What is cottage food? A Michigan buyer's guide
What is cottage food? How Michigan home bakers sell legally without a license, what the label tells you, what they can't make, and what to ask before you order.
By the Ajinto teamUpdated 7 min read
The short answer
- Cottage food is food made for sale in a home kitchen; in Michigan it's limited to shelf-stable foods that don't need refrigeration.
- Michigan cottage food makers don't need a license and their kitchens aren't inspected; the protections are the limits on food types and the required label.
- Every product must list the maker, ingredients, net weight and allergens, plus a statement that the home kitchen wasn't inspected by MDARD.
- Cheesecake, cream cheese frosting, pumpkin pie, meat, pickles and beverages can't be sold as cottage food in Michigan.
- You can buy Michigan cottage food online if you're in Michigan, and you must be offered a chance to talk with the maker in person or by video first.
Cottage food is food made for sale in someone's home kitchen instead of a licensed commercial kitchen. In Michigan, it's limited to shelf-stable foods that don't need refrigeration, like bread, cookies, cakes, fruit jam and candy. Makers don't need a license or inspection, but every item must be labeled, including a statement that the kitchen hasn't been inspected.
If you've bought a loaf of sourdough from a neighbor, a box of cookies at a craft show or a jar of jam at a farmers market, you've probably bought cottage food. Here's what that means for you as a buyer, and what to look for.
What counts as cottage food in Michigan?
Michigan's cottage food law (MCL 289.4102) lets people make certain foods in the kitchen of their primary home and sell them directly to customers. A house, apartment, condo or rental all count. A second home, a group home or a rented commercial kitchen does not.
The foods allowed are the ones MDARD calls "non-potentially hazardous": foods that stay safe at room temperature and don't need time or temperature control. MDARD's list includes:
- Cakes & Cupcakes. Shelf-stable icings, fondant, or one of MDARD's two approved buttercream recipes — no cream cheese frosting, custard, or whipped cream.
- Cookies & Bars. Cookies, brownies, blondies, decorated sugar cookies.
- Breads. Sourdough, loaves, rolls, bagels, quick breads. Shredded hard cheese or dried vegetables in the dough are fine; fresh vegetables and soft cheese aren't.
- Pies & Pastries. Baked fruit pies, muffins, scones, hand pies — no pumpkin, custard, cream, or meringue pies.
- Candy & Chocolate. Fudge, caramels, brittle, hard candy, chocolate-covered treats, freeze-dried candy — no caramel apples or alcohol.
- Jams & Jellies. Full-sugar fruit jams and jellies only — no pepper jelly, low-sugar jam, fruit butters, or pickles.
- Granola & Snacks. Granola, popcorn, trail mix, coated nuts, nut butters, dry cereal.
- Dry Mixes & Pantry. Baking and soup mixes, dried herbs, spice blends, roasted coffee, dried pasta, dry tea.
Home bakers make most of what you'll find: cookies, breads, muffins, cupcakes, celebration cakes, fruit pies, granola and candy.
Why is it legal to sell food from a home kitchen?
The law exempts cottage food operations from licensing and inspection. MDARD doesn't issue a permit and doesn't routinely inspect the kitchen. That's the trade-off that makes it possible for a home baker to start small.
The law manages risk in three ways instead:
- It limits the food. Only foods that don't support the growth of harmful bacteria at room temperature are allowed. The riskiest categories (meat, dairy, anything needing refrigeration, pickled and canned vegetables) are excluded.
- It requires a label on every product, so you know what's in it, who made it and that the kitchen wasn't inspected.
- It keeps sales small and direct. Makers sell only directly to consumers, not through stores, and their gross sales are capped at $50,000 a year ($75,000 for makers who sell items priced at $250 or more, like wedding cakes).
Cottage food makers aren't exempt from food safety law altogether. The law still prohibits adulterated food and still requires labeling, and MDARD can enforce both.
To be plain about it: no one routinely inspects a cottage food kitchen. Your protection is the type of food allowed, the label, and the fact that you can ask the maker questions directly.
What will you see on a cottage food label?
Every cottage food product must be labeled before it's sold. Here's what each part tells you:
| Label item | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Maker's name and home address, or name, phone number and an MSU registration number (format C-000000000) | Who made it and how to reach them. Registration with the MSU Product Center is optional; it lets a maker keep their home address off the label. |
| Product name | What it is |
| Ingredients, in order by weight | Everything in it, including what's inside prepared ingredients (for example, "chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin)"). No secret ingredients are allowed. |
| Net weight or volume, with the metric equivalent | How much you're getting, such as "Net Wt. 12 oz (340 g)" |
| Allergens | Major allergens either named in the ingredient list or in a "Contains:" line. Tree nuts must be named specifically (almonds, pecans). |
| The required statement | Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.in at least 11-point type |
The federal major allergens are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame. Sesame was added to the federal list in 2023, so a careful maker will call it out.
For custom cakes that can't carry a sticker, the maker can put all the label information on the invoice delivered with the cake. Smaller cakes must come boxed, with the label on the box.
What won't you find from a cottage food maker, and why?
If you've asked a home baker for a cheesecake and been told no, this is why. MDARD's list excludes anything that needs refrigeration or carries a higher safety risk:
| You won't find | Why |
|---|---|
| Cheesecake, cream pies, custard, lemon meringue | They need refrigeration |
| Pumpkin pie | It's a custard pie that needs refrigeration (fruit pies like apple or cherry are fine) |
| Cream cheese frosting | It needs refrigeration. Buttercream is allowed only from two lab-tested recipes followed exactly |
| Meat, jerky, smoked fish | No meat or fish of any kind |
| Pickles, relish, salsa, hot sauce, canned vegetables | Botulism risk from home canning and pickling |
| Beverages, including cider, kombucha and lemonade | No beverages (dry drink mixes and roasted coffee are fine) |
| Hot pepper jelly, low-sugar jam, apple butter | Only regular fruit jams and jellies are allowed |
| Caramel apples, liqueur truffles | Specifically excluded on MDARD's list |
| Pet treats | These need a commercial feed license |
| Anything frozen, fermented foods, sourdough starter | Frozen foods and fermented foods (other than vinegar) are excluded |
Honey and maple syrup aren't cottage foods either. They have their own separate exemptions, so you may still see them at the same market table.
Can you buy cottage food online in Michigan?
Yes. Since the law was updated on March 24, 2026, Michigan cottage food makers can sell online, by mail order and through delivery, with two conditions:
- Buyers must be in Michigan. Makers can't ship to or deliver in other states.
- You must have a chance to talk with the maker before you buy. The law says this includes meeting face to face or a virtual meeting where you can see and hear each other, like a video call.
You don't have to take the maker up on it. But if you have questions about allergens, a custom order or how the food is made, the law requires the maker to offer you that chance before an online, mail-order or delivery sale, and a good maker will welcome it.
Online orders can be picked up at the maker's home, delivered locally or shipped anywhere in Michigan. You won't find cottage food in grocery stores, cafés or other shops, because makers can't sell wholesale or on consignment.
What should you ask a home baker before ordering?
A short conversation prevents most problems. Good questions:
- Which allergens are in this, and which are handled in your kitchen? Ask about cross-contact, not just ingredients.
- Do you use peanuts or tree nuts at all? If you avoid a specific nut, name it.
- How much lead time do you need? Custom cakes and holiday orders often book up weeks ahead.
- How does pickup work? Ask for the time window. A maker may share the pickup address only after you order.
- Do you deliver or ship within Michigan? And what does it cost?
- How long will it stay fresh, and how should I store it?
- Do you take a deposit, and what's your cancellation policy? Especially for custom and large orders.
For example, a Dearborn parent ordering a birthday cake for a child with a sesame allergy might ask the baker to confirm the frosting, the sprinkles and the cake board are all sesame-free, and whether sesame products are baked in the same kitchen.
Why buy from home bakers?
- You can talk to the person who made it. Ask how it's made, request a change, or order something custom.
- Small batches. Most cottage food is baked to order or in small runs.
- Local money stays local. You're paying a neighbor, not a chain.
- Things you won't find in a store. Family recipes, cultural baked goods, custom-decorated cookies and seasonal specialties.
If you're looking for a specific kind of treat, the Michigan cottage food law guide explains the rules makers follow, and our guide to what Michigan cottage food makers can sell goes category by category. Planning for the holidays? See our guide to ordering Christmas cookie trays in Michigan.
Frequently asked questions
Is cottage food safe to eat?
Cottage food kitchens aren't inspected, so safety rests on the maker. The law reduces the risk by allowing only foods that stay safe at room temperature and by requiring full ingredient and allergen labels. Ask the maker any questions before you buy.
What does "made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected" mean?
It's a statement Michigan law requires on every cottage food label. It tells you the food was made under the cottage food exemption, in a home kitchen that MDARD did not license or inspect.
Why won't my home baker make a cheesecake?
Cheesecake needs refrigeration, so it isn't allowed under Michigan's cottage food law. The same goes for cream cheese frosting, cream pies and pumpkin pie.
Can cottage food be shipped to me in another state?
No. Michigan cottage food makers can sell online, by mail or for delivery only to consumers in Michigan.
Do cottage food makers need a license in Michigan?
No. Michigan cottage food makers don't need a license, permit or registration from MDARD. They must follow the food limits, label rules and sales cap.
Can I buy cottage food at a grocery store?
No. Cottage food can only be sold directly from the maker to you, so stores, cafés and restaurants can't resell it.
Sources
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.