Minnesota Cottage Food Law
Tier: Great. No or very high sales cap, broad product list, multiple sales channels including retail and online. Most home bakers can run a meaningful operation here.
78000
Non-potentially hazardous foods (those not requiring refrigeration) including baked goods, candies, condiments (honey, pickles, mustards, nut butters, salsas, sauces), dry goods (coffee, cereals, dried fruit/vegetables, herbs, pasta, spices, tea), pastries, preserves (jams, jellies, fruit butters, applesauce), snacks (granola, popcorn, chocolate-covered items), fermented foods, and juices. Home-processed and home-canned products with pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less (the original 'Pickle Bill' category) are also permitted.
Registration: Yes. Food handler cert: Yes.
Minnesota Statutes §28A.152 - Cottage Foods Exemption
Verbatim excerpt28A.152 COTTAGE FOODS EXEMPTION. Subdivision 1. Licensing provisions applicability. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d), the licensing provisions of sections 28A.01 to 28A.16 do not apply to the following: (1) a person who prepares and sells food that is not potentially hazardous food, as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4626.0020, subpart 62, if the following requirements are met: the prepared food offered for sale under this clause is labeled to accurately reflect the name and the registration number or address of the person preparing and selling the food, the date on which the food was prepared, the ingredients and any possible allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and (2) a person who prepares and sells home-processed and home-canned food products if the following requirements are met: (i) the products are pickles, vegetables, or fruits having an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower or a water activity value of .85 or less; (iii) the person displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard stating: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and (iv) each container of the product sold or offered for sale under this clause is accurately labeled to provide the name and the registration number or address of the person who processed and canned the goods, the date on which the goods were processed and canned, ingredients and any possible allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." Subd. 2. Direct sales to consumers. (a) A person qualifying for an exemption under subdivision 1 may sell the exempt food: (1) directly to the ultimate consumer at a community event or farmers' market; (2) directly from the person's home to the ultimate consumer; or (3) through donation to a community event with the purpose of fundraising. (d) Food products exempt under subdivision 1 may be sold over the Internet. Subd. 3. Limitation on sales. A person selling exempt foods under this section is limited to total sales with gross receipts of $78,000 or less in a calendar year. Subd. 4. Registration. A person who prepares and sells exempt food under subdivision 1 must register annually with the commissioner. The annual registration fee is $30. Subd. 5. Training. A person who sells exempt food under this section and is required to pay the registration fee in subdivision 4 must complete a safe food handling training course that is approved by the commissioner before registering under subdivision 4.
Source: revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/28A.152 →
Minnesota Cottage Food Law — Full PDF report
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Minnesota Cottage Food Law — Official Guidance Summary
Official agency guidance changes without notice. The text below is reproduced for reference only — always confirm current rules on the agency website before relying on it.
- Minnesota Department of Agriculturehttps://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/business/cottage-food-producer-registration
Minnesota's cottage food rules are set by Minn. Stat. §28A.152. The summary below is drawn from Crosodo's verified statute research and official agency guidance. Always confirm current requirements on the state agency website before you sell.
Program basics
- Minnesota Statutes §28A.152 - Cottage Foods Exemption
- 78000
- Yes
- Yes
- No
Allowed products and sales channels
- Non-potentially hazardous foods (those not requiring refrigeration) including baked goods, candies, condiments (honey, pickles, mustards, nut butters, salsas, sauces), dry goods (coffee, cereals, dried fruit/vegetables, herbs, pasta, spices, tea), pastries, preserves (jams, jellies, fruit butters, applesauce), snacks (granola, popcorn, chocolate-covered items), fermented foods, and juices.
- Home-processed and home-canned products with pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less (the original 'Pickle Bill' category) are also permitted.
- Potentially hazardous foods requiring refrigeration, low-acid canned foods, chocolate-covered fruit, confections with alcohol, meat jerkies, and perishable baked goods. All canned goods and drinks must be non-potentially hazardous. Products in the home-canned category may not be sold outside of Minnesota.
- Sales are limited to direct-to-consumer channels: community events, farmers markets, from the producer's home, online (in-state delivery by the producer personally or by mail/commercial delivery), and fundraising donations. Restaurants, retail stores, roadside stands, mail order wholesale, and catering are prohibited.
- All deliveries must be made by the producer personally unless shipped by mail or commercial delivery upon a prior online sale. Home-canned products in the pH/water-activity exemption category (Subd. 1(a)(2)) may not be sold outside of Minnesota.
Labeling
- Labels must accurately reflect: the name and registration number or address of the producer; the date on which the food was prepared; ingredients and any possible allergens; and the statement 'These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.' At farmers markets and community events, a visible placard with the same statement must be displayed.
- Online sellers must display the statement on their website. Registration number may substitute for home address.
Statute excerpt
- 28A.152 COTTAGE FOODS EXEMPTION. Subdivision 1. Licensing provisions applicability.
- (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d), the licensing provisions of sections 28A.01 to 28A.16 do not apply to the following: (1) a person who prepares and sells food that is not potentially hazardous food, as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4626.0020, subpart 62, if the following requirements are met: the prepared food offered for sale under this clause is labeled to accurately reflect the name and the registration number or address of the person preparing and selling the food, the date on which the food was prepared, the ingredients and any possible allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and (2) a person who prepares and sells home-processed and home-canned food products if the following requirements are met: (i) the products are pickles, vegetables, or fruits having an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower or a water activity value of .85 or less; (iii) the person displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard stating: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and (iv) each container of the product sold or offered for sale under this clause is accurately labeled to provide the name and the registration number or address of the person who processed and canned the goods, the date on which the goods were processed and canned, ingredients and any possible allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." Subd.
- 2. Direct sales to consumers. (a) A person qualifying for an exemption under subdivision 1 may sell the exempt food: (1) directly to the ultimate consumer at a community event or farmers' market; (2) directly from the person's home to the ultimate consumer; or (3) through donation to a community event with the purpose of fundraising. (d) Food products exempt under subdivision 1 may be sold over the Internet. Subd. 3. Limitation on sales.
- A person selling exempt foods under this section is limited to total sales with gross receipts of $78,000 or less in a calendar year. Subd. 4. Registration. A person who prepares and sells exempt food under subdivision 1 must register annually with the commissioner. The annual registration fee is $30. Subd. 5. Training.
- A person who sells exempt food under this section and is required to pay the registration fee in subdivision 4 must complete a safe food handling training course that is approved by the commissioner before registering under subdivision 4.
Official sources
- State agency cottage food page: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/business/cottage-food-producer-registration
- Statute: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/28A.152
Summarized from official Minnesota cottage food statute research and agency guidance. Agency rules change — verify on the official site before relying on this information.
Minnesota Counties
87 counties tracked. Pick yours for the local zoning + health department links.
View all 87 counties →City zoning rules in Minnesota
City zoning rules apply on top of the state cottage food law — home occupation, customer pickup, signage, and employees.
The Cottage Baker's Field Guide (PDF)
A 6-page reference covering all 51 jurisdictions with methodology and tier explainers — same data as this directory, ready to print and tape to your wall.
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Minnesota cottage food law — FAQ
Do I need a license or permit to sell homemade food in Minnesota?
Yes — Yes. Food handler certification: Yes.
What foods can I sell under the Minnesota cottage food law?
Non-potentially hazardous foods (those not requiring refrigeration) including baked goods, candies, condiments (honey, pickles, mustards, nut butters, salsas, sauces), dry goods (coffee, cereals, dried fruit/vegetables, herbs, pasta, spices, tea), pastries, preserves (jams, jellies, fruit butters, applesauce), snacks (granola, popcorn, chocolate-covered items), fermented foods, and juices. Home-processed and home-canned products with pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less (the original 'Pickle Bill' category) are also permitted.
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Minnesota?
78000
How good is Minnesota's cottage food law?
Minnesota is a Great-tier cottage food state by Crosodo's rating criteria. No or very high sales cap, broad product list, multiple sales channels including retail and online. Most home bakers can run a meaningful operation here.
Cottage food laws are amended every year. This is a starting reference, not legal advice. Verify with Minnesota Department of Agriculture and your local health department before relying on this data.