Cottage Food Laws in Minnesota
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Yes. In Minnesota you can make and sell shelf-stable homemade foods, like baked goods, certain jams and jellies, and acidic home-canned pickles, without a food license, as long as your sales stay at or under $78,000 a year. You must complete a training course and register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before you sell, and register again every year; registration is free if you sell $7,665 or less a year and $50 above that. You must get the food to customers in person (from home, at a farmers market or community event, or by delivering it yourself), and you cannot ship food for people until the law changes on August 1, 2027 (and then only within Minnesota).[1][4][3]
At a glance
| Permit needed | No food license, but a yearly registration with MDA for anyone who sells regularly[3][4] |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free if you sell $7,665 or less a year (Tier 1); $50 a year if you sell more (Tier 2)[4][1] |
| Sales cap | $78,000 a year in gross sales[1] |
| Training | Tier 1: a free MDA online course and exam every year. Tier 2: an approved food safety course every three years.[4][1] |
| Label statement | "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."[1] |
| Where you can sell | From your home (if local rules allow), at farmers markets and community events. Not in stores or to businesses for resale.[1][4] |
| Online and shipping | You can sell online, but you must hand over or deliver the food yourself. No shipping of food for people until August 1, 2027, and then only within Minnesota.[1][4] |
| Agency | Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)[4] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Check that your food and your home qualify
Only foods that do not let germs grow quickly qualify (MDA calls them "non-potentially hazardous"): foods that are acidic (pH 4.6 or lower) or dry or sugary enough (water activity 0.85 or less), such as baked goods and certain jams and jellies, plus home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits that meet those limits. Also check that your city, county or township does not ban home food sales through zoning.[3][4]
Take the training for your tier
If you expect to sell $7,665 or less a year (Tier 1), take MDA's free online training and exam, every year. If you expect to sell more (Tier 2), take an approved food safety course through University of Minnesota Extension, online or in person, every three years, and again if you move up from Tier 1 to Tier 2. The Tier 2 course charges a fee. A food manager certificate does not count: the training must be specific to the Cottage Food Law.[3][4][1]
Register with MDA
Apply online through MDA's licensing portal (choose "Cottage Foods Producer Registration"). You will need your name, address, and Social Security number or Minnesota tax ID, and you sign the form to confirm you took the training. If you don't have a computer, you can ask for a paper form by calling 651-201-6062. MDA mails you a card with your registration number; you may sell once you appear in MDA's online license search. Paying the $50 Tier 2 fee online adds a $2.50 processing fee.[3][4]
Label every item and put up a sign
Each label needs your name (or business name), your registration number or address, the date the food was made, the ingredients including any major allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." A QR code cannot replace any of this. Show the same statement on a sign where you sell, and on your website if you sell online.[1][4]
Sell directly to your customers
Sell from your home, at a farmers market or at a community event, or deliver orders yourself within Minnesota. Carry your registration card when selling; an inspector or market manager may ask to see it. Keep yearly sales at or under $78,000.[4]
Renew every year
Registrations expire on March 31. Register again by April 1 to keep selling, either on paper or online using the PIN on the renewal notice MDA mails you about six weeks before. Tier 1 sellers must retake the free online training and exam before renewing. The fee is the same each year: free for Tier 1, $50 for Tier 2. If you moved or changed your name, fill in a new registration form instead.[4][3]
What you can and can't sell[4][1][3]
Allowed
- Baked goods that are shelf-stable (dairy and eggs baked in are fine if the finished food is dry enough)
- Certain jams and jellies (acidic or sugary enough to be shelf-stable)
- Home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits with a pH of 4.6 or lower (made and sold in Minnesota only)
- Baked or dehydrated treats for dogs and cats
Not allowed
- Meat, jerky, pickled eggs and charcuterie boards with meat or cheese
- Dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, cream cheese and ghee
- Chocolate-covered fruit
- Tamales, egg rolls and other "potentially hazardous" foods that let germs grow quickly
- Anything containing THC or CBD
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- All Minnesota cities, counties and townships: The state law does not override local business licenses, health rules or zoning. If your city or county bans making or selling food at home, you must follow that ban, though you may be able to use a commercial kitchen instead. Ask your city or county before you start.[1][4]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Register with MDA | $0 to $50 (Free for Tier 1 ($7,665 or less in sales); $50 for Tier 2. Paid every year.) |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $0 to $50 |
Recent changes
- : Coming change (passed in 2025, not yet in effect): one registration tier with a $30 yearly fee for everyone, the same advanced training for all, shipping and mail delivery allowed within Minnesota, and the $78,000 cap adjusted for inflation every two years. Only individuals, sole proprietors and LLCs owned by one person, or by two people living at the same home, can register; anyone who holds a state food handler license under Minnesota Statutes section 28A.04 cannot.[2][4]
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship my cookies to customers?
Not yet. Until August 1, 2027, food for people must be handed over in person or delivered by you; it cannot go by mail or a shipping company. From August 1, 2027, shipping within Minnesota will be allowed. Pet treats can already be shipped.[4]
Can I sell my baked goods in a coffee shop or store?
No. Cottage food cannot be sold from a store, even at your own table, unless a farmers market or community event is taking place there. Selling to a business for resale needs a food license, and the food must be made and stored in an approved facility, not a home kitchen.[4]
Do I need to register if I only sell at a church or school bake sale?
Not if you don't sell food regularly. If you regularly sell at these events or from home, you must register.[4]
Can I sell cheesecake, cream cheese frosting or jerky?
No. Meat and dairy products count as potentially hazardous and are not allowed, and that includes cream cheese. Butter, milk and eggs are fine as ingredients in baked goods that end up dry enough to be shelf-stable.[4]
Can I hand out free samples?
Yes, at farmers markets and community events. Samples must be free, no more than 3 ounces, and you need a sign listing the ingredients and major allergens. You need a handwashing station if you handle open food.[4]
Can I register as an LLC?
Yes. You can run your cottage food business as any business entity Minnesota law recognizes. From August 1, 2027, only sole proprietors and LLCs owned by one person, or by two people living at the same home, will qualify.[1][2]
Will MDA inspect my kitchen?
MDA's inspectors may check your registration at markets and events. If your food is suspected of making someone sick, MDA will investigate, which may include inspecting where the food was made. MDA also investigates complaints, which can lead to an inspection, a written notice, penalties or prosecution, and it has the authority to enter any place where food is made or stored at reasonable times.[4]
Do I have to pay sales tax?
Your sales are subject to income tax and may be subject to sales tax. Ask the Minnesota Department of Revenue at 651-556-3000.[3]
Sources
- Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152: Cottage Foods Exemption, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Checked October 25, 2026. This is the 2024 edition, which is the law in force until 2027-08-01. The current 2025 edition (revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/28A.152) prints the 2025 amendments that do not take effect until 2027-08-01.
- Laws of Minnesota 2025, chapter 34 (agriculture), article 5, sections 14-19, Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Cottage Food Producer Registration, Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Cottage Food Law Guidance, Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Checked October 25, 2026.
Related
- Cottage Food Laws in Iowa
- Cottage Food Laws in North Dakota
- Cottage Food Laws in South Dakota
- Cottage Food Laws in Wisconsin
- Cottage Food Laws by State
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change. Before you apply or start selling, confirm the details with Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.