Cottage food laws in Hennepin County, MN
Hennepin County is a top-50 county by population in Minnesota (pop. 1,270,787). Under Minnesota's Great-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 78000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Yes. Start with Minnesota Department of Agriculture (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Hennepin County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Hennepin County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Hennepin County follows Minnesota state baseline. Minnesota's 2025 amendment significantly updated the program: raised cap to $78,000 (inflation-adjusted), and changes effective August 2027 will allow in-state shipping, unified registration tier ($30/year), and advanced training requirement. MDA explicitly requires operators to check local zoning for home sales prohibitions before registering. Registration expires March 31 annually; re-registration required by April 1. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Hennepin County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Hennepin County.
Download county PDF
Full statute, all counties in Minnesota, and official source links.
Download state PDFTier: Great
Minnesota'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 Hennepin County
State baseline: Minn. Stat. §28A.152
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Minnesota Cottage Food Law requires annual registration with MDA. Hennepin County follows state baseline. Operators must check local zoning ordinances — some cities may have restrictions on home-based food sales. Minneapolis (the county seat) and other incorporated cities have their own home occupation codes. Cottage food can be produced at home or in a commercial kitchen subject to local ordinances.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- State baseline applies
- Water supply
- State baseline applies
- Handwashing
- State baseline applies
- Food storage
- State baseline applies
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection. MDA investigates complaints of misbranded or adulterated cottage food products.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- MDA guidance requires operators to check that their local city, county, or township does not have home sales prohibitions due to zoning. Hennepin County cities (Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth, etc.) have individual home occupation codes. No state-level home occupation permit required for cottage food.
- Local business license
- Varies by city
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- MDA allows sales from home, farmers markets, and community events. Annual sales cap: $78,000 (as of 2025 amendment, CPI-adjusted). Tier 1 (<$7,665/year): free registration, basic annual training. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): $50 registration, food safety course every 3 years. Effective August 2027: unified $30/year registration, in-state shipping allowed.
- Max employees in home
- state baseline applies
- Relevant code section
- Minn. Stat. §28A.152; local city ordinances vary
Hennepin County follows Minnesota state baseline. Minnesota's 2025 amendment significantly updated the program: raised cap to $78,000 (inflation-adjusted), and changes effective August 2027 will allow in-state shipping, unified registration tier ($30/year), and advanced training requirement. MDA explicitly requires operators to check local zoning for home sales prohibitions before registering. Registration expires March 31 annually; re-registration required by April 1.
Minnesota Statutes §28A.152 - Cottage Foods Exemption
Full Minnesota state report (with PDF download) →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 →
Hennepin County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Hennepin County, Minnesota?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. MDA guidance requires operators to check that their local city, county, or township does not have home sales prohibitions due to zoning. Hennepin County cities (Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth, etc.) have individual home occupation codes. No state-level home occupation permit required for cottage food. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Minnesota guide at https://crosodo.com/states/minnesota.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Hennepin County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection. MDA investigates complaints of misbranded or adulterated cottage food products.. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
What foods can I sell under Minnesota cottage food law in Hennepin County?
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. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Minnesota, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Minnesota?
Minnesota state law lists cottage food sales at 78000. There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits or zoning can still limit operations.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Hennepin County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. MDA guidance requires operators to check that their local city, county, or township does not have home sales prohibitions due to zoning. Hennepin County cities (Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth, etc.) have individual home occupation codes. No state-level home occupation permit required for cottage food.
Where to verify Hennepin County rules
Hennepin County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Hennepin County This county | Ramsey County | Dakota County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Conditional |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | State baseline applies | No specific state cottage food pet restriction | No specific state restriction; standard food safety practices apply. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | No |
| Delivery / pickup | MDA allows sales from home, farmers markets, and community events. Annual sales cap: $78,000 (as of 2025 amendment, CPI-adjusted). Tier 1 (… | Direct sales within Minnesota: farmers markets, community events, home sales (if local zoning allows), online within Minnesota. $78,000 ann… | Direct sales from home (if local ordinance permits), at community events/farmers markets, and online (producer must deliver). Home-canned i… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Conditional | Yes |
| Local business license | Varies by city | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Minnesota Cottage Food Law requires annual registration with MDA. Hennepin County follows state baseline. Operators must check local zoning… | State registration required ($50 if sales exceed $7,665; free otherwise). Accredited food safety training required. $78,000 annual sales ca… | Minnesota cottage food law (Minn. Stat. §28A.152) allows non-potentially-hazardous foods without a food license, up to $78,000 gross annual… |
| Food storage | State baseline applies | Standard home kitchen storage for approved non-PHF foods | Non-TCS shelf-stable foods only. Home-canned items must meet pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less. |
| Population | 1,270,787 | 547,202 | 439,179 |
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