The Egg Stand · United States

Can you sell your backyard eggs in the US?

Usually yes, but every state draws the line somewhere different: a hen count, a dozen count, a license, a farmers-market permit. We read each state's law and agriculture department guidance, quoted it, and dated it.

49 states checked1,243 passages quoted from official sourcesLast checked October 7, 2026

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FLGAHI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

No license for small salesDepends how you sellRegistration or licenseNot stated or rechecking

12 of 49 states
need no license or registration for small direct sales.
26 of 49 states
say it depends on how many hens you keep, or how and where you sell.
12 of 49 states
want a license or permit before your eggs go to a farmers market.
7 of 49 states
require new cartons, so no refilling the grocery store's.

Every state at a glance

The small-flock line is where a state stops treating you as a backyard seller. Open a state for the exact wording, the conditions, and the sources.

StateLicenseSmall-flock lineFarmers marketCartons

Georgia: rechecking. Georgia repealed its egg law effective July 1, 2026, and the state's own guidance still describes the old rules. We'll publish Georgia once the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirms what applies now.

Cities and counties can add their own rules, and the federal rules apply everywhere.

Not in the US?

Tools for the egg stand

Egg price calculator

What a dozen really costs you, what to charge, and this month's store price.

Cost and price per dozen

Carton label maker

Print a sheet of labels with the federal safe handling statement and your details.

A printable label sheet

Federal egg rules

The four federal rules that apply in every state, quoted from the CFR with plain-English readings.

Four rules, quoted

Know what every dozen earned

PoultryPal's sales ledger tracks customers, dozens and payments next to your feed costs. Premium includes financial tracking and the sales ledger. Free to download on iOS and Android.