Share Legal New Jersey Farm Operations Forms For Free

Producers needs to apply for a permit and take a food safety manager's training course, which costs about $200 total. The permit must be renewed every two years. New Jersey's journey to a cottage food law was long and complicated. See the resources section of this page to learn the whole story.

The Right to Farm Act was passed by the State Legislature in 1983. Its purpose was to promote the continuation of agriculture in the State of New Jersey while recognizing the potential conflicts among all lawful activities in the State.

Farmland Tax Assessment in NJ allows land actively devoted to an agricultural or horticultural use to be taxed on its farm value instead of its development value. All land qualifying for farmland assessment must meet a minimum income threshold from the sale of the agricultural output of the farm.

Additional Land Requirements: Additional Land Requirements: To be eligible for Farmland Assessment, land actively devoted to an agricultural or horticultural use must have not less than 5 acres devoted to the production of crops; livestock or their products; and/or forest products under a woodland management plan.

The land must consist of at least 5 contiguous acres being farmed or maintained under a so-called woodland management plan. Land under and adjoining a farmhouse is not counted in the 5-acre minimum area needed to qualify. Gross sales of products from the land must average at least $1,000 per year for the first 5 acres.

New Jersey cottage food producers must register on the state health department's website, pay $100 for a two-year permit, obtain a food protection manager certificate, and provide a copy of the most recent water bill for the location of the cottage food kitchen.