warebythe missouri cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in missouri, 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.
on this page
1at a glance2what you can sell3how to start4where you can sell5labels6what’s changed7good to know8questions9sourcesyes, you can sell baked goods, canned jams and jellies, and dried herbs from your home kitchen in missouri. there’s no registration, fee, training or sales cap. sell directly to the people who’ll eat them, from your home or online when you and your buyer are both in missouri, and label each item with your name, address and a note that your kitchen isn’t inspected. foods that need refrigeration, like cream or meringue pies, aren’t allowed.
missouri cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | missouri cottage food law (missouri revised statutes, section 196.298) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | missouri department of health and senior services (dhss) |
| registration | no no state registration |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | no |
| yearly sales cap | no sales cap |
| selling from your home | yes |
| selling at farmers markets and events | limitedthe law covers sales from your home; ask your local health agency about a market stand |
| selling online orders | yesonly when you and your buyer are both in missouri |
| selling delivering it yourself | unclearthe law doesn’t say; dhss says only you or a household member may sell |
| selling shipping within the state | unclearin-state online sales are allowed, but the law doesn’t address shipping |
| selling shipping to other states | nono sales across state lines |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | noselling to stores or restaurants needs a dhss manufactured food inspection |
what can you sell from home in missouri?
you can sell
- cookies
- cakes
- breads and rolls
- donuts, danish and pastries
- fruit pies
- canned jams and jellies
- dried herbs and herb mixes
you can’t sell
- cream or meringue pies
- baked goods topped with fresh fruit
- salsa, pickles and sauces like bbq sauce
- sugar-free or hot pepper jams and jellies
- freeze-dried foods
- meat, dairy and eggs
these are examples, not the full list. check the missouri department of health and senior services (dhss) before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in missouri?
- no state registration. missouri 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 missouri allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in missouri?
| from your home | yes |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | limitedthe law covers sales from your home; ask your local health agency about a market stand |
| online orders | yesonly when you and your buyer are both in missouri |
| delivering it yourself | unclearthe law doesn’t say; dhss says only you or a household member may sell |
| shipping within the state | unclearin-state online sales are allowed, but the law doesn’t address shipping |
| shipping to other states | nono sales across state lines |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | noselling to stores or restaurants needs a dhss manufactured food inspection |
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 missouri?
the label also needs:
- your full name and address
- the common name of the food
- ingredients, in order by weight
- net weight
- allergens
- a statement that it was made in a kitchen that isn’t inspected by the missouri department of health and senior services or your local health department
what’s changed in missouri, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| august 28, 2022 | the $50,000 sales cap was removed, and online sales are allowed when you and your buyer are both in missouri (house bill 1697) |
what else should you know in missouri?
- only you, or someone in your household who knows the product well, can sell it.
- where local rules allow, your local health agency may let you sell other low-risk foods, like fruit butters or spice mixes, from a stand with a sign saying your kitchen isn’t inspected.
- local health departments can’t regulate your cottage food production, but they do keep a record of complaints. check with your city or county about business licenses and zoning.
- pet treats: pet foods and treats aren’t cottage foods; the missouri department of agriculture regulates them.
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in missouri?
no state registration is needed for cottage food in missouri. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
can i sell cottage food online in missouri?
yes. only when you and your buyer are both in missouri.
can i ship cottage food in missouri?
the rules aren’t clear on shipping within missouri: in-state online sales are allowed, but the law doesn’t address shipping. you can’t ship to other states. no sales across state lines.
how much can i sell from home in missouri?
there’s no yearly sales cap.
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in missouri?
no. selling to stores or restaurants needs a dhss manufactured food inspection.
what can’t i sell from home in missouri?
the usual no’s: cream or meringue pies, baked goods topped with fresh fruit, salsa, pickles and sauces like bbq sauce, sugar-free or hot pepper jams and jellies, freeze-dried foods. check with the missouri department of health and senior services (dhss) before you sell something new.
sources
- missouri revisor of statutes: section 196.298
- missouri dhss: home-based kitchen food production guidance (august 2023)
- missouri dhss: food safety
- missouri house: house bill 3108 (2026), not passed
- forrager: missouri cottage food law
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against missouri’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the missouri department of health and senior services (dhss) (and your city or county) before you sell. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com.
we sold cinnamon rolls from home as minnesota cottage food producers before we opened a licensed kitchen and built wareby. our story