Home and Hearth BakerCottage foods exemption (registered cottage food producer)
Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (cottage foods exemption); 25.391 (home-processed pet treats); 28A.151 (samples); Minn. R. 4626.0020 subp. 62 (potentially hazardous food definition, cited in 25.391) · 1Sp2015 c 4 art 2 s 53; amended 2017 c 88 art 2 s 53 and 2021 c 28 ss 7-10; amended again by Laws 2025 c 34 (HF 2446) art 5 ss 14-19, effective 2027-08-01 (see pending_legislation)
Yearly sales limit
$78,000
Gross receipts of $78,000 or less per calendar year from all exempt food sales (28A.152 subd. 3). From 2027-08-01 MDA must adjust this cap for inflation every two years using the CPI, with July 2025 as the base (28A.152 subd. 8, added by Laws 2025 c 34). MDA had not published the first adjusted figure as of 2026-11-03. The $7,665 line (the $5,000 in subd. 4, adjusted for inflation from 2002) sets only the fee and training tier until 2027-08-01.
Gross receipts of $78,000 or less per calendar year from all exempt food sales (28A.152 subd. 3). From 2027-08-01 MDA must adjust this cap for inflation every two years using the CPI, with July 2025 as the base (28A.152 subd. 8, added by Laws 2025 c 34). MDA had not published the first adjusted figure as of 2026-11-03. The $7,665 line (the $5,000 in subd. 4, adjusted for inflation from 2002) sets only the fee and training tier until 2027-08-01.
Permit or registration
Yes
Registration (annual), not a license
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Food and Feed Safety Division
Fee: Tier 1 (gross sales $7,665 or less a year): no fee. Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000): $50 a year (28A.152 subd. 4; MDA). Registrations renewed by 2027-04-01 fall under these tiers. From 2027-08-01: one tier, $30 a year for everyone (28A.152 subd. 4 as amended); MDA has not yet said how this applies to registrations made before that date.
Official page
Registration (annual), not a license
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Food and Feed Safety Division
Fee: Tier 1 (gross sales $7,665 or less a year): no fee. Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000): $50 a year (28A.152 subd. 4; MDA). Registrations renewed by 2027-04-01 fall under these tiers. From 2027-08-01: one tier, $30 a year for everyone (28A.152 subd. 4 as amended); MDA has not yet said how this applies to registrations made before that date.
Official page
Food safety training
Yes
Before registering. Tier 1: free MDA online course and exam, every year. Tier 2: a commissioner-approved safe food handling course of no more than 8 hours, every 3 years while registered (28A.152 subd. 5); MDA names the University of Minnesota Extension Cottage Food Producer Food Safety Training (Extension lists $50, online self-paced). A certified food manager certificate is not accepted (MDA). Moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 needs the Tier 2 course. From 2027-08-01 all registrants take the approved course (up to 8 hours) every 3 years; MDA calls this advanced training.
Before registering. Tier 1: free MDA online course and exam, every year. Tier 2: a commissioner-approved safe food handling course of no more than 8 hours, every 3 years while registered (28A.152 subd. 5); MDA names the University of Minnesota Extension Cottage Food Producer Food Safety Training (Extension lists $50, online self-paced). A certified food manager certificate is not accepted (MDA). Moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 needs the Tier 2 course. From 2027-08-01 all registrants take the approved course (up to 8 hours) every 3 years; MDA calls this advanced training.
Where you make it
A home kitchen or a commercial kitchen, following local ordinances (MDA). Primary residence rules: not addressed. MDA: do not make, sell, or store cottage food in a home where anyone is sick. Cottage foods may not be made on site at a farmers' market or community event (MDA).
Selling in person
Allowed: directly to the consumer at community events and farmers' markets, and from your home where local ordinance allows (28A.152 subd. 2(a)); donations to fundraising community events (subd. 2(a)(3)). MDA: a farmers' market needs 3 or more sellers; unattended stands at home are allowed if zoning permits; food trucks or trailers allowed if no food is prepared inside.
Phone and online orders
Internet sales allowed (28A.152 subd. 2(d)); the statement must be shown on the website. Food must be picked up in person or delivered by the producer. Phone orders: not addressed.
Delivery and shipping
Allowed only by the person who made the food: 'the individual who prepared the food product must be the person who delivers the food product to the ultimate consumer' (28A.152 subd. 2(b)). MDA: personally delivered within Minnesota; no third-party or commercial delivery. From 2027-08-01 mail and commercial delivery are allowed.
Selling out of state
Outside this app's scope. MDA says cottage foods may cross state lines except home-canned or acidified jarred foods, which must be made and sold in Minnesota (28A.152 subd. 2(c)); the other state's rules apply there.
Stores and wholesale
Not allowed: selling to businesses for resale needs a food license, and producers cannot sell in another business's location, except at a qualifying farmers' market or community event held there (MDA)
Examples you can sell
Foods that are not potentially hazardous (MDA: pH 4.6 or below or water activity 0.85 or less), and home-processed and 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 (28A.152 subd. 1(a))
- Baked goods; butter or milk may be used in baked goods if the finished item meets the water activity rule (MDA)
- Certain jams and jellies (MDA)
- Home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with pH 4.6 or below, such as pickles and salsa (28A.152 subd. 1(a)(2); MDA)
- Baked or dehydrated pet treats for dogs or cats that are not potentially hazardous, under the same registration (25.391)
Not allowed
- Potentially hazardous foods (need time/temperature control)
- Meat and dairy products, including cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee, pickled eggs or meats, and jerky (MDA)
- Cream cheese or flavored butters (MDA)
- Chocolate-covered fruit (MDA)
- Tamales and egg rolls (MDA)
- Charcuterie boards with meat or cheese (MDA)
- Edible cannabinoids (THC, CBD) as ingredients (MDA)
The statement your labels must carry
These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.