Why this matters
What Minnesota actually allows — and what it doesn't.
MN Statute 28A.152 (Cottage Food Exemption), as amended by HF 2446 / 2025 Chapter 34, Article 5
Major 2025 Reforms (HF 2446):
Revenue cap increased to $78,000 gross annual sales (from previous lower amount)
Registration fee reduced to $30 for all registrants (effective August 1, 2027)
Annual revenue cap
$78,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$78,000
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.
— MN Statute 28A.152 (Cottage Food Exemption), as amended by HF 2446 / Chapter 34, Article 5 (2025)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Minnesota — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
NoFederal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.
Seller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
NoNoInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Minnesota requires registration before you sell.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Minnesota? Yes — Minnesota wants you to register before selling. Here is what that path involves.
- Registration
Required
Type: registration
- Registration cost
$50
- Timeline
About 14 days
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: state specific
- Address privacy
Available
Via registration id
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Dairy
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Butter
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Custards
- Puddings
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Jerky
- Low Acid Canned Goods
- Kombucha
- Cannabis Cbd
- Cream Filled Baked Goods
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Minnesota.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Minnesota's cottage food rules. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Register with your state agency
Minnesota requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration cost is $50. Expect about 14 days for processing.
Minnesota registration portalComplete food safety certification
Minnesota requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: state specific.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Minnesota allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.
Frequently asked
Minnesota cottage food — your questions answered.
How do I get a license to sell food in Minnesota?
Minnesota registers cottage food producers, and the cost is modest — up to about $50, with lower or no fee at the smallest sales tier. The annual cap is $78,000. Registration lets you sell shelf-stable foods directly and take online orders.
What kind of food can I sell from home in Minnesota?
Minnesota allows shelf-stable, non-TCS foods up to a $78,000 gross cap, and high-acid canned goods are allowed if you follow USDA guidelines. Low-acid canned goods, dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cream pies, cheesecakes, custards, and THC/CBD products are prohibited; kombucha requires special licensing and fermented vegetables must be properly acidified. Home-processed pet treats for dogs and cats were added as an allowed cottage food in the 2025 reforms.
Do I have to take a food safety course to sell cottage food in Minnesota?
It depends on your sales tier. Tier 1 (up to $7,665) has free registration and a free online training and exam each year, while Tier 2 ($7,666–$78,000) costs $50 and requires an approved 8-hour food safety course every three years. The training has to be specific to cottage food law, not a generic food-handler class, and you must register annually with the MDA before selling.
Can I ship cottage food or form an LLC in Minnesota?
Shipping and mail delivery are currently prohibited — delivery has to be in person, though online ordering is allowed — but HF 2446 permits shipping starting August 1, 2027. That same date consolidates the tiers into one and drops registration to a flat $30 for all registrants. Business entity formation such as an LLC or sole proprietorship is now allowed, while interstate sales remain prohibited.
Minnesota cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Minnesota requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. The annual gross sales cap is $78,000. Minnesota allows online orders, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota requires registration before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $50. Check the official state source before selling because local zoning, food safety training, or label rules may still apply.
What foods can I sell from home in Minnesota?
Minnesota's cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, dairy, cheese, yogurt, butter.