Cottage Food Laws in Missouri
Last verified against official sources on by Amrit. How we verify
Yes, but only three kinds of food. In Missouri you can make baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes in your home kitchen and sell them directly to customers, with no food permit or license, no routine inspection and no limit on how much you earn. The law describes food made for sale at your home, and it also allows online sales, but only to buyers in Missouri. Every item needs a label with your name and address and a statement that the food was not inspected.[1][2]
At a glance
| Permit needed | No. There is no food permit or license for cottage food.[2] |
|---|---|
| Fee | None, because there is no food permit or license to pay for[2] |
| Sales cap | None. The old $50,000 limit was removed in 2022.[2] |
| Foods allowed | Only baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes that don't need refrigeration or other temperature control to stay safe[2] |
| Labels | Name and address, food name, ingredients, net weight, allergens, and a statement that the kitchen is not inspected[1][2] |
| Who can sell | You, or a member of your household who knows the product well, directly to the customer. No wholesale to shops.[2] |
| Online sales | Allowed, but only when you and the buyer are both in Missouri. No sales across state lines.[1][2] |
| Agency | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), or your local public health agency for questions[2] |
Step by step
Do these in order. Each step links to the official form or page.
Check that your food is allowed
Only three kinds of food count: baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes. They must be "non-potentially hazardous", meaning they stay safe without refrigeration or other temperature control. Cream and meringue pies, no-sugar-added, sugar-free and hot pepper jams, salsa, pickles and sauces are not allowed. If your food isn't on the list, ask your local public health agency what you need instead.[2][1]
Make the food in your own home kitchen
Cook in your primary home, using a normal home kitchen and appliances. You don't need a commercial kitchen, and your local health department cannot regulate how you make the food.[1]
Label every item
The label must be easy to read and show: your full name and address, the common name of the food, all ingredients in order of weight (most first), the net weight, any allergens, and a statement that the food was made in a kitchen not inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.[2][1]
Sell directly to your customers
You, or a household member who knows the product well, sell straight to the end customer, so you can answer their questions. The law describes food made for sale at your home. Selling to shops or restaurants for resale is wholesale and is not covered. Online sales are fine when you and the buyer are both in Missouri.[1][2]
What you can and can't sell[1][2]
Allowed
- Baked goods such as cookies, cakes, breads, danish, donuts, pastries and pies (not cream or meringue pies)
- Canned jams and jellies (not no-sugar-added, sugar-free or hot pepper ones)
- Dried herbs and dried herb mixes
Not allowed
- Any food that needs refrigeration to stay safe
- Baked goods garnished with fresh fruit
- No-sugar-added, sugar-free and hot pepper jams and jellies
- Salsa, pickles and sauces such as BBQ or hot sauce
- Freeze-dried foods
- Cut produce, sprouts and wild mushrooms
- Meat, dairy and eggs
- Pet foods and treats
- Marijuana-infused products
Local rules
These places add their own requirements on top of the state rules.
- All Missouri local health departments: They cannot regulate how you make cottage food, but they keep a record of complaints and can still investigate a food-borne illness or outbreak.[1]
- Counties and cities that allow the food code stand exemption: Some local health agencies also let you sell other low-risk foods, such as fruit butters, sorghum, cracked nuts, spice mixes and dry soup mixes, from a stand without inspection. This is a separate exemption, not the cottage food law. It needs a label and a visible sign at the stand saying the kitchen is not inspected. Ask your local public health agency whether it applies where you live.[2]
What it costs
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sell directly to your customers | Free |
| Total if every fee applies to you | $0 |
Recent changes
- : HB 1697 took effect. It removed the $50,000 yearly sales cap and allowed online sales when the seller and buyer are both in Missouri.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell cottage food online or ship it to other states?
You can sell online to buyers in Missouri. You cannot sell across state lines.[1][2]
Can I sell at a farmers market or from a stand?
The cottage food law describes food made for sale at your home, plus online sales within Missouri. It does not mention farmers markets, and DHSS guidance does not say they are covered. For selling from a stand or a mobile setup, DHSS points to a separate Missouri Food Code exemption that applies only where local laws allow it, and it needs a label and a clearly visible sign saying the kitchen is not inspected. Ask your local public health agency.[1][2]
Can I sell my baked goods to a coffee shop or store?
Not under the cottage food law. Selling to a business that resells your food is wholesale, and wholesale producers must be inspected by the DHSS Manufactured Food program.[2]
Can I sell salsa, pickles or BBQ sauce?
No. These are acidified or low-acid canned foods that can carry botulism if made wrong, so they must be made in an inspected facility.[2]
Can I use Splenda or another sugar substitute in my jam?
Not under the cottage food law. DHSS says no-sugar-added and sugar-free jams and jellies cannot be sold as cottage food, because sugar substitutes can change the jam's acidity (pH) or free moisture (water activity) and make it unsafe at room temperature. A jam made with a substitute has to be tested for pH and water activity, and you must contact your local public health agency for guidance.[2]
Can I sell freeze-dried candy?
Not under the cottage food law. Freeze-dried foods that don't need temperature control, such as candy, may be allowed under a separate Missouri Food Code exemption, but only where local laws allow it, and your local public health agency decides. Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables must be made in an approved, inspected facility.[2]
Will the health department inspect my kitchen?
Not routinely. Cottage food is made without routine inspection, but health departments keep a record of complaints and can investigate a food-borne illness or outbreak.[2][1]
Is there a limit on how much I can earn?
No. Missouri removed its $50,000 cap in 2022.[2]
Sources
- RSMo Section 196.298: cottage food production operations, Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Missouri Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (August 2023), Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Checked October 25, 2026.
Related
- Cottage Food Laws in Arkansas
- Cottage Food Laws in Illinois
- Cottage Food Laws in Iowa
- Cottage Food Laws in Kansas
- Cottage Food Laws in Kentucky
- Cottage Food Laws in Nebraska
- Cottage Food Laws in Oklahoma
- Cottage Food Laws in Tennessee
- 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 Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) or your local health department. Spotted something wrong or out of date?Report it and we will check it.