Minnesota Cottage Food Law 2026: $78,000 Cap, Registration

Minnesota's cottage food exemption, Minn. Stat. 28A.152, lets individuals sell food that is not potentially hazardous, plus certain home-canned pickles, vegetables and fruits, without a food handler license. Sellers must register every year with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or MDA, complete food safety training and keep gross receipts at $78,000 or less a year. Sales may be made online, but the person who made the food must deliver it. A 2025 law will allow mail and commercial delivery starting Aug. 1, 2027. This guide covers what you can sell, how you can sell, labeling and when you need a license instead.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and local zoning, HOA and tax rules vary. Confirm current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or with an attorney, before you start selling.

Quick facts

Sellers must register with MDA every year before selling. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 4
Registration is free for sellers with $7,665 or less in annual sales and costs $50 a year above that. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 4; MDA Cottage Food Law Guidance
Gross receipts may not exceed $78,000 in a calendar year. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 3
Food safety training is required before registering. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 5
Online sales are allowed, but the person who made the food must deliver it to the consumer. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2
Home-canned products may not be sold outside Minnesota. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2

What the law calls it

The statute describes food that is "not potentially hazardous" and "home-processed and home-canned food products," and creates a "cottage foods account." The exemption covers an individual, who may organize the business as a legal entity. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1

Foods you can sell

Food that is not potentially hazardous as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4626.0020, subpart 62. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1
Home-canned pickles, vegetables or fruits with an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of .85 or less, processed and canned in Minnesota. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1

Foods you cannot sell

Potentially hazardous foods, meaning foods that need time or temperature control for safety. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1
Home-canned foods that do not meet the pH or water activity limits. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1

Sales limit

$78,000 in gross receipts per calendar year. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 3
Starting Aug. 1, 2027, MDA must adjust the cap every two years for inflation. Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (current text with 2025 amendments)

Where and how you can sell

Directly to the consumer at a community event or farmers market, from your home to the extent local ordinance allows, or by donation to certain fundraising events. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2
Online: allowed, but the food must be delivered directly to the consumer by the person who made it. The website must display "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2
Mail and shipping: the current law requires the maker to deliver in person. A 2025 amendment allows delivery by mail or commercial delivery starting Aug. 1, 2027. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2; Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (current text with 2025 amendments)
Out of state: home-canned products may not be sold outside Minnesota. The law does not say the same for other exempt foods, but in-person delivery by the maker is required. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2
Wholesale: the exemption covers sales directly to the ultimate consumer only. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2

Labeling rules

Labels must show the seller's name and registration number or address, the date the food was prepared, ingredients and possible allergens and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1
Display a sign at the point of sale with the same statement. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1

Registration and training

MDA must register a seller within 30 days of a complete registration, and registration is deemed accepted after 30 days. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 4
Fee-paying sellers must complete an approved safe food handling course of up to eight hours every three years. Sellers exempt from the fee must pass a free online course and exam. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 5
Starting Aug. 1, 2027, anyone who holds a food handler license under section 28A.04 cannot use the exemption, and the annual fee becomes $30. Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (current text with 2025 amendments)

Zoning, HOAs and local rules

The law does not preempt local business licensing, sanitation, public health or zoning ordinances. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 6
Home sales are allowed only to the extent local ordinance allows. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2
Check your HOA documents, since MDA does not review private covenants.

Inspections

Exempt sellers are not licensed, and labels state the products are not subject to state inspection. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1

When you need a license instead

Potentially hazardous foods, sales above $78,000 and wholesale sales require a food handler license from MDA. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1; Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 3

Timeline

2015: the Legislature enacted the current cottage food section (1st Special Session 2015, ch. 4). Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. history
2021: Laws 2021, ch. 28 amended the section. Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. history
Aug. 1, 2027: Laws 2025, ch. 34 amendments take effect, including mail and commercial delivery, a single tier with a $30 yearly fee and inflation adjustments to the cap. Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (current text with 2025 amendments); MDA Cottage Food Law Guidance
Oct. 13, 2026: this page was last reviewed against Minnesota statutes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Minnesota?

No license, but you must register with MDA every year. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 4.

How much does Minnesota cottage food registration cost?

Free at $7,665 or less in annual sales and $50 a year above that. Source: MDA Cottage Food Law Guidance.

What is the Minnesota cottage food sales cap?

$78,000 in gross receipts per calendar year. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 3.

Can I sell cottage food online in Minnesota?

Yes, but you must deliver the food yourself, and your website must show the required statement. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2.

Can I mail or ship cottage food in Minnesota?

Not until Aug. 1, 2027, when mail and commercial delivery become allowed. Sources: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2; Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (current text with 2025 amendments).

Can I sell to stores or coffee shops?

No. The exemption covers direct sales to the ultimate consumer. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 2.

Can I sell home-canned pickles?

Yes, if they have a pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of .85 or less and are canned in Minnesota. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1.

Do I need food safety training?

Yes. The course depends on whether you pay the registration fee. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 5.

What must my Minnesota label say?

Your name and registration number or address, the date made, ingredients, allergens and the homemade statement. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 1.

Do I need city approval?

Possibly. Local licensing and zoning rules still apply. Source: Minn. Stat. 28A.152, subd. 6.

Official sources

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and local zoning, HOA and tax rules vary. Confirm current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or with an attorney, before you start selling.

Minnesota Cottage Food Laws