Can you sell backyard eggs in Maine?
Yes. Selling your own eggs directly to consumers is exempt from Maine's egg grading and labeling law, which has no license. Eggs sold to stores must be graded and labeled with grade and size.
Read from 11 official sources14 passages quotedChecked October 6, 2026
At a glance
License
Not needed
Small-flock line
No number: own eggs, direct
Farmers markets
With conditions
Cartons
Not stated
In plain English
Maine's egg law sets no flock size and no license for small sellers. Producers selling eggs of their own production direct to consumers are exempt from the grading, grade-and-size labeling, candling-standard, advertising and 'farm fresh' wording rules for those sales. Cracked, dirty or other restricted eggs may be sold only on your own premises to household consumers. DACF's farm stand FAQ says small-scale producers may sell eggs directly to consumers but that labeling and handling requirements still apply, without listing them. Selling to a store or restaurant is outside the direct-sale exemption: those eggs must meet Maine consumer grades (USDA standards, determined by candling) and the container must show grade and size. A producer may ship ungraded eggs to a wholesaler.
A sourced reading of Maine's rules, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) ((207) 287-3200) before you sell.
Do you need a license?
- Sell eggs of your own production.7 M.R.S. § 636(1)
- Sell direct to consumers; the exemption covers only those sales.7 M.R.S. § 636(1)
- Restricted eggs (checks, dirties, leakers and the like) only on your own premises, directly to a household consumer for household use.7 M.R.S. § 635-A
- DACF: labeling and handling requirements still apply to direct sales; the agency does not list them in the FAQ.DACF Farm Stand FAQ
- Sales to stores and restaurants: eggs graded to Maine consumer grades by candling and labeled with grade and size on the container.7 M.R.S. §§ 632-634; 01-001 C.M.R. ch. 111
- A producer may ship ungraded, unlabeled eggs to a wholesaler or another shipper; if marked with grade and size, the marks must be accurate.7 M.R.S. § 636(2)
The exact wording
Where you can sell
From home or the farm
Exempt from the egg grading and labeling sections for direct sales of your own eggs (7 M.R.S. § 636(1)); no egg license exists in the statute. DACF says labeling and handling requirements still apply. Restricted (cracked, dirty) eggs may be sold only here, to household consumers.
Farmers markets
A farmers' market sale to the eater is still a direct sale, so the § 636(1) exemption applies. State food-establishment licensing excludes farm stands and farmers' markets primarily selling fresh produce (not dairy or meat) (22 M.R.S. § 2152(4-A)(D)); whether an egg-only stand fits that wording is not stated. Restricted eggs may not be sold off your premises.
Stores and restaurants
Outside the direct-sale exemption. Eggs sold to retailers must meet Maine consumer grades (USDA standards, final determination by candling) and carry grade and size on the container; 'farm fresh' and similar terms only for Grade A or better. No egg license appears in the statute; whether a food establishment license applies to a producer packing eggs for stores was not confirmed.
Also check with: DACF Quality Assurance and Regulations, (207) 287-3200 (labeling and handling rules for your operation)
Cartons, labels and handling
Cartons
The sources we read don't set a carton rule.
Refrigeration
Not stated in the sources we read.
The label must show
- grade and size designation (sales outside the direct-to-consumer exemption)
The carton label maker prints these lines with the federal safe handling statement.
Grading
Ungraded sales are allowed only in some cases.
Direct sales of your own eggs to consumers are exempt from the grading standards and grade labeling (7 M.R.S. § 636(1)), and a producer may ship ungraded eggs to a wholesaler (§ 636(2)). Other sales must meet Maine consumer grades AA, A or B, which adopt USDA standards and are determined by candling (§ 633; 01-001 C.M.R. ch. 111).
Washing
No washing rule in the sources read.
Federal rules apply on top of Maine's: the four federal egg rules. Pricing your dozen? The egg price calculator works it out from your feed bill.
Common questions
- Do I need a license to sell eggs from my backyard chickens in Maine?
- Yes. Selling your own eggs directly to consumers is exempt from Maine's egg grading and labeling law, which has no license. Eggs sold to stores must be graded and labeled with grade and size. Small-flock line: no number: own eggs, direct. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.
- Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Maine?
- Allowed with conditions. A farmers' market sale to the eater is still a direct sale, so the § 636(1) exemption applies. State food-establishment licensing excludes farm stands and farmers' markets primarily selling fresh produce (not dairy or meat) (22 M.R.S. § 2152(4-A)(D)); whether an egg-only stand fits that wording is not stated. Restricted eggs may not be sold off your premises. Also check with DACF Quality Assurance and Regulations, (207) 287-3200 (labeling and handling rules for your operation).
- Can I reuse egg cartons in Maine?
- The sources we read do not say; ask the state agriculture department before reusing cartons for eggs you sell.
- What has to be on the carton label in Maine?
- grade and size designation (sales outside the direct-to-consumer exemption). The rule reads: "All eggs sold or offered for sale for human consumption by any person, partnership, association, firm or corporation shall be labeled with the grade and size designation as set forth in the Maine consumer grades, except as otherwise provided." The federal safe handling statement applies as well; our carton label maker prints all of it.
- 7 M.R.S. § 631 · Definitions: restricted egg, retail (selling direct to consumer), wholesale (selling to retailers)
- 7 M.R.S. §§ 631-A to 635 · Official grade standards, grade and size labeling, candling, advertising and descriptive labels
- 7 M.R.S. § 635-A · Restricted eggs may be sold only on the producer's premises to household consumers
- 7 M.R.S. § 636 · Exemptions: producers selling their own eggs direct to consumers; ungraded shipments to wholesalers
- 7 M.R.S. § 639 · Civil violations: up to $50 first, $200 after
- 22 M.R.S. § 2152(4-A) · Food establishment licensing excludes farm stands and farmers' markets primarily selling fresh produce (not dairy or meat)
- 01-001 C.M.R. ch. 111 · Official Standards for Egg Grades: USDA shell egg standards incorporated by reference
- Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) · Bureau of Agriculture, Quality Assurance and Regulations
Read the 14 passages this page is built on
“Producers selling eggs of their own production direct to consumers are exempt from sections 631‑A to 635 for those sales.”
7 M.R.S. § 636 · read 2026-10-06
“An egg producer may ship eggs to a wholesaler or to another shipper without labeling and grading the eggs in accordance with sections 631‑A to 635.”
7 M.R.S. § 636 · read 2026-10-06
“All eggs sold or offered for sale for human consumption by any person, partnership, association, firm or corporation shall be labeled with the grade and size designation as set forth in the Maine consumer grades, except as otherwise provided.”
7 M.R.S. §§ 631-A to 635 · read 2026-10-06
“Except as provided in section 636, the standards of quality for Maine consumer grades for shell eggs that are established by the commissioner apply to all shell eggs sold or offered for sale. The final determination of the grades is made by candling.”
legislature.maine.gov · read 2026-10-06
“All advertising of such eggs shall include the correct size and grade designation in describing the eggs and the correct size and grade designation shall appear in clearly legible letters on the container in which such eggs are offered for sale.”
legislature.maine.gov · read 2026-10-06
“The terms "fresh eggs," "strictly fresh eggs," "hennery eggs," "new-laid eggs," "farm fresh eggs," "selected eggs," "quality certified eggs," "nearby eggs," "native eggs" or words or descriptions of similar import shall not be used on any eggs which do not meet the minimum requirements for Maine consumer Grade A.”
legislature.maine.gov · read 2026-10-06
“A person may not sell restricted eggs except that an egg producer or packer may sell restricted eggs on that producer's or packer's premises directly to a household consumer for use by that consumer and members of the consumer's household and the consumer's nonpaying guests and employees.”
7 M.R.S. § 635-A · read 2026-10-06
“"Restricted egg" means any check, dirty egg, incubator reject, inedible, leaker or loss.”
7 M.R.S. § 631 · read 2026-10-06
“"Retail" means selling direct to consumer. … "Wholesale" means selling to retailers.”
7 M.R.S. § 631 · read 2026-10-06
“For the first violation, a forfeiture not to exceed $50; … For each subsequent violation, a forfeiture not to exceed $200.”
7 M.R.S. § 639 · read 2026-10-06
“Data for this page extracted on 10/20/2025 14:32:56.”
7 M.R.S. § 636 · read 2026-10-06
“The Commissioner hereby incorporates by reference as the standards for grading of Maine eggs the U.S. Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs of the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Marketing Service, effective June 30, 1975.”
01-001 C.M.R. ch. 111 · read 2026-10-06
“Can I sell eggs? Yes, small-scale producers may sell eggs directly to consumers, but labeling and handling requirements still apply. Requirements vary depending on your operation.”
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) · read 2026-10-06
“The following establishments are not considered food establishments required to be licensed under section 2167: … Establishments such as farm stands and farmers' markets primarily selling fresh produce not including dairy and meat products;”
22 M.R.S. § 2152(4-A) · read 2026-10-06
What we couldn't confirm
- No primary source read states a refrigeration temperature, carton-reuse rule or required label for exempt direct sales. DACF's farm stand FAQ says 'labeling and handling requirements still apply' without listing them; the 7 M.R.S. § 636(1) exemption removes the grade-and-size label for direct sales. UMaine Extension Bulletin #2218 (2014, 2025; secondary, not quoted) says DACF requires no license or inspection under 3,000 laying hens, lists grade and size, packer name and address, a refrigeration statement and 45°F, and says reused cartons need the USDA shield obliterated. Those points were not found on a DACF or rule page.
- Whether a producer selling eggs to stores, or an egg-only farm stand, needs a state food establishment license under 22 M.R.S. § 2167 is not stated; § 2152(4-A)(D) excludes farm stands and farmers' markets 'primarily selling fresh produce not including dairy and meat products'.
- Maine statute pages are current through October 1, 2025 (First Special Session of the 132nd Legislature). Acts of the 2026 Second Regular Session were checked only by web search; none touching 7 M.R.S. §§ 631-643 was found. Section history for the egg sections ends in 2005.
- DACF's farm stand FAQ PDF carries no date inside; its file name ends 'june26'. The DACF egg grading page covers only voluntary federal/state grading services.
- Local food sovereignty ordinances (out of scope) can change local food licensing in some Maine towns; not checked.
Selling across the state line?
The rules change at the border. Here's where Maine's neighbors draw the line.
Every state, one map
Colored by the small-flock license rule. Tap a state to read it, or compare them all side by side.
Compare every state →
Legal in your state? Then keep the books.
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