Do you need a cottage food license in Michigan? (2026)

Michigan requires no cottage food license, registration or inspection. See what you still need: labels, the sales cap, local rules, and when a license applies.

By the Ajinto teamUpdated September 24, 2026Facts checked against MCL 289.4102 and MDARD on September 24, 20267 min read

The short answer

Michigan requires no license, permit, registration or inspection to run a cottage food business.
You still must sell only allowed foods, label every item, sell directly to consumers and stay under the sales cap ($50,000 a year, or $75,000 if you sell products priced at $250 or more per unit).
Local zoning rules, DBA filings and farmers market vendor rules can still apply.
MSU's cottage food registration is optional, costs up to $50 once, and lets you keep your home address off labels.
Using a rented commercial kitchen means you need a food establishment license.

No. Michigan doesn't require a license, permit, registration or inspection to sell cottage food. MCL 289.4102 exempts cottage food operations from the state's food licensing and inspection rules, and MDARD has no application to fill out. You still have to follow the law: allowed foods only, a full label on every item, direct sales only, and gross sales under $50,000 a year.

So "no license" doesn't mean "no rules." This guide lists what you actually have to do, the local and optional steps worth knowing about, and the situations where you'd need a real food license.

Do you need a license to sell cottage food in Michigan?

No state license, no permit, no registration, and no kitchen inspection. That comes straight from the statute and from MDARD's own FAQ.

In practice, that means:

No MDARD application or fee. MDARD's FAQ says there's nothing to apply for or register.
No kitchen inspection. Nobody inspects your home kitchen before you start. That's why every label has to carry the home-kitchen statement.
No special equipment. MDARD says your equipment doesn't need to be NSF-approved. Your regular home oven and mixer are fine.

MDARD can still act if something goes wrong, such as a complaint about mislabeled or unsafe food. You don't need permission to start, but you are accountable once you do.

What do you still need to do?

These are the legal requirements that replace a license. Every one of them comes from the statute or from MDARD's guidance.

Requirement	What it means	Source
Sell only allowed foods	Foods that don't need refrigeration or temperature control, from MDARD's allowed list. No cheesecake, no cream cheese frosting, no pickles or canned vegetables, no meat.	MDARD "What can I make?"
Label everything before sale	Name and address (or registration number), product name, ingredients, net weight with metric, allergens, and the home-kitchen statement.	MCL 289.4102(2), (3)
Make and store food at home	Only in the kitchen of your primary residence. House, apartment, condo or rental all count. A second home, motor home, group home, sorority or fraternity house, shed or barn doesn't.	MCL 289.4102(6), MDARD FAQ
Sell directly to consumers	No wholesale to shops or cafés and no consignment.	MCL 289.4102(4)
Stay under the sales cap	$50,000 in gross sales a year, or $75,000 if you sell products priced at $250 or more per unit.	MCL 289.4102(5)
Keep sales records	MDARD may ask for written documentation of your gross sales.	MCL 289.4102(5), MDARD FAQ
Follow online-sale conditions	Online, mail-order and delivery sales go only to Michigan consumers, after giving them a chance to meet you in person or by live video.	MCL 289.4102(4)

The label statement must read Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. and be printed in at least the equivalent of 11-point type, in a color that stands out against the background. Michigan cottage food label requirements walks through every line.

Do local governments require anything?

Possibly. The cottage food exemption doesn't override local ordinances, zoning included (MCL 289.4102(7)). A state exemption from food licensing doesn't exempt you from your city's or township's rules.

Zoning and home businesses. Some communities have rules for home-based businesses. Call your city or township zoning office and ask whether a home-based food business needs anything from them.
DBA (assumed name). If you sell under a business name that isn't your legal name, your county or municipality may require a DBA filing. MDARD's FAQ tells sellers to check with their county government office.
LLC. You don't need one to sell cottage food. If you decide to form one, that's handled by LARA, not MDARD.

Can a farmers market require a license?

Yes. MDARD's FAQ says a farmers market can require vendors to hold a food establishment license or meet other requirements, even though the cottage food law doesn't. That's the market's rule, not the state's.

If you plan to sell at a market, ask the market manager for their written vendor requirements before you apply, so a surprise license or paperwork request doesn't cost you the season.

Is the MSU cottage food registration a license?

No. The MSU Product Center runs a voluntary registration for cottage food businesses. It isn't a license, and you can sell legally without it.

What it gets you:

A way to keep your home address off your labels. A registered operation can print its name, phone number and registration number (format C-000000000) instead of its physical address.
Privacy for your information. The statute exempts registration information from Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.

The fee is up to $50, one time (MCL 289.4102(8)–(10)). For sellers who ship or sell through online listings, keeping your street address off every package is the main practical reason to register.

Do you need food safety training?

Not by law. MSU Extension offers an online Michigan cottage food law training, funded by MDARD, and it's a good way to learn the rules and safe food handling. It's optional.

A farmers market or event organizer may ask for it, so it can be worth doing anyway.

What if you have a private well or a septic system?

MDARD's guidance has two notes for rural sellers:

Private well: use potable water and test your well water at least once a year.
Septic system: MDARD recommends having your system evaluated by your local health department before you start. MDARD notes that bakery wastewater can strain a septic system.

Neither one is a license or a permit. It's MDARD's advice for keeping your food and your system safe.

When would you need a food license?

You'd need to move beyond the cottage food exemption in these situations. At that point the usual food licensing rules apply, and MDARD can tell you which license fits.

You want to use a rented or commercial kitchen. MDARD is clear: you can't use a rented commercial kitchen under the cottage food exemption. Producing in a licensed kitchen means you need a food establishment license. Michigan has incubator kitchens for this. MSU keeps a map of them.
You want to sell foods that need refrigeration. Cheesecake, cream pies, cream cheese frosting, meat, dairy and similar foods are outside cottage food, however you sell them.
You want to sell to stores, cafés or other resellers. Cottage food is direct to consumer only, so wholesale and consignment aren't allowed.
You want to ship out of state. Online, mail-order and delivery cottage food sales are limited to Michigan consumers.
Your sales are headed past the cap. Gross sales over $50,000 (or $75,000 with $250+ items) are outside the exemption. Plan ahead if you're getting close. The Michigan cottage food sales limit explains how it's counted.
You want to make pet treats. MDARD says pet food and treats need a commercial feed license. They aren't cottage food.

Honey and maple syrup aren't cottage foods either. They have their own separate exemptions.

Here's a made-up example.

A home baker in Dearborn plans to sell decorated sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies for holidays and Eid, through an online shop with porch pickup. Here's her pre-launch list:

State license: none. Cost: $0.
Products: cookies are on MDARD's allowed list. She keeps her icing to one made entirely of shelf-stable ingredients, and skips cream cheese frosting.
Labels: she prints labels with ingredients, allergens (wheat, eggs, milk), net weight in ounces and grams, and the home-kitchen statement.
MSU registration: she registers for the one-time fee so her labels show a phone number and registration number instead of her home address.
Local check: she calls the city about home-business rules and the county clerk about a DBA for her shop name.
Records: her order history tracks gross sales against $50,000.

Her total required cost to become legal is the cost of labels. Everything else is optional or local.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cottage food license cost in Michigan?

Nothing, because there isn't one. The only state-related fee you might pay is the optional MSU Product Center registration, which is up to $50, one time.

Do I need to register my cottage food business in Michigan?

No. MDARD has no registration. The MSU Product Center registration is voluntary. It mainly lets you put a registration number on your label instead of your home address.

Will someone inspect my kitchen?

No. Cottage food operations are exempt from inspection. MDARD can still respond to complaints and enforce the adulteration and labeling rules.

Can I use a church or commercial kitchen under the cottage food law?

No. Cottage food must be made in the kitchen of your primary residence. Using a rented commercial kitchen means you need a food establishment license.

Do I need a food handler's certificate or ServSafe to sell cottage food in Michigan?

The cottage food law doesn't require one. MSU Extension offers an optional online cottage food training funded by MDARD, and some markets or events may ask for training.

Do I need insurance to sell cottage food in Michigan?

The cottage food law doesn't require it. Farmers markets and event organizers can set their own vendor requirements, so ask each one.

Sources

For the full picture, read the Michigan cottage food law guide and how to start a home bakery in Michigan. Questions about your own situation can go to MDARD at MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov (include your ZIP code) or 800-292-3939.

This is general information, not legal advice.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can change; confirm anything you're unsure about with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov). Ajinto is not affiliated with MDARD or MSU. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@ajinto.com.