State rules

Can you sell backyard eggs in Wyoming?

Yes. Under the Wyoming Food Freedom Act you can sell eggs to informed end consumers in Wyoming with no license. Restaurants and other licensed food businesses need graded eggs from a licensed egg grader.

Read from 10 official sources31 passages quotedChecked October 7, 2026

At a glance

License

Depends how you sell

Small-flock line

Up to $250,000 in sales a year

Farmers markets

With conditions

Cartons

Reuse allowed

In plain English

Wyoming has no egg law of its own any more (the egg article in Title 35 was repealed in 2000) and no hen-count line. Since July 1, 2023 the Wyoming Food Freedom Act expressly covers eggs: a producer may sell eggs to an 'informed end consumer' (the last buyer, who doesn't resell and has been told the food is not licensed, regulated or inspected) free of state licensing, inspection, packaging and labeling rules. Sales must stay inside Wyoming and happen at a farmers' market, farm, ranch, your home or office, a third-party retail shop or grocery store, or anywhere you and the buyer agree. The Act's 'producer' must produce no more than 250,000 items and $250,000 in gross revenue a year. The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Rule also lets anyone sell ungraded eggs to final consumers under federal exempt-producer rules, with cartons marked 'Ungraded eggs', your name and address, a packing date and 'Keep Refrigerated'. Restaurants, bakeries and other licensed food establishments may not use uninspected eggs: to sell to them you need a WDA food license and egg grader standardization, a suitable egg room, and candled, graded eggs in new cartons held at 45°F.

A sourced reading of Wyoming's rules, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) (307-777-7211) before you sell.

Do you need a license?

Depends on how and how much you sellUp to $250,000 in sales a year
  • Sell to an informed end consumer: the last buyer, who does not resell and has been told the product is not licensed, regulated or inspected.W.S. 11-49-102(a)(v)
  • Tell the buyer the eggs are not certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected; a third-party seller must tell them too.W.S. 11-49-103(e)
  • Be a 'producer': produce on your owned or leased property, no more than 250,000 items and $250,000 in gross revenue a year.W.S. 11-49-102(a)(vi)
  • Sell only in Wyoming, with no interstate commerce.W.S. 11-49-103(c)(iii), (iv)
  • Sell at a farmers' market, farm, ranch, your home or office, a third-party seller's retail location, or anywhere you and the buyer agree; a designated agent or a third-party retail shop or grocery store may sell your eggs.W.S. 11-49-103(c)(i), (vi)
  • A retail space selling your eggs must tell the buyer they are uninspected and display a sign saying so.W.S. 11-49-103(d)
  • Uninspected eggs may not be sold to or used in a commercial food establishment such as a restaurant.W.S. 11-49-103(d)
  • Under the WDA Food Safety Rule, ungraded eggs follow federal exempt-producer rules (7 CFR 57) and the carton is labeled 'Ungraded eggs', with your name and address, a packing date and 'Keep Refrigerated'.Wyo. Food Safety Rule ch. 4, § 7
  • Reused cartons must be clean and in good condition, with all old wording and dates marked out; never a carton with a USDA grade shield.Wyo. Food Safety Rule ch. 4, § 7(c)
The exact wording
“"Producer" means any person who grows, harvests, prepares or processes any food or drink products on the person's owned or leased property, does not produce more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) individual food or drink products annually and does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) in gross revenue annually from the food and drink products;”

Where you can sell

From home or the farm

With conditions

No license for sales to informed end consumers at your farm, ranch or home under the Food Freedom Act (W.S. 11-49-103; 35-7-124(h)). Tell buyers the eggs are uninspected; WDA asks for clean, refrigerated eggs in cartons marked 'Ungraded'.

Farmers markets

With conditions

Farmers' markets are a named Food Freedom Act venue and a producer selling there to informed end consumers is exempt from the food license (W.S. 35-7-124(h)). Inform buyers the eggs are not licensed or inspected.

Stores and restaurants

With conditions

Stores: since July 1, 2023 a third-party retail shop or grocery store may sell your eggs to informed end consumers, with a sign that the food is uninspected (W.S. 11-49-103(c)(i), (d)). Restaurants and other licensed food establishments: not exempt. Uninspected eggs may not be served or used there; selling to them takes a WDA food license, egg grader standardization, an inspected egg room, and candled, graded eggs in new labeled cartons kept at 45°F (Food Safety Rule ch. 15; WDA).

Also check with: Your county or city health department, if it runs food licensing where you sell

Cartons, labels and handling

Cartons

Reused cartons are allowed.

“Only cartons that are clean and in good condition may be reused; … Cartons with a USDA Grade shield shall not be reused; and … All wording and dates on reused cartons shall be completely marked out.”

Refrigeration

“Eggs must be clean and refrigerated.”

The label must show

  • "Ungraded eggs"
  • Name and address of the producer
  • Packing date
  • "Keep Refrigerated"

The carton label maker prints these lines with the federal safe handling statement.

Grading

Ungraded eggs may be sold under the small-producer rules.

“The Wyoming Food Rule and the Wyoming Food Freedom Act allows sales of ungraded eggs consistent with existing USDA regulations and exemptions to the final end consumer, who is not licensed as a retail food facility.”

Washing

No washing rule for ungraded eggs sold to consumers; WDA says they must be clean and refrigerated. Eggs graded for sale to food establishments must be washed, rinsed, sanitized and air-dried (WDA), in wash water of 90°F or more (WDA minimum requirements).

Federal rules apply on top of Wyoming's: the four federal egg rules. Pricing your dozen? The egg price calculator works it out from your feed bill.

What changed recently

  1. 2023-07-01 · Senate File 102 (2023 Wyo. Sess. Laws ch. 96) took effect: the Food Freedom Act now names eggs and dairy products, lets a designated agent or a third-party retail shop or grocery store sell them to informed end consumers, and bars the Department of Agriculture from setting standards for Food Freedom sales stricter than USDA's. Source

Common questions

Do I need a license to sell eggs from my backyard chickens in Wyoming?
Yes. Under the Wyoming Food Freedom Act you can sell eggs to informed end consumers in Wyoming with no license. Restaurants and other licensed food businesses need graded eggs from a licensed egg grader. Small-flock line: up to $250,000 in sales a year. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.
Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Wyoming?
Allowed with conditions. Farmers' markets are a named Food Freedom Act venue and a producer selling there to informed end consumers is exempt from the food license (W.S. 35-7-124(h)). Inform buyers the eggs are not licensed or inspected. Also check with your county or city health department, if it runs food licensing where you sell.
Can I reuse egg cartons in Wyoming?
Yes. The rule reads: "Only cartons that are clean and in good condition may be reused; … Cartons with a USDA Grade shield shall not be reused; and … All wording and dates on reused cartons shall be completely marked out."
What has to be on the carton label in Wyoming?
"Ungraded eggs", Name and address of the producer, Packing date, "Keep Refrigerated". The rule reads: "Any person selling ungraded, uninspected eggs in Wyoming shall: … Label the carton: … Ungraded eggs; … Include the name and address of the exempt producer; and … Include a packing date and the statement “Keep Refrigerated.”" The federal safe handling statement applies as well; our carton label maker prints all of it.
Do eggs I sell in Wyoming have to be refrigerated?
The rule reads: "Eggs must be clean and refrigerated."
Sources
Read the 31 passages this page is built on
  • “Unless otherwise provided in this section, homemade food products produced, sold and consumed in compliance with the Wyoming Food Freedom Act shall be exempt from state licensure, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling requirements.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Be directly between the producer and the informed end consumer, except as otherwise provided by this act. A producer may utilize a designated agent to facilitate a transaction.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “The seller of eggs, dairy products or a homemade food product consisting of non-potentially hazardous food may be the producer of the item, a designated agent of the producer or a third party vendor including a retail shop or grocery store as long as the sale is made in compliance with this act.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Occur only in Wyoming; … Not involve interstate commerce;”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Only occur at farmers markets, farms, ranches, producer's homes or offices, the retail location of the third party seller of non-potentially hazardous foods, eggs and dairy products or any location the producer and the informed end consumer agree to.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Except for raw, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, food shall not be sold or used in any commercial food establishment unless the food has been labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected as required by law. Homemade or uninspected food shall not be served or utilized as an ingredient in a commercial food establishment.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “A retail space selling homemade food under this section shall inform the end consumer that the homemade food has not been inspected and shall display a sign indicating that the homemade food has not been inspected.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “The producer shall inform the end consumer that any food product or food sold at a farmers market or through ranch, farm or home based sales pursuant to this act is not certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected.”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “homemade food producers may sell homemade food and drink products, eggs or dairy products to the maximum extent permitted by federal law. The department of agriculture shall not promulgate any standard for food and health inspection that is applicable to this act that is more stringent than a standard established by the United States department of agriculture”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “"Informed end consumer" means a person who is the last person to purchase any product, who does not resell the product and who has been informed that the product is not licensed, regulated or inspected;”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “"Producer" means any person who grows, harvests, prepares or processes any food or drink products on the person's owned or leased property, does not produce more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) individual food or drink products annually and does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) in gross revenue annually from the food and drink products;”

    W.S. 11-49-101 to 11-49-104 (Wyoming Food Freedom Act) · read 2026-10-07

  • “The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a producer selling food directly to the informed end consumer at a farmers market or through ranch, farm or home based sales pursuant to W.S. 11-49-103.”

    W.S. 35-7-124 · read 2026-10-07

  • “Any person processing, distributing, storing or preparing any food for sale shall obtain a license from the department of agriculture or a local health department. … An agricultural producer shall be exempt from the licensure requirement in this section for processing, distributing, storing or sale of any raw agricultural commodity he produces.”

    W.S. 35-7-124 · read 2026-10-07

  • “ARTICLE 8 - SALE AND LABELING OF EGGS … 35-7-801. Repealed By Laws 2000, Ch. 37, § 4.”

    W.S. 35-7-124 · read 2026-10-07

  • “Effective: 7/1/2023 … Chapter No.: 96 … This act specifies that, in addition to non-potentially hazardous foods, a person may sell eggs and dairy products under the Wyoming Food Freedom Act.”

    wyoleg.gov · read 2026-10-07

  • “specifying that any person may sell eggs or dairy products pursuant to the Wyoming Food Freedom Act … This act is effective July 1, 2023.”

    wyoleg.gov · read 2026-10-07

  • “A person selling ungraded eggs in Wyoming shall follow the requirements for an exempt producer as defined in 7 CFR 57, Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products Inspection Act).”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 4, § 7 (010.0003.4) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Any person selling ungraded, uninspected eggs in Wyoming shall: … Label the carton: … Ungraded eggs; … Include the name and address of the exempt producer; and … Include a packing date and the statement “Keep Refrigerated.””

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 4, § 7 (010.0003.4) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Only cartons that are clean and in good condition may be reused; … Cartons with a USDA Grade shield shall not be reused; and … All wording and dates on reused cartons shall be completely marked out.”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 4, § 7 (010.0003.4) · read 2026-10-07

  • “In order to candle and grade eggs for sales to establishments, a license shall be applied for in accordance with Chapter 2, Section 2, (a) (ii) of this Rule.”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 15 (010.0003.15) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Effective Date: 12/10/2012 to Current”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 15 (010.0003.15) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Checked shell eggs shall not be sold on or off premises to: … Food establishments subject to licensing by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, including but not limited to, bakeries, restaurants, cafes, drive-ins, and food processing plants”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 15 (010.0003.15) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Any person candling eggs in the state of Wyoming shall be licensed according to Chapter 2, Section 2, and standardized by the department of agriculture”

    Wyoming Food Safety Rule, ch. 2, § 2 · read 2026-10-07

  • “To sell eggs to licensed retail food facilities including but not limited to bakeries, restaurants, and other food processors you are required to obtain an Egg Grader Standardization, meet the minimum facility requirements, meet certain grading and weight requirements, and be inspected by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture as outlined in Chapter 15 of the Wyoming Food Safety Rule.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “The Wyoming Food Rule and the Wyoming Food Freedom Act allows sales of ungraded eggs consistent with existing USDA regulations and exemptions to the final end consumer, who is not licensed as a retail food facility.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Eggs must be clean and refrigerated. If desired, re-used cartons that are clean and in good condition may be used.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “The carton should be labeled with the following: … Name and address of the grower … Packaging date … Labeled “Ungraded” … Labeled “Keep Refrigerated” … Ungraded eggs cannot use cartons that contain the USDA shield, even if it is marked out.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “Cleaning: Eggs must be washed, rinsed, sanitized, and air-dried. … Candling and Grading: All eggs must be candled and graded. … Refrigeration: Eggs must be refrigerated at 45 degrees F or less after grading and be maintained at that temperature during storage and transportation.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “A food license from Consumer Health Services is required prior to beginning candling and grading of eggs for sale.”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “CONSUMER HEALTH SERVICES 307 777-7211”

    Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) · read 2026-10-07

  • “DRAFT ONLY … NOT APPROVED FOR … INTRODUCTION … Wyoming Food Freedom Act amendments. … use of homemade or uninspected food as an ingredient in”

    wyoleg.gov · read 2026-10-07

What we couldn't confirm
  • The Food Freedom Act exempts Food Freedom sales from state 'packaging and labeling requirements' (W.S. 11-49-103(b)), while the Food Safety Rule (ch. 4, § 7, effective 2012) and WDA's 2022 brochure call for 'Ungraded eggs', name and address, packing date and 'Keep Refrigerated' on every ungraded carton. Which applies to a Food Freedom egg sale is not stated; this record lists the label as a WDA condition.
  • WDA's brochure (April 2022) predates the 2023 amendment and says ungraded eggs go to a final consumer 'who is not licensed as a retail food facility'; the statute now lets a retail shop or grocery store sell Food Freedom eggs to informed end consumers. No WDA page reflecting the 2023 change for eggs was found.
  • No state refrigeration temperature applies to ungraded eggs sold to consumers in the sources read; WDA says only 'clean and refrigerated'. 45°F applies to graded eggs and to eggs received by food establishments (Food Safety Rule ch. 3). The federal 7 CFR 57 exempt-producer rules that ch. 4, § 7 points to were not read.
  • W.S. 35-7-124(a) separately exempts an agricultural producer selling 'any raw agricultural commodity he produces' from the food license; whether WDA treats shell eggs as a raw agricultural commodity was not found.
  • Statutes were read from the Legislature's title PDFs created May 8, 2026 (after the 2026 session). 2025 SF 120 amended the Act for meat sales (not eggs). A 2027 working draft (27LSO-0046, 'not approved for introduction') would let commercial food establishments use homemade or uninspected food as an ingredient; it has not passed.
  • The rules.wyo.gov download links carry a session token and may not open directly; the rule pages were saved on 2026-10-07 (ch. 2, 3, 4 and 15 all effective 12/10/2012).

Selling across the state line?

The rules change at the border. Here's where Wyoming's neighbors draw the line.

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

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