Cottage food laws in Kalamazoo County, MI
Kalamazoo County, Michigan — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Kalamazoo County is a county in Michigan (pop. 261,426). Under Michigan's Great-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 50000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: No. Start with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Kalamazoo County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Kalamazoo County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Kalamazoo County MI follows Michigan state baseline (MCL §289.4102). Michigan raised cap to $50,000 via HB 4122 (2025). Michigan MDARD administers. No registration or inspection required. 2025 amendment allows online/delivery sales. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Kalamazoo County cottage food reports
Full statute, all counties in Michigan, and authoritative source URLs.
State PDF
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Kalamazoo County.
County PDFTier: Great
Michigan's cottage food law is permissive (Great tier) — high or no sales cap, broad product list, and multiple sales channels allowed. The state baseline is workable for full-time operations; the county still controls zoning and inspection.
View state law →Health department
Many states delegate cottage food registration and inspection to the county health department. Contact theirs for the local process.
Home occupation rules
The county or city zoning code governs whether you can run a home-based food business — customer visits, signage, employees, floor area.
Home kitchen, inspection, and zoning rules for Kalamazoo County
State baseline: MCL §289.4102
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Non-TCS foods only from approved product list. $50,000 annual sales cap (raised from $25,000 by HB 4122, 2025, effective March 2026). No registration or inspection required. Direct-to-consumer sales only (no wholesale/consignment). 2025 amendment explicitly allows online/mail order/third-party delivery platforms.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Not specified in state statute; kitchen must be sanitary
- Water supply
- Potable water supply required
- Handwashing
- No formal certification required; basic food safety practices
- Food storage
- Non-TCS shelf-stable foods from approved Michigan product list; two specific buttercream frosting recipes permitted
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection; no registration required
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- Kalamazoo County and City of Kalamazoo may require home occupation permits under local zoning. State law does not preempt local zoning for cottage food. Producers should check with Kalamazoo County Planning & Zoning Department.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct-to-consumer only: home pickup, farmers markets, online with delivery, mail order, third-party delivery platforms. No wholesale, no consignment, no retail store sales.
- Max employees in home
- Not specified in state statute
- Relevant code section
- MCL §289.4102; Kalamazoo County zoning ordinance
Kalamazoo County MI follows Michigan state baseline (MCL §289.4102). Michigan raised cap to $50,000 via HB 4122 (2025). Michigan MDARD administers. No registration or inspection required. 2025 amendment allows online/delivery sales.
Michigan Compiled Laws §289.4102 - Cottage Food Operation; Exemption from Licensing and Evaluation Provisions; Requirements (Michigan Food Law, Act 92 of 2000)
Full Michigan state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerpt289.4102 Cottage food operation; exemption from licensing and evaluation provisions; requirements. Sec. 4102. (1) A cottage food operation is exempt from the licensing and evaluation provisions of this act. This exemption does not include an exemption from the adulteration and other standards imposed in this section or under this act, or both, and does not limit the ability of the department to take appropriate enforcement action for applicable violations as described in section 5101. This subsection does not require a cottage food operation to meet the standards contained in 21 CFR part 110 or the food code. (2) Cottage food products must be prepackaged and properly labeled before sale. (3) A cottage food operation shall place on the label of any food it produces or packages the following information: (a) The name and address of the business, or name, telephone number, and registration number; (b) The name of the cottage food product; (c) Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight; (d) Net weight or net volume; (e) Allergen labeling as specified by federal requirements; (g) The following statement printed in at least the equivalent of 11-point font size in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development." (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a cottage food product must be sold directly from the cottage food operation to the consumer. Sales by consignment or at wholesale are prohibited. A cottage food product may be sold by internet or mail order or may be delivered to a consumer through a third-party food delivery platform if the cottage food operation provides an opportunity for a consumer to directly interact with the cottage food operation before the cottage food product is sold. A cottage food product sold by internet or mail order or delivered through a third-party delivery platform must be sold or delivered only to a consumer in this state.
Source: legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-289-4102 →
Kalamazoo County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Kalamazoo County, Michigan?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Non-TCS foods only from approved product list. $50,000 annual sales cap (raised from $25,000 by HB 4122, 2025, effective March 2026). No registration or inspection required. Direct-to-consumer sales only (no wholesale/consignment). 2025 amendment explicitly allows online/mail order/third-party delivery platforms.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Kalamazoo County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection; no registration required.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Kalamazoo County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Kalamazoo County and City of Kalamazoo may require home occupation permits under local zoning. State law does not preempt local zoning for cottage food. Producers should check with Kalamazoo County Planning & Zoning Department.
What is the Michigan cottage food sales cap?
Michigan state law caps cottage food sales at 50000. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Kalamazoo County rules
Kalamazoo County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Kalamazoo County This county | Calhoun County | Allegan County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Not specified in state statute; kitchen must be sanitary | Not explicitly prohibited by state statute; kitchen must maintain sanitary conditions. | No specific state restriction; standard food safety sanitation practices apply. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct-to-consumer only: home pickup, farmers markets, online with delivery, mail order, third-party delivery platforms. No wholesale, no c… | Direct sales only. Sales from home, farmers markets, online (with face-to-face or virtual interaction), and third-party delivery platforms … | Michigan allows direct sales only: from home, online, mail order, third-party delivery platforms (with in-person or virtual interaction), f… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Varies | Varies |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Non-TCS foods only from approved product list. $50,000 annual sales cap (raised from $25,000 by HB 4122, 2025, effective March 2026). No re… | Annual sales capped at $50,000 (raised by HB 4122, 2025, effective March 2026; prior cap was $25,000). No registration, permit, or inspecti… | Michigan allows non-potentially hazardous cottage foods from a home kitchen. No registration or inspection required. Sales cap raised to $5… |
| Food storage | Non-TCS shelf-stable foods from approved Michigan product list; two specific buttercream frosting recipes permitted | Non-TCS products only (MCL §289.4102 approved list). Stored in food-safe containers. Only two specified buttercream frosting recipes permit… | Non-potentially hazardous shelf-stable products only per approved list. Two specific buttercream frosting recipes permitted. Acidified food… |
| Population | 261,426 | 134,011 | 120,189 |
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