Cottage food laws in St. Louis County, MN
St. Louis County is a county in Minnesota (pop. 200,122). 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 St. Louis County health and planning requirements. Local notes for St. Louis County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Minnesota state baseline applies. St. Louis County (county seat: Duluth) is the largest county by area in Minnesota and includes the Duluth-Superior metro area and Iron Range. No county-specific URLs or overrides found. The 2025 Minnesota amendment raised the annual cap to $78,000 and added a two-tier training structure. Home-canned goods (Pickle Bill category) have additional restrictions including in-state only sales. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
St. Louis County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for St. Louis 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 St. Louis County
State baseline: Minn. Stat. §28A.152
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Minnesota cottage food law (§28A.152, most recently amended 2025) allows non-PHF foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales cap: $78,000 (2025 amendment, CPI-indexed from July 2025). Two-tier system: Tier 1 (up to ~$7,665/year) requires only free online training; Tier 2 (up to $78,000) requires $50 paid course (renewed every 3 years) and $30 annual registration fee. Registration with MDA required. No routine kitchen inspection. St. Louis County is Minnesota's largest county by area.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No explicit state-level pet restriction documented for Minnesota cottage food operations.
- Water supply
- No specific water testing requirement documented for Minnesota cottage food operations.
- Handwashing
- Food handler training required (either free online training or paid course). Handwashing and hygiene covered in training.
- Food storage
- Non-PHF (non-potentially hazardous) foods only. Standard GMP storage. Home-canned goods with pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less also permitted (under the 'Pickle Bill' category).
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection for Minnesota cottage food operations. MDA may investigate upon complaint.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- St. Louis County (unincorporated areas) and municipalities (Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Cloquet) may require home occupation permits for home-based businesses. Contact St. Louis County or relevant municipal planning/zoning office. Minnesota does not have a statewide preemption of local home occupation zoning requirements.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Minnesota cottage food law allows in-state direct sales at events, farmers markets, home, and online. Indirect sales (retail) not permitted. Home-canned products may not be sold outside Minnesota.
- Max employees in home
- No explicit employee cap in Minnesota cottage food statute. Home occupation zoning may restrict non-resident employees.
- Relevant code section
- Minn. Stat. §28A.152; St. Louis County zoning ordinances (contact for home occupation details)
Minnesota state baseline applies. St. Louis County (county seat: Duluth) is the largest county by area in Minnesota and includes the Duluth-Superior metro area and Iron Range. No county-specific URLs or overrides found. The 2025 Minnesota amendment raised the annual cap to $78,000 and added a two-tier training structure. Home-canned goods (Pickle Bill category) have additional restrictions including in-state only sales.
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 →
St. Louis County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in St. Louis County, Minnesota?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. St. Louis County (unincorporated areas) and municipalities (Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Cloquet) may require home occupation permits for home-based businesses. Contact St. Louis County or relevant municipal planning/zoning office. Minnesota does not have a statewide preemption of local home occupation zoning requirements. 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 St. Louis County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection for Minnesota cottage food operations. MDA may investigate upon complaint.. 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. St. Louis County (unincorporated areas) and municipalities (Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Cloquet) may require home occupation permits for home-based businesses. Contact St. Louis County or relevant municipal planning/zoning office. Minnesota does not have a statewide preemption of local home occupation zoning requirements.
Where to verify St. Louis County rules
St. Louis County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | St. Louis County This county | Aitkin County | Carlton County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No explicit state-level pet restriction documented for Minnesota cottage food operations. | No specific state cottage food pet restriction; good sanitation practices required. | No specific state cottage food pet restriction; good sanitation practices required. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Minnesota cottage food law allows in-state direct sales at events, farmers markets, home, and online. Indirect sales (retail) not permitted… | Direct sales from home, farmers markets, community events, and internet sales permitted. Canned goods may not be sold across state lines. | Direct sales from home, farmers markets, community events, and internet sales permitted. Canned goods may not be sold across state lines. |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Varies | Varies |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Minnesota cottage food law (§28A.152, most recently amended 2025) allows non-PHF foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales cap: $78,000 (2025… | Minnesota cottage food law (Minn. Stat. §28A.152, amended 2025) allows up to $78,000 annual gross sales of non-potentially hazardous foods … | Minnesota cottage food law (Minn. Stat. §28A.152, amended 2025) allows up to $78,000 annual gross sales of non-potentially hazardous foods … |
| Food storage | Non-PHF (non-potentially hazardous) foods only. Standard GMP storage. Home-canned goods with pH 4.6 or lower or water activity 0.85 or less… | Non-potentially hazardous foods only; no refrigeration required. | Non-potentially hazardous foods only; no refrigeration required. |
| Population | 200,122 | 15,859 | 36,362 |
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