Minnesota Cottage Food Law 2026: Registration, Labels, and the 2027 Shipping Update

Yes, you can legally sell baked goods and other shelf-stable foods from your home kitchen in Minnesota under the Minnesota Cottage Food Law (MN Statutes 28A.152). Minnesota requires annual registration with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and completion of the training for your sales tier before your first sale — but there is no routine kitchen inspection, and home kitchens do not need to be separate from your personal cooking space.

Minnesota's cottage food framework is notable for two reasons: it uses two registration and training tiers tied to annual gross sales, and a legislative overhaul passed in 2025 will reshape the law starting August 1, 2027, including a standardized registration fee, biennial inflation adjustments to the sales cap, and authorization of in-state shipping for human cottage food.

What Can You Sell as a Minnesota Cottage Food Producer?

A Minnesota cottage food product, as defined under MN Statutes 28A.152, is a non-potentially hazardous food produced in a home kitchen that does not require refrigeration for safety. Minnesota cottage food law permits production and sale of a wide range of shelf-stable foods, including baked goods, confections, jams, and dried products.

Minnesota cottage food law permits the sale of standard baked goods, shelf-stable confections, high-acid jams, and dry mixes. Prohibited items consistently include foods that require refrigeration for safety, meat products, and low-acid canned goods — categories that remain off-limits under both the current law and the 2027 revisions.

Annual Sales Cap and Registration Tiers

Minnesota cottage food producers currently operate under a two-tier registration system with an annual gross sales cap of $78,000. This structure will change substantially effective August 1, 2027.

Current Minnesota Sales Limits (As of 2026)

Minnesota divides cottage food producers into two tiers based on annual gross sales, as established by MN Statutes 28A.152:

• Tier 1: Annual gross sales up to $7,665 — registration is free.
• Tier 2: Annual gross sales from $7,666 to $78,000 — a $50 annual registration fee applies.

A Minnesota cottage food producer who exceeds $78,000 in gross annual revenue is no longer considered a cottage food operation and must apply for a full retail food license from the MDA, which includes different facility standards and inspection requirements.

Updated Minnesota Sales Limits (Effective August 1, 2027)

As enacted by House File 2446 (2025 legislative session, Chapter 34), the Minnesota cottage food law will simplify to a single tier on August 1, 2027:

• The annual gross sales cap remains $78,000, with biennial inflation adjustments beginning under the amended law.
• The annual registration fee is standardized to $30 for all registrants.
• The two-tier system (Tier 1 / Tier 2) is eliminated entirely.

Minnesota's two-tier registration system sets the current annual sales cap at $78,000, with a $50 fee for Tier 2 producers. Effective August 1, 2027, a single $30 registration fee eliminates the tier distinction and the MDA begins biennial inflation adjustments to the cap.

Where Can You Sell Minnesota Cottage Food?

Minnesota cottage food products may be sold directly to consumers through in-person channels. Online ordering is currently permitted, but human food must be delivered in person — that restriction lifts on August 1, 2027, when in-state shipping becomes legal.

Permitted sales channels as of 2026:

• Direct to consumer: Sales from your home, porch pickup, and roadside stands are allowed and are the most common channel for Minnesota home bakers.
• Farmers markets and community events: Selling at farmers markets and similar community events is explicitly permitted in Minnesota.
• Online ordering (in-person fulfillment): Minnesota allows cottage food producers to accept online orders and electronic payments. However, fulfillment must currently be in-person — customers must pick up their order or the producer must deliver it directly.
• Website disclosure required: A website offering Minnesota cottage food for purchase must display: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
• No mail or carrier shipping (human food): Shipping Minnesota cottage food products via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or other commercial carriers is not currently permitted for human food. Pet treats may be shipped under separate pet food rules.

Effective August 1, 2027 — shipping becomes legal: House File 2446 (2025) explicitly authorizes Minnesota cottage food producers to ship products to customers within the state via mail or commercial delivery services. This provision applies only to in-state shipments; interstate shipping is not addressed by the Minnesota cottage food law.

In summary, Minnesota permits direct sales, farmers market sales, and online ordering with in-person fulfillment as of 2026. Effective August 1, 2027, in-state shipping becomes legal and the statute states qualifying producer structures expressly.

Registration and Training Requirements

Minnesota requires annual registration with the MDA and completion of food safety training before any cottage food sales begin. These requirements are not optional and apply to all producers regardless of sales volume.

How to Register in Minnesota

All individuals who want to sell cottage food in Minnesota must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before their first sale. Registration must be renewed annually to remain in compliance.

• Tier 1 (up to $7,665 gross annual sales): Free registration through the MDA online portal.
• Tier 2 ($7,666–$78,000 gross annual sales): Annual registration with a $50 fee paid to the MDA.

The MDA issues a registration card following approval. Minnesota law added a statement to registration cards clarifying: "This is not a license. Products cannot be resold." This registration card confirms your status as a cottage food producer but does not grant a food license or permit resale of your products by third parties.

Effective August 1, 2027: The two-tier system is replaced by a single registration with a $30 annual fee for all registrants.

Food Safety Training

Minnesota's current training requirement depends on your tier:

• Tier 1 (up to $7,665 gross annual sales): Complete the free MDA online course and exam every year before registering or renewing.
• Tier 2 ($7,666–$78,000 gross annual sales): Complete a commissioner-approved safe-food-handling course before registering and retake it every three years while actively selling.

Effective August 1, 2027: House File 2446 mandates that all registered Minnesota cottage food producers complete advanced food safety training every three years. The MDA will publish guidance on approved training programs and the transition timeline as the 2027 effective date approaches.

Kitchen Inspections

Minnesota cottage food operations are exempt from routine state inspections by the MDA. Inspectors may still verify compliance at sales venues, and a complaint or suspected illness may lead to an investigation that includes inspection of the production area. There is no requirement to maintain a kitchen separate from your personal cooking space.

Minnesota requires annual MDA registration and pre-sale food safety training, but does not impose routine kitchen inspection.

Labeling Requirements

Every Minnesota cottage food product must display specific required elements under MN Statutes 28A.152. Minnesota also requires a point-of-sale placard and, for internet sales, a clearly visible website notice carrying the required disclaimer.

Required Label Elements

Minnesota law requires the following information on every cottage food product label:

1. Registrant or submitted cottage food business name — use the name on your MDA cottage food application.
2. MDA registration number OR submitted address — either option satisfies Minnesota's label requirement.
3. Made-on date — include the date the food was produced.
4. Ingredient list, including possible allergens — disclose the ingredients and any major food allergens.
5. Required disclaimer — the verbatim statutory disclaimer must appear on every label and at the point of sale.

Verbatim Disclaimer — Required on Every Label

Minnesota law (MN Statutes 28A.152, Subdivision 1) requires the following exact text on all cottage food labels and displayed on a placard at every point of sale:

"These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."

This language may not be paraphrased or abbreviated. It must appear on the product label and on a separate physical placard visible to customers wherever cottage food is sold, including farmers market booths and home sales locations. If you sell online, the same statement must be clearly visible on the webpage offering the food for purchase.

Minnesota Cottage Food Label Elements: Required vs. Recommended

Minnesota cottage food law requires the registrant or submitted business name, an MDA registration number or submitted address, the made-on date, ingredients and possible allergens, and the verbatim disclaimer. The same disclaimer must also appear on a point-of-sale placard and on webpages offering Minnesota cottage food for purchase.

For comprehensive guidance on ingredient lists, allergen declarations, and label formatting, see our Cottage Food Labeling Requirements guide.

How to Start Selling Cottage Food in Minnesota

Here is a practical sequence for launching a compliant Minnesota cottage food business in 2026:

1. Complete the training for your tier first. Tier 1 producers complete the free MDA online course and exam yearly. Tier 2 producers complete an approved safe-food-handling course every three years while actively selling. Find the current links on the MDA Cottage Food Law Guidance page.
2. Register annually with the MDA. Choose Tier 1 (free) or Tier 2 ($50) based on your projected annual gross sales. Registration is done online through the MDA portal and must be renewed each year.
3. Design and print compliant labels. Include every required element and the verbatim disclaimer. Print or order a separate placard for your point-of-sale location.
4. Set up your online storefront. Minnesota allows online ordering now, but the webpage must display the homemade-food disclaimer and human food must still be fulfilled in person. MyPorch helps you organize menus, collect prepaid orders, manage pickup schedules, and display the required Minnesota notice.
5. Plan for 2027. The August 1, 2027, changes will open in-state shipping, replace the current tiers with a single $30 annual fee, and begin biennial inflation adjustments to the sales cap.

For pricing guidance, see How to Price Baked Goods for Your Home Bakery. For order management strategy, see How to Take Pre-Orders for Your Home Bakery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent Law Changes

• August 1, 2027 — Major revisions take effect: Chapter 34 of the 2025 session laws replaces the current tiers with one $30 annual registration fee, permits in-state shipping of human cottage food by mail or commercial carrier, requires advanced training for all registrants, states qualifying producer structures expressly, and begins biennial inflation adjustments to the $78,000 sales cap.
• May 23, 2025 — HF 2446 signed into law: The Minnesota legislature passed House File 2446 as part of the 2025 agriculture and broadband budget compromise. The law was signed but carries a delayed effective date of August 1, 2027, to allow the MDA time for implementation planning.
• 2015 — Cottage Food Exemption enacted: The Minnesota Cottage Food Exemption first took effect in 2015 under MN Statutes 28A.152, establishing the original registration, training, and product eligibility framework.