Cottage food laws/Michigan
Permissive

Michigan cottage food laws

Newly expanded in March 2026: $50K cap, $75K for high-priced items, online sales, and shipping now allowed.

Michigan's Cottage Food Law was significantly expanded effective March 24, 2026. The annual sales cap rose from $25,000 to $50,000 ($75,000 for products priced at $250 or more per unit) and is indexed to the Detroit CPI starting October 1, 2026. The new law also legalized online sales, in-state shipping, and third-party food delivery, provided the producer offers consumers an opportunity for direct two-way communication before the sale. No license, no fee, and no inspection are required.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Michigan Cottage Food Law (MCL 289.4101 et seq.)
At a glance

Michigan cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
Not required
💰
Sales cap
$50,000 gross/year ($75,000 for products priced $250+/unit). Detroit CPI adjustment beginning October 1, 2026.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed (with two-way communication requirement)
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed under cottage food law
🎓
Training
Not required by state law
🏠
Inspection
Not required
How it works

How the Michigan cottage food law actually works.

Michigan governs cottage food under MCL 289.4101 et seq., administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). For more than a decade the law was very restrictive: a $25,000 sales cap, in-person handoff only, and no shipping. That changed on March 24, 2026, when a major reform took effect.

Under the new law, the gross annual sales cap is $50,000 for most products, and $75,000 if the product sells for $250 or more per unit (think tiered wedding cakes). Beginning October 1, 2026 the cap is adjusted annually using the Detroit Consumer Price Index, so it will rise each year.

The reform also opened up sales channels. Cottage operators can now sell online, ship within Michigan, and use third-party food delivery platforms. The one twist: the producer must give the consumer an opportunity for direct two-way communication (such as a video call, virtual meeting, or comparable contact) before the sale. This is meant to preserve the traditional direct-to-consumer relationship.

There is still no license, no application, no fee, and no inspection for Michigan cottage food. Producers must follow MDARD labeling rules and stick to the allowed shelf-stable, non-potentially hazardous foods list.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, bars, biscotti
  • Cakes and cupcakes (without perishable fillings or frostings)
  • Breads, rolls, muffins, scones, pastries
  • Fruit pies (apple, cherry, blueberry, peach)
  • Pecan pie and other shelf-stable pies
  • Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates, brittles
  • Dry baking mixes (cookie mix, brownie mix, drink mixes)
  • Granola, granola bars, snack mixes
  • Popped popcorn, kettle corn, popcorn balls, caramel corn
  • Jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters
  • Roasted coffee beans, dry tea blends, dry herbs
  • Vinegars and dry mixes for vinegars
✕Prohibited
  • Cream-filled pastries, custards, cheesecakes
  • Cream cheese frostings (anything requiring refrigeration)
  • Tres leches and other refrigeration-required cakes
  • Meat, poultry, fish, shellfish
  • Low-acid canned vegetables and salsas
  • Pumpkin pies and pies with custard or cream
  • Garlic-in-oil and other low-acid mixtures

Anything that requires refrigeration to stay safe is presumed potentially hazardous and is excluded. Michigan does not have a TCS-registration path; if you want to sell cream-filled or refrigerated products, you need an MDARD food license and a permitted facility.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Michigan cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed statewide. Home pickup, delivery, farmers markets, festivals, fairs, pop-ups, roadside stands.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed under the 2026 reform, provided the producer offers the consumer an opportunity for direct two-way communication (such as a video call) before the sale.
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed by USPS, UPS, FedEx, or any carrier within Michigan.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed under cottage food law.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed. No special state cottage permit required.
🏪
Retail stores
Not allowed. Cottage food products may not be sold to retail stores or wholesalers for resale.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed. Restaurants may not resell cottage food products and may not use them as menu ingredients.
  • Third-party food delivery platforms are now allowed under the 2026 reform.
  • The two-way communication requirement is satisfied by a video call, virtual meeting, or comparable contact opportunity. Email or text alone is not enough; the producer must offer real-time interaction.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Name of the cottage food product
02
Producer name and address
03
Net weight or volume
In both customary (oz/lb) and metric (g) units.
04
Ingredients in descending order by weight, including sub-ingredients
05
Allergen statement
Identify the major allergens present (milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame).
06
Required disclaimer
Verbatim text below in 11-point or larger font.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
  • Required label text must be in 11-point font or larger.
  • An optional MSU Product Center registration program lets producers use a registration number on the label in place of their home address for privacy. This is voluntary.
  • Online listings should include the same disclaimer.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Michigan cottage law?

Gross annual sales must stay at or below $50,000. If you sell products priced at $250 or more per unit (tiered wedding cakes, large grazing boards), the cap rises to $75,000. Beginning October 1, 2026 both caps adjust annually using a 3-year average Detroit Consumer Price Index. Crossing the cap pushes the producer into commercial regulation: licensed facility, inspection, and food establishment license through MDARD.

Training

Food safety training in Michigan

Michigan does not require food safety training for cottage food operators. Many bakers complete a low-cost ServSafe Food Handler course as a personal credibility step or because a market or event requires it.

Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Michigan

There is no state cottage food registration. The MSU Product Center offers a voluntary registration that lets producers use a registration number on their labels in place of their home address. This is a privacy option, not a legal requirement. Some local governments may require a basic business license or zoning approval.

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Michigan.

  1. 01
    Confirm your products are non-potentially hazardous
    Stick to shelf-stable items. If your product needs refrigeration, you need a full MDARD food license, not the cottage exemption.
    MDARD Cottage Food page →
  2. 02
    Build a label template
    Product name, producer name and address, net weight in both ounces and grams, ingredients by weight, allergen statement, and the required disclaimer in 11-point or larger font.
  3. 03
    Decide on online and shipping channels
    If you plan to sell online or ship within Michigan, set up a way for the customer to have direct two-way contact with you before the sale (video call, virtual meeting, or similar).
  4. 04
    Set up your storefront
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, prices, lead times, pickup or delivery zones, and a way for customers to message or video-call you to satisfy the two-way communication requirement.
    Create a free Cakery page →
  5. 05
    Track gross sales toward the cap
    Tag $250+ per-unit sales separately. Crossing $50K (or $75K for high-priced items) pushes you into commercial regulation.
  6. 06
    Register for state and local sales tax
    Register with the Michigan Department of Treasury for sales tax, and confirm any local business license requirements with your city or county.
    Michigan Treasury: Sales and Use Tax →
Worth knowing

A few things Michigan bakers should know.

  • The March 24, 2026 reform was a major expansion. The previous version of the law had a $25K cap, no online sales, and no shipping. Make sure any older Michigan cottage food guide you reference is dated 2026 or later.
  • The two-way communication requirement is the most distinctive part of the new law. Plan for video calls, virtual meetings, or another comparable interaction option before each online or shipping sale.
  • Sales caps adjust every October 1 using the Detroit Consumer Price Index. The number you see today will rise each year.
  • Cottage food still cannot be sold to retail stores, restaurants, or wholesalers. Direct-to-consumer remains the rule.
  • An optional MSU Product Center registration provides a label-privacy option in place of your home address.
Resources

Bookmark these for Michigan baking.

Official agency resources

MDARD: Michigan Cottage Food Law
Official MDARD hub for Cottage Food Law guidance, allowed foods, labeling, and the 2026 expansion.
→
MSU Extension: Cottage Food Law
MSU Extension's plain-English explainer kept up to date with the 2026 reform.
→
MSU Product Center: Cottage Food Registration
Voluntary label-privacy registration in place of your home address on cottage food labels.
→
Michigan Department of Treasury: Sales and Use Tax
Register for state sales tax so you can collect and remit on taxable items.
→

Statute and rules text

MCL 289.4102 (Cottage Food definitions)
→
Michigan 2025-2026 cottage food expansion (HB 4122 analysis)
→
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund summary of the new Michigan law
→

Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Michigan guide
Plain-English summary of Michigan cottage food rules with 2026 updates.
→
Institute for Justice: Selling Homemade Food in Michigan
Advocacy overview of Michigan homemade food rules.
→
Michigan Cottage Food Bakers (Facebook group)
Community of Michigan home bakers swapping label, market, and 2026-expansion tips.
→
Taste the Local Difference: Michigan Cottage Food Law
Local foods nonprofit's plain-English explainer.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
Recent changes

Recent and upcoming changes in Michigan.

  • October 1, 2026Beginning October 1, 2026 and each October 1 thereafter, the cap adjusts annually using a 3-year average Detroit Consumer Price Index. Both the $50K and $75K caps will rise.
  • March 24, 2026Michigan's expanded cottage food law took effect. The cap rose from $25,000 to $50,000 ($75,000 for products priced $250+/unit), and online sales, in-state shipping, and third-party food delivery were legalized (with a two-way communication requirement).
FAQ

Michigan cottage food FAQ.

What is Michigan's cottage food sales cap in 2026?
$50,000 gross annual sales for most products. If you sell items priced at $250 or more per unit (like tiered wedding cakes), the cap is $75,000. Both caps adjust annually starting October 1, 2026 using the Detroit Consumer Price Index.
Can I now sell online and ship?
Yes. The March 24, 2026 reform allows online sales, in-state shipping, and third-party food delivery. The producer must offer the customer an opportunity for direct two-way communication (such as a video call) before the sale.
Do Michigan home bakers need a license or registration?
No license, no fee, and no required registration. There is an optional MSU Product Center registration that lets you use a registration number on labels in place of your home address.
What is the required label disclaimer?
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The text must be in 11-point font or larger.
Can I sell cream cheese frostings or cheesecakes?
No. Anything requiring refrigeration to stay safe is excluded from cottage food. Michigan does not have a TCS-registration path, so you need a full MDARD food license for those products.
Can I sell to retail stores or restaurants?
No. Cottage food remains direct-to-consumer. Wholesale, retail resale, and restaurant menu use are not allowed for cottage products.
Can I ship out of state?
No. The 2026 reform allows in-state shipping only. Out-of-state shipping crosses into federal interstate commerce.
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Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Michigan cottage food laws and is not legal advice. Cottage food rules change, and local health departments often add their own requirements. Always confirm the current rules with the Michigan agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.