Can I sell eggs in Louisiana?

Do I need a license to sell eggs in Louisiana?

The statute says a small flock selling at the farm doesn't. Louisiana requires a license of "every person who produces, processes, distributes, or sells eggs or egg products in Louisiana," except as that part of the law provides otherwise, at $100 a year. The same part says a producer "who has egg production from less than five hundred hens is exempt from the licensing requirements of this Part and from the payment of any assessment if that producer sells his eggs or egg products directly to the consumer from the farm."

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry doesn't say it the same way. Its egg page says: "If you produce, distribute, or process eggs, you must have an Egg Marketing License." Its license rule, amended in November 2025, says every person who produces eggs shall obtain one. Neither mentions the 500-hen exemption. Ask the department's Egg Commission before your first sale.

The license runs September 1 to August 31. A licensee also pays an assessment of 2 cents a case and keeps a record of the eggs it handles.

Source: La. R.S. 3:842, R.S. 3:845, LDAF, Eggs, LAC 7:V.1715 and R.S. 3:841.

How many eggs can I sell without a license in Louisiana?

Louisiana's line is hens, not dozens: the exemption is for a producer with fewer than 500 hens selling directly to the consumer from the farm. The department's grading rules exempt a producer selling their own eggs on their own premises to individuals, and add: "No more than 30 dozen can be sold to one person at one time." The statutes read for this page set no weekly limit.

Federal egg-safety rules start at 3,000 laying hens, for a farm that does not sell all its eggs straight to consumers.

Source: La. R.S. 3:845, LAC 7:V.931 and 21 CFR 118.1.

Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Louisiana?

The sources don't settle it. The statute's exemption is for sales "directly to the consumer from the farm," and the rule's is for sales "on their own premises to individuals." Neither names a farmers market. Off the exemption, the rules hold eggs displayed for sale at 45°F or colder, put the grade and size on the carton, and keep words like "fresh", "farm" and "country" for Grade A eggs.

The state Sanitary Code asks for a permit to run "a food establishment or retail food store/market of any type", its definition of a market names eggs, and a temporary booth takes a permit from the parish health unit. The sources don't say whether a farmer's egg table at a weekly market needs one. Ask the Egg Commission, and the parish health unit, before your first market.

Source: La. R.S. 3:845, LAC 7:V.917, .931 and .937, LAC 51:XXIII and Louisiana Department of Health, Retail Food Program.

Can I sell eggs to a restaurant, a store or someone who resells them in Louisiana?

Selling to a store takes the license. The rule says everyone "engaged in selling shell eggs … to a retailer or manufacturer shall secure a license," and the statute's exemption covers only sales directly to the consumer from the farm. A store may sell eggs marked "unclassified" bought straight from a producer with fewer than 500 hens, and those eggs meet Grade B. The seller gives the store an invoice showing size, quality and the date.

Restaurants are unclear. The grading rules count a restaurant as a consumer, and the license statute doesn't define the word. Ask the Egg Commission before you sell to a restaurant. Selling for resale is beyond what this directory is built for.

Source: LAC 7:V.915 and .919, La. R.S. 3:845 and R.S. 3:836.

Do I need to grade or label my eggs in Louisiana?

Under the grading rules, each carton shows the grade and size, the pack date, the packer's or producer's name and address, the Louisiana license number, and "keep refrigerated at 45F or below." A producer selling their own eggs on their own premises is exempt from those rules, and the sources don't set a separate label for that producer.

Federal rules put the "Safe Handling Instructions" statement on every carton of shell eggs, in a box, on the top, a side panel, or inside the lid. If it is inside the lid, "Keep Refrigerated" goes on the outside. Louisiana's rule asks for the same statement.

The sources don't say whether a carton may be reused. Ask the department.

Source: LAC 7:V.929 and .931 and 21 CFR 101.17(h).

Do eggs have to be refrigerated to sell in Louisiana, and at what temperature?

The department's rule says shell eggs are held "at an ambient temperature of 45F or below at all times when being transported, stored, or displayed for sale." A producer selling their own eggs on their own premises is exempt from those rules, so the sources set no temperature for that sale. Ask the department what it expects.

Federal rules hold shell eggs at a retail establishment at 45°F or colder. A retail establishment is a place that provides food directly to consumers.

Source: LAC 7:V.917 and .931 and 21 CFR 115.50.

Can I sell duck, quail or other eggs in Louisiana?

Louisiana's egg laws are about chicken eggs. Both parts of the statute say "eggs" means "pullet and hen eggs only," and the rules say the same. So the license, the 500-hen exemption and the grading rules don't reach duck or quail eggs, and the sources don't say what does. Ask the department, and the Department of Health.

Source: La. R.S. 3:822, R.S. 3:836 and LAC 7:V.915 and .1701.

Do I have to wash or candle eggs to sell them in Louisiana?

The grading law says anyone offering eggs for sale to anyone but a wholesale dealer "shall first candle all eggs and remove all inedible eggs," and it says producers selling eggs of their own production are exempt from that part. The rules keep eggs below Grade B out of the retail and consuming trade, and exempt a producer's own sales on their own premises.

The statutes and rules read for this page don't mention washing. Ask the department before you sell eggs unwashed or uncandled.

Source: La. R.S. 3:830, R.S. 3:826 and LAC 7:V.919 and .931.