Michigan cottage food shipping and delivery rules (2026)

Michigan cottage food sellers can ship, deliver, or use third-party delivery, but only to consumers in Michigan, and only after giving the buyer a chance to meet them in person or on a live video call. Every item has to be packaged and labeled before it's sold. Shipping out of state isn't allowed, and a farm stop or retail store can't serve as a pickup point.

Those rules come from the 2026 amendment to Michigan's cottage food law (MCL 289.4102, effective March 24, 2026) and from MDARD's guidance. Below is how each fulfillment method works in practice, what ships well, and how to pack it.

Can you ship cottage food in Michigan?

Yes, within Michigan. The statute allows online, mail-order and third-party delivery sales if two conditions are met:

So you can mail a box of cookies from Marquette to Monroe. You can't mail the same box to Toledo, Chicago or a relative in Florida.

What rules apply to every delivered or shipped order?

Whichever way the food travels, the same rules apply.

Each label needs your name and address (or phone number and MSU registration number), the product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight with the metric equivalent, allergens, and the statement Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. in at least the equivalent of 11-point type. Michigan cottage food label requirements covers each element.

How does pickup work?

Pickup is the simplest method and the one most home bakers start with. The buyer orders, then collects from your home or an agreed meeting spot.

• Home pickup. Share your address only after the order is confirmed. A porch shelf or a set pickup window keeps it manageable.
• Meet-ups. A public spot like a park-and-ride or library lot works if you'd rather not have buyers at the house.
• Not at a store or farm stop. MDARD says a farm stop or other retail market can't act as a pickup point for pre-sold cottage food. The food can't be left at a retail location for buyers to collect later. That includes a friend's coffee shop.

Pickup also covers the interaction rule for buyers who choose to meet you. It's still smart to offer a video-call option before the first sale to new buyers, especially if a family member collects the order.

How does delivering it yourself work?

Self-delivery works well for local orders and for fragile items like celebration cakes.

• Set a radius. Pick a distance you can cover without eating your profit, such as 10 or 15 miles, and charge a delivery fee that covers gas and time.
• Batch deliveries. One delivery window per day, or a few set days a week, keeps driving time down.
• Bring the paperwork. For custom cakes too large or decorated to label, MDARD allows the label information to go on the invoice. Hand that invoice over with the cake. Smaller cakes go in a box with the label on the box.
• Returnable stands. Cake stands and serving dishes you take back are fine if you clean them like any other food equipment.

Can you use DoorDash or other third-party delivery?

The law allows third-party delivery, with the same two conditions as any online sale: Michigan consumers only, and a chance to interact with you before the sale. Don't count on the driver handoff as the interaction. Offer the in-person or video option yourself, before the sale.

Two things to check before you sign up for a delivery app or courier service:

1. The platform's own rules. Michigan law allowing third-party delivery doesn't mean every app accepts home-kitchen food sellers. Read the platform's seller terms or ask them directly.
2. Where the food waits. The food should go from your home to the buyer. It shouldn't sit at a retail business along the way, since MDARD doesn't allow a retail location to act as a pickup point or holding spot.

The statute speaks of a "third-party food delivery platform" and doesn't say how a local courier or a neighbor you pay to drive fits in. Apply the same Michigan-only and interaction rules either way, and ask MDARD if your setup is unusual.

How do you ship cottage food within Michigan?

Shipping lets you reach buyers across the state. It works best for sturdy, shelf-stable products.

Which products ship well?

All of these have to be on MDARD's allowed list. What you can sell under Michigan cottage food law has the full list, including the buttercream and jam rules.

Packaging tips

• Cool completely before wrapping. Trapped heat turns into moisture and soggy cookies.
• Seal each item. Heat-sealed bags or individually wrapped cookies stay fresher and keep flavors from mixing.
• Label the product package, not just the box. The required label goes on the food package the buyer keeps.
• Use two layers of protection. Put the product in a sturdy inner container like a tin or rigid box, then pack that inside a shipping box with cushioning on all sides.
• Pad glass jars. Wrap each jam jar on its own and fill empty space so jars can't touch or shift.
• Mind the calendar. Ship early in the week so packages don't sit in a warehouse over the weekend. Hold off on chocolate during hot stretches.
• Include a note. A card with storage tips, a best-by suggestion and how to reach you for the next order helps.

How do you check that the buyer is in Michigan?

Check the delivery or shipping address, not the billing address. Michigan ZIP codes begin with 48 or 49, so an address with any other ZIP isn't in Michigan.

Build the check into your ordering so you don't have to catch it by hand. Your storefront should refuse out-of-state shipping and delivery addresses at checkout. If you take orders by message, confirm the full address before you take payment.

Gift orders need extra care. A Michigan buyer can't have you ship to a relative in Ohio. If an out-of-state buyer wants to send a gift to someone in Michigan, the statute doesn't clearly address who counts as the "consumer." Ask MDARD at MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov before you take that order.

Example: a Traverse City jam maker ships statewide

Here's a made-up example.

A jam maker in Traverse City sells cherry and strawberry jam in glass jars. Both are fruit jams made with full sugar, so they're allowed. She skips her hot pepper jelly because vegetable jams aren't allowed. Her shop offers porch pickup, delivery in town on Fridays, and shipping anywhere in Michigan.

Each jar carries a full label with her name, phone number and MSU registration number instead of her home address. Each label lists every ingredient in descending order by weight and shows the net weight in ounces and grams plus the home-kitchen statement. Her checkout only accepts Michigan addresses, and her shop has a link to book a video call before ordering.

A buyer in Detroit orders a three-jar gift set. She wraps each jar, packs it in a divided box, and ships it on a Monday. When a customer in Indiana asks for the same set, she explains that Michigan law doesn't let her ship out of state and suggests picking it up on their next trip north.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ship homemade baked goods out of state from Michigan?

No. Under the cottage food law, online, mail-order and delivery sales can only go to consumers in Michigan. Out-of-state sales are outside the cottage food exemption.

Can I sell cottage food through DoorDash or Uber Eats in Michigan?

Michigan's law allows third-party delivery, as long as buyers are in Michigan and you offered them a chance to meet you in person or by live video before the sale. Whether a specific app accepts home-kitchen sellers is up to that app, so check its terms.

Can a coffee shop or farm stand hold my orders for pickup?

No. MDARD says a farm stop or retail market can't act as a pickup point or third-party delivery platform for pre-sold cottage food.

Can I use ice packs to ship foods that need refrigeration?

No. Foods that need refrigeration aren't cottage foods at all, however you pack them. Stick to shelf-stable products from MDARD's allowed list.

Do shipping fees count toward my sales cap?

The statute caps "gross sales" but doesn't say whether shipping or delivery charges count. To be careful, include what buyers pay you for delivery in your gross sales total, and ask MDARD if you're near the limit. The Michigan cottage food sales limit covers how the cap is counted.

Does my label need to be on the shipping box?

The label must be on the product package, applied before the sale. A label on the outer shipping box alone doesn't meet that rule, because the buyer often throws the box away.

Sources

• MCL 289.4102, Michigan Legislature
• MDARD: Cottage food
• MDARD: Getting started and FAQ
• MDARD: What can I make?
• MDARD: Labeling

For the rest of the rules, see the Michigan cottage food law guide and how to sell baked goods online in Michigan.

This is general information, not legal advice.