Cottage food label requirements in Minnesota
Cottage Foods Exemption, Minn. Stat. § 28A.152 (2025 amendments, 2025 c 34 art 5, effective Aug 1, 2027). Regulated by Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Checked against state sources on .
The statement your label needs
These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.
No type-size rule stated for the statement; keep it clearly legible.
What is different in Minnesota
- Same statement must be on a sign at the point of sale and on any website
- Human cottage foods cannot be mailed until Aug 1, 2027 (then in-state shipping allowed)
- Cottage pet treats (Minn. Stat. 25.391) may be shipped
- Home-canned goods may not be sold outside Minnesota
- Not available to holders of a food handler license
- Permit
- Registration required. Annual registration with MDA, period April 1 to March 31. Tier 1 (sales up to $7,665): no fee, free online course and exam every year. Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000): $50 fee, approved safe food handling course (max 8 hours) every 3 years. From Aug 1, 2027: one tier, $30 fee, advanced training for all.
- Sales cap
- $78,000 a year. $7,665 Tier 1 / $78,000 Tier 2 (calendar-year gross receipts). From Aug 1, 2027 the $78,000 limit is adjusted every two years for inflation.
- Where you can sell
- Directly to the consumer at farmers' markets, community events, or from home where local ordinance allows; producer or employee must be present. Not from retail stores.
- Online orders
- Orders online or by phone, delivered in person
- Ship in state
- No
- Ship out of state
- No
- Sell to shops / cafés
- No
- Allowed foods
- Non-potentially hazardous foods (pH 4.6 or below or water activity 0.85 or less), plus home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits with pH 4.6 or below. No meat, dairy products or edible cannabinoids.
What a Minnesota cottage food label must show
- Name and registration number or address of the person preparing and selling the food
- Date the food was prepared (canning date for home-canned goods)
- Ingredients and any potential allergens
- The required statement (above)
Federal rules still apply on top: ingredients in descending order by weight (21 CFR 101.4), the nine major allergens declared by name (FALCPA and the FASTER Act), and net quantity in ounces and grams (21 CFR 101.7). Minnesota lets you take orders online or by phone, but the food must be handed over in person (pickup or your own delivery). Mailing or shipping is not allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Make a Minnesota label now
The Minnesota statement is already on it. Type your ingredients, tick the allergens and print on Avery sheets or a thermal roll. To have the ingredient order and allergens worked out from a costed recipe, use the workbench.
Still missing: business name and address.
Print at 100% scale with no margins. Check the result against Minnesota’s rules above before selling.
True size. Minnesota statement.
Minnesota cottage food questions
What statement has to be on a Minnesota cottage food label?
Minnesota requires: “These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.”.
Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in Minnesota?
Registration required. Annual registration with MDA, period April 1 to March 31. Tier 1 (sales up to $7,665): no fee, free online course and exam every year. Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000): $50 fee, approved safe food handling course (max 8 hours) every 3 years. From Aug 1, 2027: one tier, $30 fee, advanced training for all.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Minnesota?
Yes: $78,000 in gross sales a year. $7,665 Tier 1 / $78,000 Tier 2 (calendar-year gross receipts). From Aug 1, 2027 the $78,000 limit is adjusted every two years for inflation.
Can I sell cottage food online or ship it in Minnesota?
Minnesota lets you take orders online or by phone, but the food must be handed over in person (pickup or your own delivery). Mailing or shipping is not allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Sources
- Minn. Stat. § 28A.152 (2024 version) (statute)
- Minn. Stat. § 28A.152 (as amended 2025) (statute)
- MDA: Cottage Food Law Guidance (agency)
Checked October 17, 2026. This is a checklist built from the sources above, not legal advice. Rules change; your county or the agency has the final word. Spotted something out of date? The about page explains how we check.
Tell us what to build next
Everything in Proofsheet is free during the beta. Leave your email and pick the feature you would pay for; we will write when it ships.