Cottage Food Law Guidance

All individuals who want to make and sell foods described in the Cottage Food Law need to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling food.

If you’re not regularly engaged in selling food, as defined in Minnesota Statute, then you don’t need to register. However, if you regularly sell cottage food at these types of venues or directly from your home, then you do need to register.

The cost of registration is determined by annual sales within the calendar year, which begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The registration fee is $50 if you sell more than $7,665 in a year. If you sell $7,665 or less in a year, there is no fee.

See answer in Question 17 below. Note that the maximum amount of annual sales allowed under the Cottage Food Law is $78,000 for an individual.

Your registration expires on December 31 of the year it was issued. If you want to continue to sell food under the Cottage Food Law, you will need to re-register for each year that you are selling food.

Yes, you must complete training and pass an exam prior to registering and selling cottage food. For more information on training, see the Training section below.

You must comply with the ordinance and cannot produce and sell food from your home. Depending on the ordinance, it may be possible to make and sell food as a registered cottage food producer at an acceptable location such as a commercial kitchen. If you have a question about this, check with your city or county.

An individual who qualifies for a cottage food exemption may organize the individual's cottage food business as a business entity recognized by Minnesota state law. More information on legal Minnesota business entity structures can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State Office website.

Yes. You can only register and sell food under the Cottage Food Law if you are selling a type of food allowed under law, have taken the proper training, are properly labeling the food, are selling and delivering the food directly to consumers in places allowed by the law, are not exceeding the $78,000 annual sales cap, and your local jurisdiction (city or county) does not have an ordinance restricting you to make and sell food from your home. Each of these topics are further explained in the sections below.

You can apply for a food license. Food licenses do not have restrictions on the amount of annual sales, allow for a wide variety of foods to be sold, and allow for several types of sales. To find out more, go to the MDA Food Licensing Wizard.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will send you a registration card in the mail with a unique registration number. Post the registration card in a location visible to customers where you are selling your food or have it with you and make it available upon request.

• You may check the status of your registration in the MDA's Licensing Information Search. 
• Once you are listed you can sell your cottage food items.
• It may take up to 30 days for your registration to be processed and displayed in the online system. Registrations are mailed within one week of processing. 

Some resources that cottage food producers find helpful are:

• Minnesota Cottage Food Producers Association
• University of Minnesota Extension - For Food Entrepreneurs
• Minnesota Farmers' Market Association
• Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

Visit the MDA Cottage Food Producer Registration page for a step-by-step process on how to register.

You will need to provide your full name, address, and contact information. You will also need to provide your social security number or a Minnesota Tax ID number. You may also include your cottage food business name (if you are operating as a DBA or other legal Minnesota business entity). Finally, you will need to sign and date the registration form attesting that you have taken the training and understand and will follow the Cottage Food Law.

Keep your registration with you when selling food. An inspector or market manager may ask to see it and you need to show your registration when asked. If the registration cannot be verified, you may be asked to stop selling food.

All current cottage food registrations can be found on our MDA license lookup page. Fill in the desired search terms (registration number, name, city, or county) and select COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCER REGISTRATION in the License Type list.

All cottage food producers with a current registration will receive a re-registration reminder in the mail at the end of December. You have two options for re-registration: (1) you can complete a paper registration form or (2) you can re-register online following the instructions and using the PIN provided in the re-registration notice. The online re-registration portal also accepts payment of any registration fees that are owed. Note that there is a $2.50 processing fee for the $50 registration fee paid online for Tier 2 producers.

If your name or your address has changed, you will need to complete a new registration form to re-register and provide the updated information. At this time, you cannot use the online portal to re-register if you have moved or changed your name.

Food sales are based on the anticipated amount of cottage food sales during the calendar year for which you are registering. This is the amount of gross annual receipts, not just profits, meaning the total amount for all sales as measured by the sales price.

You are limited to $78,000 dollars in food sales in any calendar year. If you sell more than $78,000, you need a food license and meet applicable laws for making and selling food under that license. For more information about food licenses, see the MDA food licenses page or go to the MDA Food Licensing Wizard.

Yes, you must complete the training appropriate for the amount of sales expected during the calendar year before you register. You will be asked to provide the most recent date that you completed the training when you register.

There are two types of training, one for each sales category:

• Tier 1 – For annual food sales up to $7,665, you must complete a free online training course and exam. This course can be found here: Cottage Food Producer Tier 1 Training.
• Tier 2 – For annual food sales between $7,666 and $78,000, you must complete a safe food handling training course that is approved by the Commissioner. Refer to the University of Minnesota Extension Food Safety Program for more information. This Tier 2 training is currently offered as an in-person course or as an online course and there are training fees for both courses.

No, you must take training that is specific to the Cottage Food Law. The required training covers specific considerations about preparing food safely in a home kitchen and covers the Cottage Food Law requirements.

There are two training requirements, one for each sales category:

• Tier 1 – For annual food sales up to $7,665, you must complete a free online training course and exam every year.
• Tier 2 – For annual food sales between $7,666 and $78,000, you will need to re-take training every three years or if you switch from Tier 1 to Tier 2, meaning you go from selling $7,665 or less to selling $7,666-$78,000. You will be asked to provide the most recent date that you completed the training when you register.

You can only sell non-potentially hazardous foods and home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruit with a pH of 4.6 or below. Foods that are non-potentially hazardous do not support the rapid growth of microorganisms that can make people sick. Non-potentially hazardous foods have a pH of 4.6 or below, meaning they are acidic, or have a water activity of 0.85 or less, meaning they are relatively dry or have a high sugar or salt content that binds up the water making it hard for bacteria to grow.

The list linked below includes examples of what is allowable and not allowable under Cottage Food Law. It is developed with partners from the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association, Minnesota Cottage Food Producer Association, the MDA, and the University of Minnesota Extension.

• Non-Potentially Hazardous Foods List

Disclaimer: This list is not owned by the MDA and only provides examples of food items. It does not encompass all potential allowable or non-allowable foods. If you have questions about whether a food item can be produced under Cottage Food Law, please contact the MDA.

Many university websites provide recipes that have been laboratory tested and shown to be considered non-potentially hazardous. If you are unsure if the food you want to sell meets the definition of a non-potentially hazardous food, there are laboratories that can test your food for pH and water activity and can be found through a web search for “food testing laboratories in Minnesota”.

Treats must be non-potentially hazardous, meaning they do not support the rapid growth of bacteria that would make people or pets sick when held outside of refrigerated temperatures. Only baked or dehydrated treats can be made under the cottage food exemption. Only treats for dogs or cats can be made and sold under this exemption, and they must be safe for the intended species. Some ingredients (for example, onions) may be toxic to cats or dogs and should not be added to pet treats.

The list linked below from the University of Minnesota includes examples of what is allowable and not allowable under Cottage Food Law. It is developed with partners from the Minnesota Cottage Food Producer Association, the MDA, and the University of Minnesota Extension.

Non-Potentially Hazardous Food Guidance

Disclaimer: This list is not owned by the MDA and only provides examples of pet treat items. It does not encompass all potential allowable or non-allowable pet treats. If you have questions about whether a pet treat can be produced under Cottage Food Law, please contact the MDA.

You will need a food license. To find out more, go to the MDA Food Licensing Wizard.

No. The Cottage Food Exemption is an exemption from food licensing and applies to food. Edible cannabinoids are explicitly excluded from the definition of food products found in Minn. Stats. §34A.01, subd. 4.

Neither a cottage food registration or food license are required to make and sell honey or maple syrup products if:

1) The person makes the products from hives or trees that are on land they occupy or cultivate, and

2) No off-land/purchased ingredients are added to the products (i.e., cinnamon).

The honey and maple syrup products would be considered a "product of the farm or garden" under Minnesota Statute and can be sold from the home, direct to consumers, at farmers' markets, shipped, and wholesaled to other businesses. Labeling requirements still apply. Please see Food Labeling Requirements for more information.

A cottage food registration or food license is required when off-land/purchased ingredients are added to the honey or maple syrup product or if the producer is using purchased sap, maple syrup, or honey from another producer. When this happens, the product is no longer considered a "product of the farm or garden" and is no longer excluded from licensing requirements.

Yes. Minnesota Statute 28A.151 (Farmers' Market or Community Event; Food Product Sampling and Demonstration) allows food sampling and cooking demonstrations at farmers markets and community events without a license. However, all requirements in the law must be followed, including:

The food product sample must be:

• A small portion of no more than 3 ounces of a food or beverage that includes as a main ingredient a product sold by the vendor.
• Provided to customers at no cost. 
• Ingredients and foods used in the samples and demonstrations are obtained from sources that comply with Minnesota food laws.
• Raw animal, raw poultry, and raw fish products must not be served as samples.
• Food product sampling or demonstrations including cooked animal, poultry, or fish products must be prepared onsite at the event.
• Animal or poultry products used must be from animals slaughtered under continuous inspection, either by the USDA or through Minnesota's Equal-To inspection program.
• Signage that lists the food sample’s ingredients and major allergens is posted. 
• Food samples can be pre-packaged prior to the event. Those offering pre-packaged food samples that are completely sealed to prevent bare hand contact with the food are not required to have a handwashing station at the event. A handwashing station is required when handling open food for sampling or cooking demonstrations.

*NOTE* - The same food safety requirements as a Special Event Food Stand apply to sampling and cooking demonstrations. More details about requirements can be found on University of Minnesota Extension's website.

No. Chocolate-covered fruit is not allowed to be sold as a cottage food (e.g., berries, pineapple, melon).

Product of the farm or garden are products that you grow or raise on land that you “occupy and cultivate.” This could be fruits, vegetables, honey, maple syrup, meat, and poultry.

Under the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, Article 13, Section 7, a person may sell or peddle the products of the farm or garden occupied and cultivated by them without obtaining a license. You also do not need a Cottage Food Producer registration.

A Cottage Food Producer registration is needed if you want to make and sell certain foods from your home that are not considered products of the farm or garden, such as adding ingredients to your tomatoes to produced a pasta sauce. Please refer to questions above for what foods are allowed under a Cottage Food Producer registration.

More detail can be found in MDA's Product of the Farm vs. Cottage Food fact sheet.

Please note that products of the farm or garden still must be handled in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, even though a license is not needed to sell them. Contact the Food and Feed Safety Licensing Liaison for more information, or visit MDA's Produce Safety Program website.

No. Most charcuterie boards contain meat and cheese. Because meat and cheese require refrigeration for safety, they are not an allowed cottage food. A food license is required to make and sell them. Please contact the MDA's Licensing Liaison for more information at MDA.FoodLicensingLiaison@state.mn.us.

Yes, you must label the food with:

1. Your full name as the individual cottage food registrant OR your cottage food business name submitted on your cottage food application (if operating as a DBA or other legal Minnesota business entity),
2. Your registration number OR address submitted on the cottage food application,
3. The date that the food was made,
4. The statement “these products are homemade and not subject to state inspection", and
5. A list of ingredients contained in the product, including any major food allergens. The allergens of concern are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. More information on labeling is provided in the cottage food training course (see Training section questions above).

**PLEASE NOTE:  QR Codes cannot take the place of the required label information. A QR code can only be added in addition to the required information.

You must display a sign at the point of sale that states: “These foods are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” Examples of signs can be found at the bottom of this page and in the cottage food training. If you are conducting internet sales, this same statement must be posted on your website.

Cottage foods cannot be produced onsite at a community event or farmers’ market. If the business wishes to produce foods onsite, the business may obtain a license from the state or local health department.

A registered cottage food producer can sell the food they make from: (1) their home, (2) a farmers market (EXT), and (3) a community event. A community event is defined as an organized event with a defined start and end time in which multiple participating vendors are open to the public. A community event can be approved by the Municipality or applicable government agency to use public spaces, or can be held on private or public property with the consent of the owner or entity.

The cottage food producer who prepared the food product or their employee must be physically present to conduct sales at the booth or stand.

Food that is home-processed and home-canned, like pickles and salsa, cannot be sold outside of the State of Minnesota. For sales of other homemade food outside of the state (like baked goods), please review those states' laws to ensure the sale of homemade food is allowed.

If cottage food intended for humans is ordered by a customer for delivery, the cottage food producer must personally deliver the food to the customer's home or meet the customer in person at another agreed-upon location within Minnesota to deliver the food directly to the customer. This means cottage food intended for humans cannot be shipped or delivered through the mail or a third-party shipping service.

Effective July 1, 2023, registered Minnesota cottage food producers may ship cottage pet treats in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer. Previously, all cottage pet treat products needed to be exchanged in person. Please note that this change in law only applies to cottage pet treats, not to cottage food intended for humans. Cottage foods intended for humans are not allowed to be shipped in the mail or by commercial delivery.

Also, please note that the cottage food law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the products if they are found in another state.

Cottage food producers can advertise and receive orders over the internet, however the food must still be provided to the customer in person. The customer can collect the food they ordered by going to the producer's home, picking up the food at a booth or stand at a farmers’ market or community event, or by the producer delivering the food to the customer.

*A website for advertising or ordering cottage foods must notify customers that they are purchasing a homemade food, just like the signage requirement at a physical sales location:  "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." It should be in a location highly visible to the customer.

Effective July 1, 2023, registered Minnesota cottage food producers may ship cottage pet treats in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer. Human cottage foods cannot be shipped.

Please Note:  The cottage food law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the products if they are found in another state.

Yes. Food made by a registered cottage food producer can be provided through donation to a community event with the purpose of fundraising for an individual or for an educational, charitable, or religious organization. The cottage food producer does not need to be present for the fundraising event.

Only cottage pet treats can be shipped in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer (effective 7/1/2023). The change in the law only applies to cottage pet treats, not to cottage food intended for humans. Cottage foods intended for humans are not allowed to be shipped in the mail or by commercial delivery.

Please Note:  The cottage food law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the products if they are found in another state.

Yes. Customers must come to your place of residence to pick up products or you, as the producer, must deliver them directly to customers. You may not leave products for customer pick up at a location other than their or your residence.

Yes. The cottage food producer or their employee must be physically present during product sale or delivery.

Local agencies often conduct inspections at venues like farmers’ markets and community events to verify registration and that food is being sold in a manner consistent with Minnesota laws. In addition, if food sold by a cottage food producer is suspected or confirmed to have caused illness or injury, the MDA will conduct an investigation which may include an inspection of the location where the food was produced. Under Minnesota law, the MDA has the authority to enter at reasonable times any establishment where food is manufactured, processed, packed, or held. Inspection and investigation activities would be limited to areas of the location where food is manufactured, processed, packed, or held.

The MDA investigates complaints to ensure people selling cottage food are complying with the law, including all the topics covered in this guidance document: registration, training, sales amounts, sales locations, food types, and labeling and placarding. Actions depend on the severity of the violation and may include inspection, written notice, registration revocation, penalties, or prosecution.

Cottage food can be produced in a home kitchen or in a commercial kitchen as long as you follow local ordinances. Commercial kitchens offer the equipment and spaces usually required for a food license issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or one of their delegated regulatory agencies.

*NOTE* As is always the case, do not make, sell, or store cottage food in your home if anyone in the household is sick. Follow good food safety practices of proper hand hygiene, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, and regular cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and surfaces.

For more information on these signs, see the Labeling and Displaying a Sign section above.

For more information on these signs, see the Labeling and Displaying a Sign section above.

Yes. The cottage food law does not specifically prohibit a producer from bringing bulk containers of qualified products like baked goods to a market or event and package per customer order using tongs, deli tissue, or disposable gloves. In addition, dispensing food from bulk containers into packages is different from sampling, so producers who dispense food are not required to meet the food product sampling  requirements and restrictions specified in Minnesota Statute 28A.151.

However, cottage food producers do need to protect their food from sources of contamination to prevent adulteration according to Minnesota Statute 31.02, Prohibited Acts. Therefore, access to a handwashing station is necessary to prevent contamination from hands while working with unpackaged, ready-to-eat food. Bare hand contact is not allowed, and hand sanitizer is not a substitution for handwashing. A producer can either supply their own handwashing station (like the example below) or work with market managers to provide convenient timely access to a handwashing station as needed. The food also needs to be protected while available for sale, such as in an enclosed display case or other type of covered container.

Labels that meet cottage food law requirements still need to be provided with food items given to customers. Labels can be applied to packages or containers prior to going to market, or provided at the time of dispensing the food by attaching them to packages or containers or handing them to the customer. 

Yes. It is acceptable to sell cottage foods out of any type of structure, as long as the cottage food law is still met (selling approved cottage foods from home, a farmers' market, or community event), and as long as no food preparation is taking place within the structure.