Cottage food rules
Does Mississippi Have Cottage Food Laws? What Home Bakers Can Sell
A clear answer on Mississippi cottage food rules, and what to check before you sell.
On this page
What to remember
- Mississippi has a cottage food law, published by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
- The Mississippi State Department of Health also publishes cottage food guidance and a questions and answers document.
- Cottage food products are non potentially hazardous foods made in the kitchen of a private home.
- A private home means the place where an individual lives, whether or not it is a house.
- Cottage food products must be stored in your home following the safe food handling guidelines in the U.S. FDA Retail Food Code.
The first thing to understand is what counts as a cottage food product in Mississippi. Cottage food products are non potentially hazardous foods that are made in the kitchen of a private home. That is the definition the state extension service gives, and it is the one that decides whether your bakes fit. A private home is defined as the place where an individual lives, regardless of whether it is a house. So an apartment kitchen counts the same as a farmhouse kitchen.
The Mississippi State Department of Health provides laws, regulations and guidelines for cottage food products in order to protect cottage food operators and consumers from potential food safety issues. That is worth reading twice, because it tells you who these rules are for. They are not there to trip you up. They are there so you and the people eating your bakes are protected. If you are still working out what to sell, it helps to see how other states draw the line, like what home bakers can sell in Louisiana.
Where the rules come from
Two state bodies show up in the material. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce publishes the Cottage Food Law itself. The Mississippi State Department of Health publishes cottage food guidance, including the questions and answers document updated in September 2023. When you are checking a detail, go to the source document rather than a summary, and note which agency wrote it.
How you store what you bake
Storage is part of the law, not an afterthought. Cottage food products must be stored in the operator’s home following the safe food handling guidelines outlined in the U.S. FDA Retail Food Code. In plain terms, your finished bakes stay at home under proper conditions until they go out to a customer. That shapes how much you can make ahead, and how you plan a week of orders.
Once you know what you can sell, the next question is usually money. Working out a real price per bake matters as much as the rules do, and it is easier when you can see your ingredient costs clearly. A free tool can help you get a number you trust before you take an order.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
What is changing in 2026
A 2026 Mississippi Senate bill, SB2394, defines cottage food as specific types of foods that individuals are allowed to make in their private homes with the intention of selling those food items for public consumption. A bill is not the same as a passed law, so treat it as something to watch rather than something to follow today. Check the bill status page and the state guidance before you change how you sell.
If you sell across state lines or you are comparing rules, the questions come up state by state. Our guides on Florida cottage food rules and Georgia cottage food rules show how the details differ, which is a good reminder to read your own state’s documents rather than a neighbor’s.
What to do next
Read the state law
Pull the Cottage Food Law document published by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
Read the Health Department guidance
Get the current cottage food questions and answers document, and check the date on it.
Confirm your kitchen fits
Cottage food products are made in the kitchen of a private home, which is the place where an individual lives.
Set up safe storage
Store finished products in your home following the safe food handling guidelines in the U.S. FDA Retail Food Code.
Check the pending bill
Look at SB2394 and its status before you assume anything about 2026 changes.
Common questions
Does Mississippi have cottage food laws?
Yes. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce publishes a Cottage Food Law document, and the Mississippi State Department of Health publishes cottage food guidance.
What counts as a cottage food product in Mississippi?
Cottage food products are non potentially hazardous foods that are made in the kitchen of a private home.
What is a private home under the rules?
A private home is defined as the place where an individual lives, regardless of whether it is a house. An apartment can qualify.
Where do I store cottage food products?
Cottage food products must be stored in the operator's home following the safe food handling guidelines outlined in the U.S. FDA Retail Food Code.
Is the 2026 Senate bill already law?
SB2394 is a 2026 Mississippi Senate bill that defines cottage food as specific types of foods individuals may make in their private homes to sell for public consumption. Check the bill status page for where it stands before relying on it.
Sources
- Mississippi Cottage Food Law (Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce)
- Cottage Food guidance (Mississippi State Department of Health)
- Mississippi Cottage Food Operations: Regulations and Guidance (MSU Extension)
- Mississippi Cottage Food Operations (MSU Extension publication P3286)
- Cottage food storage guidance (Mississippi State Department of Health)
- Mississippi Senate Bill 2394 (2026)
This is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules can change. Check the current Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and Mississippi State Department of Health documents, or ask a licensed professional, before you sell.