Start a Home Kitchen in Minnesota

The steps, the costs, where to apply, and how to get inspection-ready — in Minnesota's own program terms.

Cottage food law

Sales cap: $78,000 in gross receipts per calendar year (current; per Minn. Stat. § 28A.152, subd. 3 and the MDA). A lower Tier 1 threshold of $7,665 separates the no-fee training tier from the $50-fee Tier 2 tier under current rules. FUTURE: effective August 1, 2027 (2025 Session Law ch. 34, art. 5), the commissioner must adjust the cap every two years for CPI inflation using July 2025 as the base month, and the single-tier $30 registration fee applies regardless of sales volume.

Allowed foods: Only exempt foods under Minn. Stat. § 28A.152: (1) non-potentially hazardous foods such as baked goods and certain jams and jellies; (2) home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of 0.85 or less (home-canned products in this category may not be sold outside Minnesota); and (3) home-processed pet treats for dogs and cats under Minn. Stat. § 25.391 (baked or dehydrated, safe for human consumption and the intended species). Everything else — potentially hazardous foods (e.g., meat, dairy, cut produce, low-acid canned goods), food sold for resale/wholesale, and food from a holder of a food handler license — is not allowed. Labels must show the producer's name and registration number or address, date of preparation, ingredients and possible allergens, and the statement: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."

🥧 Cottage track in Minnesota

🥧 Cottage Food — Shelf-Stable Cottage food law — the shelf-stable track: preorder / pickup, never reservations.

Sales cap (cottage track): $78,000 in gross receipts per calendar year (current; per Minn. Stat. § 28A.152, subd. 3 and the MDA). A lower Tier 1 threshold of $7,665 separates the no-fee training tier from the $50-fee Tier 2 tier under current rules. FUTURE: effective August 1, 2027 (2025 Session Law ch. 34, art. 5), the commissioner must adjust the cap every two years for CPI inflation using July 2025 as the base month, and the single-tier $30 registration fee applies regardless of sales volume.

Labeling (from the published steps):

Maintain required labeling and the "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection" sign/placard at the point of sale and on any sales website.

Where you may sell (from the published rules):

Receive your registration card with a unique registration number by mail (allow 3–4 weeks)
Complete training: if expected gross sales are $7,665 or less, take the free MDA Tier 1 online training and exam each year
Receive your registration card and unique registration number by mail (allow 3–4 weeks)
Sell only directly to ultimate consumers (farmers' markets, community events, from home, online with producer delivery/pickup) and stay under the $78,000 annual cap.

🌮 Street track in Minnesota

🌮 Street Food — Sidewalk & Mobile

Street and mobile vendors do not cook from home kitchens — a different permit stack, and walk-up sales only.

No distinct street-vendor (sidewalk / mobile) regime is documented in Minnesota's published data on this site yet — mobile food is permitted separately from home kitchens; check with the local health department.

The permit steps

No license or permit is required — the Cottage Foods Exemption replaces licensing under Minn. Stat. §§ 28A.01–28A.16, but ANNUAL REGISTRATION with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is mandatory before selling.
Tier 1 (gross annual sales of $7,665 or less): complete the MDA online training and exam each year before registering; no registration fee.
Tier 2 (gross annual sales of $7,666 to $78,000): complete an MDA-approved safe food handling course once every three years; pay the $50 annual registration fee.
Receive your registration card with a unique registration number by mail (allow 3–4 weeks); post it where customers can see it.
Maintain required labeling and the "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection" sign/placard at the point of sale and on any sales website.

How it works, start to finish

Confirm your products qualify: only non-potentially hazardous foods, qualifying home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits (pH ≤4.6 or water activity ≤0.85), or qualifying pet treats.
Check with your city, county, or township about business licensing or zoning restrictions on home sales.
Complete training: if expected gross sales are $7,665 or less, take the free MDA Tier 1 online training and exam each year; if more than $7,665, take an approved Tier 2 food safety course (e.g., UMN Extension) once every three years.
Register online with the MDA each year (choose "Cottage Foods Producer Registration") — or request a paper application from MDA.Licensing@state.mn.us / 651-201-6062.
Receive your registration card and unique registration number by mail (allow 3–4 weeks); post the card where you sell.
Label every product and display the "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection" sign at point of sale (and on your website).
Sell only directly to ultimate consumers (farmers' markets, community events, from home, online with producer delivery/pickup) and stay under the $78,000 annual cap.

Where to apply in Minnesota

No county opt-in or opt-out program exists — the cottage food exemption applies statewide. However, the statute does not preempt any local business-licensing, sanitation, public-health, or zoning ordinance, and home sales are allowed only "to the extent allowed by local ordinance," so a city, county, or township may impose its own requirements or prohibit home food sales.

Official sources — start with the agency or department that runs Minnesota's program:

Inspection prep (general)

General prep that applies in most programs — your law guide and health department have the specifics for Minnesota:

Write your standard operating procedures: foods handled, prep methods, cleaning schedule, refuse disposal, and your time/temperature control plan.
Complete the food safety training your program requires and keep the certificate where an inspector can see it.
Have a calibrated food thermometer, proper cold storage, and labels that meet your program's rules.
Keep pets out of the kitchen during production, and separate household and business ingredients.

Read the full Minnesota law guide → · Check your eligibility → · Ask the guide about Minnesota →