Do you need a license to sell honey in Alabama?

In most cases you can sell pure honey from your own bees in Alabama without a food license.

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.

What your Alabama honey label must include

Start with the federal basics that apply in every state:

  • The word "Honey" (you can name the floral source, like "Wildflower Honey", if it is the main source)
  • Net weight in both US and metric, in the bottom 30 percent of the front label
  • Your name and address
  • No ingredient list is needed for pure honey; add one the moment you add anything

Then, for Alabama: 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.

For the full federal rules, including when a nutrition panel is required, see our honey labeling requirements guide.

The official Alabama source

These rules are set by Alabama Dept of Agriculture & Industries (honey law); Dept of Public Health (cottage food). This reflects their published guidance; still confirm the current details before printing.

Read the official Alabama guidance.

Quick checklist for Alabama

  • The word "Honey"
  • Net weight in US and metric, bottom 30 percent of the front
  • Your name and address
  • The Alabama statement or disclaimer described above
  • Optional but recommended: "Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age"