Cottage food credentials nearly tripled since 2020, outpacing health clubs and skilled trades in Connecticut’s licensing growth.
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Connecticut's home-based food business industry has nearly tripled since 2020, leading all licensed industries in growth as demand also climbed for health clubs and skilled trades, according to a new report from the state Department of Consumer Protection.
The department's 2025 Licensing Report found that cottage food operator credentials increased 191% between 2020 and 2025, the largest gain among the 130 credential types overseen by DCP.
Health club credentials rose 180%, while heating and cooling licenses increased 71%, electricians 68% and plumbers 64%.
The growth in home-based food businesses follows the launch of Connecticut's Cottage Food Program in 2018, which allows entrepreneurs to prepare certain low-risk foods, such as baked goods, in their homes for direct sale to consumers.
Meanwhile, several industries saw declining credential volumes over the five-year period. TV and radio service dealers experienced the steepest drop, down 51%, followed by home heating dealers (-33%), real estate brokers and salespeople (-30%), gas stations (-27%) and food manufacturers (-17%).
Overall, DCP's License Services Division issues more than 260,000 licenses, permits and registrations annually across Connecticut, the agency said. Occupational trades account for the largest share of active credentials with 41,908, followed by home improvement and new home construction (29,331), real estate (27,119) and accountancy (24,790).
In 2025, the division processed 38,271 new applications and 197,312 renewal applications, DCP said. Since shifting most credentials to digital certification beginning in 2015, the state estimates it has saved more than $1 million while speeding approvals, the agency said.
