the michigan cottage food law, in plain english

what you can sell from your home kitchen in michigan, who you register with, where you can sell, and what the label has to say. checked against the state’s own pages on october 14, 2026.

by tommy + omarchecked october 14, 2026

michigan: no registration, a $50,000 sales cap, sell online, ship within the state. tap any state to see its rules.

on this page

1at a glance 2what you can sell 3how to start 4where you can sell 5labels 6what’s changed 7good to know 8questions 9sources

the short answer

yes, you can sell homemade food from your home kitchen in michigan with no license, registration or inspection. michigan’s cottage food law lets you sell up to $50,000 a year of foods that don’t need refrigeration, or $75,000 if your products sell for $250 or more each. since march 24, 2026, you can also sell online, by mail and through delivery apps within michigan, as long as customers get a chance to meet you in person or by video before they buy. label everything with the required statement, and don’t sell to stores or restaurants.

michigan cottage food rules at a glance

michigan cottage food rules at a glance
the law	michigan cottage food law (michigan food law, mcl 289.4102 (cottage food exemption) and 289.1105 (definitions))
who runs it	michigan department of agriculture and rural development (mdard)
registration	no no state registration
kitchen inspection	no
training	nonone required. msu extension offers an optional online course.
yearly sales cap	$50,000 a year ($75,000 if your products sell for $250 or more each)
selling from your home	yescheck your local zoning rules.
selling at farmers markets and events	yesfarmers markets, craft shows and roadside stands. some markets still ask vendors for a food license.
selling online orders	yesallowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you, in person or by video, before they buy.
selling delivering it yourself	yesdeliver it yourself, or use a third-party food delivery platform within michigan if customers could meet you first. farm stops and markets can’t act as pickup points.
selling shipping within the state	yesmail order is allowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you first.
selling shipping to other states	noyou can only sell or deliver to customers in michigan.
selling to stores, cafes and restaurants	nosales to stores or restaurants, or on consignment, aren’t allowed.

what can you sell from home in michigan?

you can sell

breads, cookies and cakes, including wedding cakes
shelf-stable fruit pies
fruit jams and jellies
candy, including chocolate-covered pretzels
granola, dry mixes and dried herbs
popcorn, nuts and roasted coffee

you can’t sell

cheesecake and cream, custard or pumpkin pies
cream cheese frosting
salsa, pickles and other canned foods
low-sugar jams and pepper jelly
meat, jerky, dairy and fish
beverages, including kombucha and cider
pet food and treats

these are examples, not the full list. check the michigan department of agriculture and rural development (mdard) before you sell something new.

how do you start a cottage food business in michigan?

no state registration. michigan doesn’t ask cottage food sellers to register with the state. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
label everything the way the law asks (below).
start selling in the ways michigan allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.

where and how can you sell in michigan?

from your home	yescheck your local zoning rules.
at farmers markets and events	yesfarmers markets, craft shows and roadside stands. some markets still ask vendors for a food license.
online orders	yesallowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you, in person or by video, before they buy.
delivering it yourself	yesdeliver it yourself, or use a third-party food delivery platform within michigan if customers could meet you first. farm stops and markets can’t act as pickup points.
shipping within the state	yesmail order is allowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you first.
shipping to other states	noyou can only sell or deliver to customers in michigan.
to stores, cafes and restaurants	nosales to stores or restaurants, or on consignment, aren’t allowed.

on wareby, food is always pickup or delivery by the shop, never a courier and never shipped, which fits the rules in every state. how to sell food online from home.

what goes on a cottage food label in michigan?

“Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development.”
the statement michigan requires on your label

the label also needs:

your business name and address, or your business name, phone and msu product center registration number
product name
ingredients in descending order by weight
net weight or volume
allergens, as federal rules require
nutrition facts if you make a nutrition claim
the statement in at least 11-point type, in a contrasting color

what’s changed in michigan, and what’s coming?

when	what
march 24, 2026	public act 51 of 2025 raised the cap from $25,000 to $50,000 ($75,000 for items priced at $250 or more), allowed online, mail order and third-party delivery within michigan, and created an optional registration with the msu product center

what else should you know in michigan?

mdard can raise the caps for inflation each october 1, starting in 2026, so check the current limit.
keep your sales records, since an mdard inspector can ask for them. if two people in your home each run their own cottage food business, each gets a full cap.
you can only make and store cottage food in your primary home, not a rented kitchen, second home or motor home.
msu extension offers an online cottage food course. it’s optional, but it covers safe production, packaging and labeling.
pet treats: not allowed under the cottage food law. mdard says you need a commercial feed license to make pet treats at home.

questions people ask

do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in michigan?

no state registration is needed for cottage food in michigan. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.

can i sell cottage food online in michigan?

yes. allowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you, in person or by video, before they buy.

can i ship cottage food in michigan?

yes, within michigan: mail order is allowed within michigan if customers get a chance to meet you first. you can’t ship to other states. you can only sell or deliver to customers in michigan.

how much can i sell from home in michigan?

up to $50,000 a year ($75,000 if your products sell for $250 or more each).

can i sell to stores or coffee shops in michigan?

no. sales to stores or restaurants, or on consignment, aren’t allowed.

what can’t i sell from home in michigan?

the usual no’s: cheesecake and cream, custard or pumpkin pies, cream cheese frosting, salsa, pickles and other canned foods, low-sugar jams and pepper jelly, meat, jerky, dairy and fish. check with the michigan department of agriculture and rural development (mdard) before you sell something new.

sources

this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against michigan’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the michigan department of agriculture and rural development (mdard) (and your city or county) before you sell. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com.

written by tommy + omar

we sold cinnamon rolls from home as minnesota cottage food producers before we opened a licensed kitchen and built wareby. our story