Why this matters
What Montana actually allows — and what it doesn't.
MCA § 50-50-117 (Traditional Cottage Food); Montana Local Food Choice Act (SB 199, 2021 - "Food Freedom")
Two-Path System:
Path 1: Traditional Cottage Food
$40 one-time registration fee with local health department
Annual revenue cap
Montana sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Montana — 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
NoNoRegistration & permits
Montana does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
Type: registration
- Registration cost
$40
- Timeline
About 30 days
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Not available
Prohibited categories
What you can't sell under cottage food rules.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Cut Produce
- Custard Meringue
- Certain Frostings
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Montana.
Confirm your products qualify
Verify your menu fits Montana's cottage food rules. Most states restrict temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items; check the prohibited-foods list above.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, and allergens per Montana rules.
Start taking orders
Montana allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels — third-party couriers are not permitted here.