Selling Compost and Worm Castings From Home: Registration, Labels and Claims
Bagged compost and worm castings sell well at farmers markets and garden centers, and the startup cost is low: a corner of the yard, some bins and a lot of patience. What surprises many first-time sellers is that compost is regulated in most states. Before you print labels, it helps to know how.
Compost can count as a fertilizer or a soil amendment
According to a BioCycle overview published in October 2025, 48 states have fertilizer laws and 38 have soil amendment laws. Almost all compost is registered as a soil amendment, while composted manure is often treated as a fertilizer. Which category applies depends mostly on what you say about the product.
Claims about nutrients generally call for fertilizer registration. Claims about improving soil generally call for soil amendment registration where a state has that law. Some states allow unregistered product to be sold if you make neither kind of claim, and a few exempt compost altogether. A few states may want both registrations.
What registration can cost
BioCycle reports that product registration runs from $0 to $200 per product in different states, and that most states that charge a fee charge $125 or less. Some states also charge an inspection fee per ton sold, from nothing up to about $1.00 per ton. These are estimates as of October 2025, so confirm current amounts with your state.
What goes on the label
Expect to include the net weight or volume, a product name, your contact information, directions for use, and a statement of what the product contains. Fertilizer-registered products also need a guaranteed nutrient analysis. Be careful with words like “fertilizer” and “nutrients” on a bag that is not registered as a fertilizer. Lab reports can also be treated as labels, so share them thoughtfully.
Your next steps
- Search for your state department of agriculture’s “fertilizer” or “soil amendment” program page, and call or email the control official there.
- Decide what claims you want to make, then choose the registration that fits.
- Get a lab analysis if your state or your customers ask for one.
- Check your state’s sales tax rules for bagged soil products.
Staff interpretations vary from state to state, which is why a short phone call is worth the time. Rules differ by state and sometimes by city, so this is general information, not legal advice.
Safety and sales basics
Bagged compost is heavy and dusty. Wear a dust mask and gloves when screening or bagging, lift with your legs, and use a hand truck. Keep piles away from the garage wall and wash up before handling food.
For pricing, fold in bags, labels, registration and your time. Our guide on pricing handmade products shows a simple formula that works here too.
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