Best States to Start Your Homestead! -

So you want to start a homestead. Or maybe you’ve already started the journey but want to take the next steps in a big dream! This is great news! Being a homesteader is a lifelong journey, but a journey worth going on. The good news is that you can homestead anywhere. No matter where you are right now, you can start. And I’d strongly encourage you to do so! But for those looking for their perfect slice to call home, or just in that dreaming stage, I compiled a list of some good homesteading info for each state all together in one place so you don’t have to look up several different things at once! Of course, there’s much more to consider, and things vary by county and town. But I still think this recourse can be a good starting place for your searches! Down below I will link where I found this info if you wish to dive deeper !

State:	Avg. Cost of Land Per Acre:	Safety Based on Natural Disasters:	Safety Based on Homicide Rates:	Homeschooling Regulations:	Rainwater Harvest Regulations(State Level):	Raw Milk Regulations:	Spring Avg Temp: (F)	Summer Avg Temp: (F)	Autumn Avg Temp:(F)	Winter Avg Temp:(F)	Cottage Food Laws:
Alabama	$18,100	43rd	24th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	No Laws on Herdshares	55-60	75-80	60-65	45-50	-Allows online shipping -Unlimited annual sales -Need to take a basic safety course
Alaska	$62,200	18th	10th	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	20-25	50-55	25-30	0-10	-Only sell in person -No more than 25,000 annually -Has to have a business license
Arizona	$4,200	32nd	36th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Other	55-60	75-80	60-65	40-45	-Required to register with the state(free) -Safety course -Can sell anywhere in state including grocery stores
Arkansas	$11,600	36th	30th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sale Legal	60-65	75-80	55-60	40-45	-Can sell anywhere even in other states -No annual limits or permits
California	$20,000	50th	50th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	55-60	70-75	60-65	45-50	-Requires special permits that differ by county
Colorado	$11,600	42nd	31st	Low Regulation	Very Limited	Herdshares Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	25-30	-No license required -Limits differ by individual food -Direct sales only
Connecticut	$282,900	4th	20th	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	45-50	65-70	50-55	25-30	-$50 license -$15 food safety course -Home inspection -Sales can not exceed $25,000 and it must be a pre-approved list.
Delaware	$175,600	1st	12th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	No Laws on Herdshares	50-55	70-75	55-60	35-40	-Extensive application process -Non-perishable food up to $25,000 annually
Florida	$34,900	46th	48th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Pet Food Sales Legal	65-70	80-85	70-75	55-60	-No license or training required -All foods must be nonperishable -No indirect sales -Up to $250,000 annually
Georgia	$30,000	29th	37th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sale Legal	60-65	75-80	60-65	45-50	-Business license -Special training -Formal application -Home inspection -No sale limits
Hawaii	$202,400	11th	8th	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	No Laws on Herdshares	65-70	70-75	70-75	65-70	-Safety course required -No permit -No limit -In-person sales only
Idaho	$62,500	9th	9th	Lowest Regulation	State Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	40-45	60-65	40-45	25-30	-No special permits or requirements -Low-risk food only -Can be sold from home, online, or select events
Illinois	$29,300	24th	46th	Lowest Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legel	50-55	70-75	50-55	25-30	-Run through local health departments so rules vary
Indiana	$43,800	14th	34th	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Pet Food Sales Legal	50-55	70-75	50-55	25-30	-No license or fees -No limits -Roadside stands and farmers markets only
Iowa	$51,100	26th	17th	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	No Law On Herdshares	45-50	70-75	45-50	20-25	-Splits cottage food from home bakeries -For cottage foods, no license or limit -Must be non perishable and labeled
Kansas	$26,900	35th	14th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	50-55	75-80	55-60	30-35	– No clear rules or limitations -If selling at a farmers market or food establishment you will need a license
Kentucky	$21,400	39th	27th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	No Law On Herdshares	55-60	70-75	55-60	35-40	-Has to register with the health department -Limit of $50,000 annually -Only direct sales to customers
Louisianna	$26,800	41st	41st	Low Regulation	No Regulations	No Law On Herdshares	65-70	80-85	65-70	50-55	-Special regulation for baked goods -Nonperishable items can be sold anywhere in the state -$20,000 limit annually
Maine	$45,400	19th	4th	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	35-40	60-65	40-45	15-20	-State level requires license and kitchen inspection but allows each local government to override those rules so it differs from town to town. -No limit -Can sell in person, online, in stores, restaurants, wholesale, and more.
Maryland	$106,200	6th	35th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Pet Food Sales Legal	50-55	70-75	55-60	30-35	– No permits or training -Can sell just about anywhere -Annual limit of $25,000
Massachusetts	$333,200	13th	21st	High Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	45-50	65-70	50-55	25-30	-Considers residential kitchens to be food establishments so they have the same rules as commercial kitchens
Michigan	$18,300	8th	42nd	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Herdshares Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	20-25	– No license or inspections -Only direct sales -$25,000 annual limit
Minnesota	$47,400	23rd	23rd	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	65-70	40-45	10-15	-Separates by how much money the producer makes – Less than $5,000 everything is free, more you have to take a safety course -Limit of $78,000 annually
Mississippi	$10,800	37th	25th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	60-65	75-80	60-65	45-50	-No licenses or classes -$35,000 annual limit
Missouri	$14,100	34th	45th	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	50-55	75-80	55-60	30-35	-Very restrictive food list -Direct sales only -Annual limit of $50,000
Montana	$28,900	31st	11th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	60-65	40-45	20-25	-No license, or class -Can’t sell meat products -Customers must be informed food is homemade
Nebraska	$49,800	25th	13th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	45-50	70-75	45-50	25-30	-Food safety course required -Can be sold across state
Nevada	$59,900	38th	22nd	Low Regulation	Very Limited	Other	45-50	65-70	50-55	30-35	-Must register with the appropriate health district -In-person sales only -Annual limit of $35,000
New Hampshire	$165,100	15th	1st	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sale Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	20-25	-Sales to farmers markets or from home require no license or course but selling outside of this does require licensing and inspections. -Annual limit of $20,000
New Jersey	$242,900	16th	32nd	Lowest Regulation	No Regulations	Cannot Be Obtained Legally	50-55	70-75	50-55	30-35	-Annual limit of $50,000 -List of pre-approved foods but can get permission for not approved foods
New Mexico	$6,000	44th	19th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	50-55	70-75	50-55	35-40	-Unrestricted direct sales -Local governments can add extra requirements but cant overrule general accessibility set by the state.
New York	$12,000	45th	43rd	High Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	20-25	-Registration is handled by the AG department -No fees -No sale limits -Allow sales anywhere including stores
North Carolina	$20,300	22nd	47th	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	Herdshares Legal	55-60	75-80	60-65	40-45	-No specific cottage food laws so becomes complicated due to federal law.
North Dakota	$46,100	20th	6th	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	Herdshares Legal	40-45	65-70	40-45	10-15	-Allows the sale of any non-meat food -No license or course -No limit
Ohio	$69,600	17th	44th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Herdshares Legal	45-50	70-75	50-55	25-30	-No required licensing but sales are very limited -Producers have to get approved for wholesale operations
Oklahoma	$19,600	48th	28th	Lowest Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	55-60	75-80	60-65	35-40	-Food safety course -Annual limit of $75,000 -Allows interstate sales
Oregon	$16,200	40th	18th	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	45-50	60-65	45-50	30-35	-Limited to $20,000 annually -Has a Domestic Kitchen License and a Farm Direct Bill and if you qualify there are different regulations with no sale limits.
Pennsylvania	$42,500	21st	26th	High Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	45-50	65-70	50-55	25-30	-The AG department controls the regulations -Registration fee
Rhode Island	$350,400	2nd	5th	High Regulation	No Regulations	No Laws On Herdshares	45-50	65-70	50-55	25-30	-Only allows home food production for farmers -Cannot exceed $2,500 annually
South Carolina	$22,100	3rd	39th	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	60-65	75-80	60-65	45-50	-No licensing or safety courses required -No sales limit -Direct sales only -Only allows baked goods and candies
South Dakota	$77,400	28th	7th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	15-20	-Products have to be tested before sold -No licensing, courses, or limits
Tennesse	$22,700	33rd	40th	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Herdshares Legal	55-60	75-80	55-60	35-40	-Home Kitchens and Domestic kitchens are classified differently -Home kitchens can operate without a license and do indirect sales -Domestic kitchens must have a license and inspection and only sell up to 100 units each week.
Texas	$29,800	49th	49th	Lowest Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	65-70	80-85	65-70	45-50	-Annual limit of $50,000 -Direct sales only -Can sell anywhere in the state, online, and deliveries -Allows frozen produce
Utah	$195,900	7th	15th	Low Regulation	State Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	45-50	65-70	45-50	25-30	-Can sell from home and approved locations
Vermont	$62,300	10th	2nd	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	15-20	-Cottage food kitchens and home bakeries are regulated differently
Virginia	$23,900	27th	38th	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	No Laws On Herdshares	50-55	70-75	55-60	35-40	– No license or inspection to get started -Offer home food processing license to do more food
Washington	$80,400	47th	29th	Moderate Regulation	State Regulations	Retail Store Sales Legal	45-50	60-65	45-50	30-35	-Annual limit of $25,000 -Requires getting permits
West Virginia	$44,800	30th	16th	Moderate Regulation	No Regulations	Herdshares Legal	50-55	70-75	50-55	30-35	-Can produce any nonperishable food -Legally can not be inspected by the government -Can sell with almost no restriction
Wisconsin	$25,200	12th	33rd	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	65-70	45-50	15-20	-Two regulations, one for home canning and one for home bakeries
Wyoming	$54,000	5th	3rd	Low Regulation	No Regulations	Farm-to-Consumer Sales Legal	40-45	60-65	40-45	20-25	-Annual limit of $250,000 -Can be sold anywhere -Any nonmeat product with some exception for meat