Are Honor System Porch Food Sales Legal In Texas?

It's a cute idea: bake up a bunch of your famous cinnamon rolls and some cookies, wrap them up, post online, and let folks come buy them as they please- because people are generally honest and you have a porch camera. But is it legal?

Read More: Texas Cottage Food Laws: Start Your Home Baking Business

Texas Cottage Laws Are Clear: Honor Systems Are Out of Bounds

So, I'm certainly not going to snitch on you, but honor-system food sales are not legal under Texas Cottage Laws. While the laws permit the sale of baked goods, canned goods, and a few other "cottage" goods, there is a clear stipulation: the sales must be made face-to-face. Or at least pre-arranged.

While a pre-paid CFPO may be left on a porch awaiting pick-up by arrangement with the customer, the CFPO may not set out unpurchased foods in an unattended market setting for self-service for the purpose of an honor system-type of sale.

Read More: Wolfforth Farmers Market Makes Amazing Offer To Sunday Vendors

Why Honor System Sales May Be A Bad Idea Anyway

It only takes one dishonest person to wipe out the entire inventory without paying a dime. Even on camera, it's difficult to find the person who would do this and actually have charges brought against them- you may have had this problem with packages on your porch- why not your freshly-baked sourdough bread?

From a consumer perspective, it's better if you can ask questions about the product (although common allergens and all ingredients should be labelled on the product per cottage law). What happens if you honor-system purchase something and then get sick? Accountability goes both ways.

My Favorite Cottage Cutie

Chef Kate Diel sells donuts and other pastries from her home kitchen. She posts menus weekly, and if you're interested, you just shoot her a message to arrange for it. When I pull up, she delivers the items to me, and I pay her. It doesn't take long, and I love the personal connection with her- she gets to see the hearts in my eyes when I see her gorgeous little works of culinary art. It follows cottage law and keeps me coming back.