Minnesota cottage food laws
Two-tier system, $78K cap, MDA registration required, and shipping arriving August 2027.
Minnesota raised its cottage food sales cap to $78,000 per registered individual and operates a two-tier system. Tier 1 (up to $7,665/year) requires a free annual online training. Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000) requires a $50 fee and a more thorough food safety course. All producers register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture each year. Sales are direct-to-consumer with the producer (or an employee) physically present. A 2025 law adds mail delivery effective August 1, 2027.
Minnesota cottage food, quick facts.
How the Minnesota cottage food law actually works.
Minnesota governs cottage food under Minn. Stat. § 28A.152, administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Producers must register annually with the MDA before selling any cottage food, even at very low sales volumes. Registration is tied to the individual, not the kitchen, and is per-person.
The current annual sales cap is $78,000 in gross sales per registered individual. Minnesota uses a two-tier structure. Tier 1 covers operators with $7,665 or less in annual gross sales. Tier 1 producers complete a free annual online training and exam through MDA, and pay no registration fee. Tier 2 covers producers with $7,666 to $78,000 in annual gross sales. Tier 2 requires a $50 annual registration fee and a more in-depth food safety course (typically through University of Minnesota Extension) renewed every few years.
Sales are direct-to-consumer. The producer or an employee must be physically present for the sale or delivery. That has historically meant no mail-order shipping. A 2025 law (effective August 1, 2027) adds mail delivery as an allowed channel, with a $30 fee, training every 3 years, and additional rules.
Allowed foods include shelf-stable baked goods, candies, dry mixes, jams and jellies, pickles meeting acidification rules, and similar non-potentially hazardous items. Foods requiring refrigeration, complex canning processes, and meat or dairy products are excluded.
Allowed and prohibited foods.
- Cookies, brownies, bars, biscotti
- Cakes, cupcakes, muffins, breads, rolls, pastries
- Fruit pies and other shelf-stable pies
- Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates
- Dry baking mixes and drink mixes
- Jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters
- Pickles and acidified vegetables (per acidification rules)
- Honey
- Dehydrated fruits, vegetables, herbs, granola, popcorn, snack mixes
- Roasted coffee beans, dry teas, dry herb blends
- Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods that need refrigeration
- Cream pies, custard pies, cream cheese frostings, cheesecakes
- Raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw dairy
- Meat, poultry, fish, shellfish
- Low-acid canned vegetables and salsas
- Alcoholic beverages
- Pumpkin pies and pies with custard fillings
Anything that requires refrigeration to stay safe is excluded. Pickles and acidified items must follow MDA acidification rules; in some cases lab testing is required.
Sales channels for Minnesota cottage bakers.
- The producer or an employee must be physically present at point of sale or delivery (until the 2027 mail-delivery rule takes effect).
- A clearly visible notice at point of sale and on websites must state that the food is homemade and not subject to state inspection.
Label every product, exactly like this.
These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.
- Producers may use their MDA registration number on labels in place of their home address.
- The same disclaimer must be displayed on a clearly legible sign or placard at the point of sale and on websites.
- Online listings must include the same label content for each product.
How much can you earn under Minnesota cottage law?
Gross annual sales must stay at or below $78,000 per registered individual. The cap is per person, not per household. Tier 1 covers $7,665 or less; Tier 2 covers $7,666 to $78,000. Crossing $78,000 disqualifies the producer from the cottage food exemption and requires a permitted commercial facility.
Food safety training in Minnesota
Tier 1 producers (up to $7,665 in gross annual sales) complete a free online training and exam through MDA each year before registering or renewing. Tier 2 producers ($7,666 to $78,000) must complete a more thorough food safety course (typically through University of Minnesota Extension Food Safety Program) renewed every few years before registering. The 2025 law that adds mail delivery in 2027 changes Tier 2 training to a 3-year renewal cycle.
Registration, permits, and inspections in Minnesota
All cottage food producers must register annually with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling any food, even at very low sales levels. Registration is per-individual and tied to the person, not the kitchen. Tier 1 registration is free. Tier 2 is $50/year. Both tiers renew annually. MDA registration numbers can substitute for the home address on labels.
How to start a cottage bakery in Minnesota.
- 01Choose your tier and complete trainingTier 1 (up to $7,665/year): free online MDA training and exam each year. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): more thorough food safety course (typically University of Minnesota Extension) before registering.MDA Cottage Food Producer Registration →
- 02Register with the Minnesota Department of AgricultureSubmit your registration online. Tier 1 is free; Tier 2 is $50. Renew annually. Save your MDA registration number; you can use it on labels in place of your home address.
- 03Build a label templateProducer name, address or MDA registration number, product name, production date, ingredients by weight, allergen statement, net weight, and the required disclaimer.
- 04Plan your sales channelsDirect sales, farmers markets, community events, and online (with in-person delivery by you or an employee). Mail delivery is added effective August 1, 2027.
- 05Set up your storefrontCakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, prices, lead times, and pickup or in-person delivery zones. Display the required notice on your website.Create a free Cakery page →
- 06Register for state and local sales taxRegister with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for a sales tax ID before selling taxable items. Most baked goods are tax-exempt as food, but some prepared individual servings and candies are taxable.Minnesota Department of Revenue: Sales Tax →
A few things Minnesota bakers should know.
- Registration is per-individual. If two people in a household both produce cottage food, each person needs their own MDA registration and each gets their own $78,000 cap.
- The required notice must be displayed at point of sale (a placard at a market booth) AND on the producer's website. This is more strict than most states.
- Mail delivery is currently not allowed. A 2025 law adds it effective August 1, 2027, with a $30 fee and 3-year training renewal.
- Producers can use their MDA registration number on labels in place of their home address.
- Tier 2 training is more rigorous than a basic food handler card. Plan for the University of Minnesota Extension course.
Bookmark these for Minnesota baking.
Official agency resources
Statute and rules text
Helpful resources for bakers
Recent and upcoming changes in Minnesota.
- August 1, 2027Mail delivery becomes an allowed channel under a 2025 Minnesota cottage food amendment. New rules add a $30 fee and require training every 3 years for Tier 2.
- July 1, 2023Minnesota raised the cottage food sales cap from $18,000 to $78,000 per registered individual and modernized the two-tier registration structure.
Minnesota cottage food FAQ.
Do Minnesota cottage bakers need to register?
What is Minnesota's cottage food sales cap?
Can Minnesota cottage food be shipped?
What training do I need?
What is the required label disclaimer?
Can I keep my home address off the label?
Can I sell to coffee shops or grocery stores?
You bake. We handle the tech.
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