger type, contrasting color.
Cottage food (COMAR 10.15.03). Raw unflavored honey is allowed. Under $25,000/yr, sold only at farmers markets or public events (no internet or out-of-state sales under this track).
- Massachusetts Pure honey, no license? No
The honey law (MGL c.128 s36B) bans labeling anything "honey" or "pure honey" that is not pure honey made by honey bees; mixtures must state ingredients in equal-size type. The residential kitchen placard wording is set by your town board of health (model: prepared in a kitchen not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority).
A Residential Kitchen permit (105 CMR 590) from your town Board of Health is required before the first sale; rules vary by municipality.
- Michigan Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Processed in a facility not inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development." The state's sample labels show the all-caps form "MADE IN A FACILITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT". The cottage-food disclaimer for flavored honey is different, do not swap them.
Pure honey uses the honey/maple-syrup license exemption, not cottage food. Sales limits (2026): $50,000/yr, or $75,000 if any unit is priced $250+.
- Minnesota Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
None for pure honey (it is outside cottage food). The cottage-food disclaimer "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." applies only if you add ingredients.
Honey from your own hives with nothing added is exempt as a "product of the farm or garden", no registration. Cottage food law is Minn. Stat. 28A.152.
- Mississippi Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." Infant advisory recommended.
Under 500 gallons/yr: no permit or facility inspection, $35,000/yr cap. At 500+ gallons the bottling facility must be MSDH-inspected.
- Missouri Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product has not been inspected by the Department of Health and Senior Services." on the label, with the same statement on a placard at markets (RSMo 261.241). A later amendment may have narrowed this for some sales channels, so check the current statute text.
Home-based food (RSMo §196.298, no income cap since 2022) plus honey-specific §261.241 (honey sales up to $50,000). Infant advisory recommended.
- Montana Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Raw honey as a raw agricultural product needs identity ("honey"), producer contact and net weight; no separate not-inspected line is mandated for raw honey. Under the Local Food Choice Act, homemade foods must inform the buyer they are not licensed or inspected.
Local Food Choice Act (SB 199, 2021). Raw honey sold direct needs no license, permit, inspection or training, and has no cap.
- Nebraska Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority and may contain allergens." Infant advisory recommended.
Cottage food (expanded by LB 262, 2024). Free one-time NDA registration; direct to consumer, in-state.
- Nevada Pure honey, no license? Varies
Honey is excluded from Nevada cottage food, so the cottage-food disclaimer does not apply. Honey-specific label requirements not found; check with the Nevada Dept of Agriculture.
Honey is regulated separately by the Nevada Dept of Agriculture (authority moved from Public & Behavioral Health in 2025). No honey-specific exemption confirmed.
- New Hampshire Pure honey, no license? Varies
No homestead disclaimer for honey. RSA 429:20 sets the label: packer or producer name, address and zip, the true product name, the grade or "not graded", and volume or net weight. RSA 429:23 only restricts artificial honey-flavored products.
Honey is treated as an agricultural product under the NH Dept of Agriculture, Markets & Food, outside the homestead food licensing system.
- New Jersey Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
No cottage-food disclaimer applies to raw, unprocessed honey (it is a raw agricultural commodity). Standard labeling: name, address, net weight. Processed or infused honey needs a cottage food permit.
Raw honey was exempted from the cottage food law in December 2022. Processed honey still requires a permit.
- New Mexico Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is home produced and is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." Infant advisory recommended.
Pure honey is a raw agricultural commodity with no food-processor permit. Flavored or herbal honey is regulated as food processing.
- New York Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Pure honey with no added ingredients is exempt from licensing (Part 259); whether the home-processor "Made in a Home Kitchen" phrase applies to pure honey is unclear, verify.
Adding flavorings triggers an Article 20-C license.
- North Carolina Pure honey, no license? Varies
No not-inspected disclaimer (NC uses an inspection model). Label needs "Honey", packer name/address/ZIP, net contents in the lower 30% of the panel in US and metric.
No formal cottage food law; home honey goes through the NCDA&CS Home Processor program. A free home-kitchen inspection may be required even for pure honey, verify.
- North Dakota Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by the state or local health department." On the label or a point-of-sale sign.
Food-freedom cottage food law (NDCC Ch. 23-09.5). No license, inspection, training or sales cap; direct to the end consumer for home consumption.
- Ohio Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
None for pure honey. Flavored honey (cottage food) must carry "This product is home produced" in 10-point type.
Pure honey is exempt under O.R.C. 3715.021 if at least 75% is from your own hives. Sold on-site: US units only; off-site: US and metric.
- Oklahoma Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Under the Homemade Food Freedom Act path: "Made in a home food establishment that is not licensed by the State Department of Health" (10-point, contrasting). The Honey Sales Act has its own labeling; confirm its exact statement.
Oklahoma Honey Sales Act (63 O.S. §1-1330): raw honey from your own Oklahoma hives under 500 gallons/yr is exempt from Health Dept regulation; direct or online sales allowed.
- Oregon Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product is homemade, is not prepared in an inspected food establishment and must be stored and displayed separately if merchandised by a retailer." Oregon also requires a pet disclosure if a pet lives in the home.
Domestic Kitchen exemption or Farm Direct. Food-handler card required. Caps differ by exemption, verify which applies.
- Pennsylvania Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Limited Food Establishment disclaimer reported as "This product is homemade and is not prepared in an inspected food establishment." in 10-point contrasting type. Pure honey follows the Honey Sale and Labeling Act, verify which applies.
Register as a Limited Food Establishment; the $35 fee is waived when 100% of product is produced on the farm.
- Rhode Island Pure honey, no license? Varies
Honey is not a Rhode Island cottage food, so no cottage-food disclaimer applies. Standard Rhode Island packaged-food labeling applies: product name, net weight, your name and address, and an ingredient list if anything is added. Confirm honey specifics with RIDOH.
Cottage food in RI is limited to baked goods, so honey uses the separate Farm Home Food Manufacture path. The linked RIDOH page is the state packaged-food labeling requirement.
- South Carolina Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
Beekeepers under 400 gallons/yr are exempt from registration and inspection. Under the Home-Based Food Production path the label reads "PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS"; the honey-exemption path requires an address or SCDA ID.
Honey-specific beekeeper exemption (2022 Act, H.4854): direct to consumer up to 400 gallons (4,800 lb)/yr, no inspection. Wholesale-for-resale needs an inspected facility.
- South Dakota Pure honey, no license? Varies
Honey is not a South Dakota cottage food, so the cottage disclaimer does not apply. Standard FDA labeling; no honey-specific state disclaimer found. Apiaries must be registered.
Honey falls under the apiary law (SDCL 38-18) via the SD Dept of Agriculture & Natural Resources. No cottage-food route.
- Tennessee Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." (Tenn. Code 53-1-118). The disclosure may be a label, placard, webpage or verbal depending on how you sell.
Tennessee Food Freedom Act. Honey reportedly capped at 150 gallons/yr, verify against the statute.
- Texas Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Bottled or packaged in a facility not inspected by the Texas Department of State Health Services." May only be labeled "honey" or "pure honey" if it is exclusively pure honey.
Small honey production exemption (Health & Safety Code §437.0199): under 2,500 lb/yr (~200 gal) from your own Texas hives, direct to consumer. Net weight in both US and metric.
- Utah Pure honey, no license? No
"Home Produced" in bold, conspicuous 12-point type on the front panel (R70-560-6), plus packer name, street address, city, state, zip and phone. The honey standard (R70-520) sets the product name and net weight. Infant advisory recommended, not required.
Beehives must be registered with UDAF and the home registered as a food establishment. In-state; wholesale prohibited.
- Vermont Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health" (10-point, contrasting). Infant advisory recommended.
Home-food exemption below $30,000/yr (Act 42 of 2025): free VDH online training and an annual exemption filing. Above $30,000 needs a license.
- Virginia Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION. WARNING: Do Not Feed Honey to Infants Under One Year Old." The infant warning is mandatory in Virginia.
Own-honey exemption (Code of Virginia §3.2-5130): pure honey from your own hives, under 250 gallons/yr. Infused/value-added honey is not covered.
- Washington Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
None for raw honey (it is outside cottage food). Label needs "Honey", producer name/address, net weight and grade.
Raw honey from bees you extract yourself is governed by RCW 69.28, no Food Processor License. Processed or ingredient-added honey needs the license.
- West Virginia Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
"This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from State licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." Honey must also show net weight and "Please do not feed to infants under 1 year of age."
Selling only your own honey from your own bees has reduced requirements; a WVDA permit is needed to sell other people's honey. Beekeepers register with WVDA.
- Wisconsin Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
No home-kitchen disclaimer. The label needs the product name, your name, address and zip, and a net weight statement, plus "Ungraded" if you do not grade to Wisconsin standards (a grade, with color for Wisconsin No. 1, if you do). You may name one predominant floral source but not more than one, and never by season.
DATCP honey rules (ATCP 87). No license to extract, package and sell your own honey from your own bees with only straining, heating or creaming from your own starter. Buying other beekeepers' honey or adding ingredients requires a license.
- Wyoming Pure honey, no license? Usually yes
No disclaimer required for direct-to-consumer sales (inform the buyer it is not certified or inspected). Selling to a retailer requires "this food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected and may contain allergens." Infant advisory recommended.
Wyoming Food Freedom Act (W.S. §11-49-101): exempt from licensure, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling for direct producer-to-consumer sales, in-state only.
How to find your state's rule in five minutes
This is the exact search that works. It is how most beekeepers find their answer:
- Search "[your state] honey labeling requirements" or "[your state] cottage food law."
- Look for a result on your state's own .gov site, either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Health, or a .edu cooperative extension page. Skip the aggregator sites.
- Find the two things that vary by state: the required disclaimer wording and the sales limits (dollar cap and where you can sell).
- If it is unclear, call the agency. The office listed on the guidance will answer a labeling question. That is what the number is for.
Do this once, save the page, and you are set until the rules change. State agencies update these documents, so re-check every year or two.
Your minimum label checklist
For a typical small US seller of pure honey, aim for a label that has:
- The word "Honey" (with the floral source in front if you want)
- Net weight in US and metric, in the bottom 30 percent of the front
- Your name and address
- Your state's required disclaimer, if you sell under a cottage food law
- Optional but recommended: the infant advisory
The Honey Label Generator lays these elements out for common jar sizes so you can see them in place before you print, and the Honey Yield Calculator works out the net weight per jar for you.
Common labeling mistakes
- Using the jar's fluid size as the net weight. A "16 oz" jar does not hold 16 ounces of honey by weight. Weigh it, or calculate it, and label the actual net weight.
- Only one unit of measure. The net weight must show both US and metric.
- No name and address. This is required federally and is the most common thing missing on a homemade label.
- Skipping the state disclaimer. If you sell under a cottage food law, the disclaimer is not optional, and it has a minimum type size.
- Accidentally triggering a nutrition panel. A casual "all natural" or "healthy" on the label can pull you into full nutrition labeling. Say nothing about nutrition unless you mean to.
- Calling flavored honey just "Honey." Add an ingredient and the name and the rules both change.