Mississippi Cottage Food Law
Tier: Good. Solid baseline with moderate restrictions — typically a high cap (often $50K+) and standard direct-to-consumer rules. Workable for most home bakers.
35000
Nonpotentially hazardous food products as defined by the Mississippi State Department of Health, including baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies, donuts), candies, condiments (mustards, nut butters, pickles, vinegars), dry goods (cereals, dried fruit, mixes, pasta, spices), fermented foods, pastries, preserves (jams, jellies), and snacks (caramel corn, chocolate-covered items, crackers, granola, kettle corn, marshmallows, nuts, popcorn). Certain items may require lab testing to confirm non-PHF status.
Registration: No. Food handler cert: No.
Mississippi Code 1972 §75-29-951 - Regulation of Cottage Food Operations (Title 75, Chapter 29, Article 21)
Verbatim excerpt(1)(a) A cottage food operation must comply with the applicable requirements of this section but is exempt from the permitting requirements of Section 41-3-18 if the cottage food operation complies with this section and has annual gross sales of cottage food products that do not exceed Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00). (b) For purposes of this subsection, a cottage food operation's annual gross sales include all sales of cottage food products at any location, regardless of the types of products sold or the number of persons involved in the operation. A cottage food operation must provide the department, upon request, with written documentation to verify the operation's annual gross sales. (2) A cottage food operation may not sell cottage food products over the Internet, by mail order, or at wholesale or to a retail establishment; however, this does not prohibit the advertising of cottage food products over the Internet, including through social media. Cottage food products are nonpotentially hazardous food products as defined by the department. (3) A cottage food operation may only sell cottage food products which are prepackaged with a label affixed that contains the following information: (a) The name and address of the cottage food operation; (b) The name of the cottage food product; (c) The ingredients of the cottage food product, in descending order of predominance by weight; (d) The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product; (e) Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements; (f) Appropriate nutritional information as specified by federal labeling requirements, if any nutritional claim is made; and (g) The following statement printed in at least ten-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background of the label: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." (5)(b) Only upon receipt of a complaint, the department's authorized officer or employee may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food operation to determine compliance with this section and department rules.
Source: law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-75/chapter-29/article-21/section-75-29-951/ →
Mississippi Cottage Food Law — Full PDF report
A comprehensive report covering the Mississippi statute, every county we've researched, and authoritative source URLs.
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Mississippi 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.
- Mississippi State Department of Healthhttps://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/5375.pdf
Mississippi's cottage food rules are set by Miss. Code Ann. §75-29-951. 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
- Mississippi Code 1972 §75-29-951 - Regulation of Cottage Food Operations (Title 75, Chapter 29, Article 21)
- 35000
- No
- No
- Upon-complaint
Allowed products and sales channels
- Nonpotentially hazardous food products as defined by the Mississippi State Department of Health, including baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies, donuts), candies, condiments (mustards, nut butters, pickles, vinegars), dry goods (cereals, dried fruit, mixes, pasta, spices), fermented foods, pastries, preserves (jams, jellies), and snacks (caramel corn, chocolate-covered items, crackers, granola, kettle corn, marshmallows, nuts, popcorn).
- Certain items may require lab testing to confirm non-PHF status.
- Potentially hazardous foods requiring refrigeration are prohibited. Internet sales, mail order, wholesale, and retail establishment sales are prohibited. Nut butters and juices have been flagged as prohibited by the health department. Perishable baked goods are not permitted.
- Mississippi prohibits Internet sales, mail order, wholesale, and retail establishment sales. Cottage food products may only be sold through in-person direct-to-consumer channels including events, farmers markets, home sales, and roadside stands.
- Advertising on the Internet including social media is permitted even though sales through those channels are not.
Labeling
- All cottage food products must be prepackaged with a label containing: the name and address of the cottage food operation; the product name; ingredients in descending order by weight; net weight or volume; allergen information per federal requirements; nutritional information if any nutritional claim is made; and the statement in at least 10-point type: 'Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations.'
Statute excerpt
- (1)(a) A cottage food operation must comply with the applicable requirements of this section but is exempt from the permitting requirements of Section 41-3-18 if the cottage food operation complies with this section and has annual gross sales of cottage food products that do not exceed Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00).
- (b) For purposes of this subsection, a cottage food operation's annual gross sales include all sales of cottage food products at any location, regardless of the types of products sold or the number of persons involved in the operation. A cottage food operation must provide the department, upon request, with written documentation to verify the operation's annual gross sales.
- (2) A cottage food operation may not sell cottage food products over the Internet, by mail order, or at wholesale or to a retail establishment; however, this does not prohibit the advertising of cottage food products over the Internet, including through social media. Cottage food products are nonpotentially hazardous food products as defined by the department.
- (3) A cottage food operation may only sell cottage food products which are prepackaged with a label affixed that contains the following information: (a) The name and address of the cottage food operation; (b) The name of the cottage food product; (c) The ingredients of the cottage food product, in descending order of predominance by weight; (d) The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product; (e) Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements; (f) Appropriate nutritional information as specified by federal labeling requirements, if any nutritional claim is made; and (g) The following statement printed in at least ten-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background of the label: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." (5)(b) Only upon receipt of a complaint, the department's authorized officer or employee may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food operation to determine compliance with this section and department rules.
Official sources
- State agency cottage food page: https://msdh.ms.gov/page/30,0,76.html
- Statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-75/chapter-29/article-21/section-75-29-951/
Summarized from official Mississippi cottage food statute research and agency guidance. Agency rules change — verify on the official site before relying on this information.
Mississippi Counties
82 counties tracked. Pick yours for the local zoning + health department links.
View all 82 counties →City zoning rules in Mississippi
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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Mississippi cottage food law — FAQ
Do I need a license or permit to sell homemade food in Mississippi?
Yes — No. Food handler certification: No.
What foods can I sell under the Mississippi cottage food law?
Nonpotentially hazardous food products as defined by the Mississippi State Department of Health, including baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies, donuts), candies, condiments (mustards, nut butters, pickles, vinegars), dry goods (cereals, dried fruit, mixes, pasta, spices), fermented foods, pastries, preserves (jams, jellies), and snacks (caramel corn, chocolate-covered items, crackers, granola, kettle corn, marshmallows, nuts, popcorn). Certain items may require lab testing to confirm non-PHF status.
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Mississippi?
35000
How good is Mississippi's cottage food law?
Mississippi is a Good-tier cottage food state by Crosodo's rating criteria. Solid baseline with moderate restrictions — typically a high cap (often $50K+) and standard direct-to-consumer rules. Workable for most home bakers.
Cottage food laws are amended every year. This is a starting reference, not legal advice. Verify with Mississippi State Department of Health and your local health department before relying on this data.