Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Minnesota: What You Need
The registration you need before you sell a single bake from your Minnesota kitchen.
On this page
What to remember
- Register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before your first sale, not after.
- The Cottage Food Exemption has been Minnesota law since 2015.
- The law covers training, allowed foods, labeling, sales locations, and the amount of sales.
- Your city or county may add its own requirements on top of the state registration.
- The rules sit in Minn. Stat. 28A.152, with amendments taking effect August 1, 2027.
If you bake from your kitchen and you want to sell what you bake, the state has one clear first step: register as a cottage food producer with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Everything else in the Cottage Food Exemption law, from the training to the label on your box to the table you set up on a Saturday, builds on that registration. Get it done early and the rest is mostly reading and following directions.
What the Cottage Food Exemption covers
Minnesota’s Cottage Food Exemption law first went into effect in 2015. The MDA’s cottage food law guidance lays out what the law covers: training, registration, the types of food allowed, food labeling, the types of sales locations, and the amount of sales. Read that guidance before you print a single label. Those details decide what you can bake, how you wrap it, where you can sell it, and when you have hit your limit for the year.
Register before you sell, even at the smallest scale
Every cottage food producer in Minnesota registers with the Department of Agriculture before selling, including a baker working in the lowest sales tier. If you are still testing recipes on friends, that is fine. The moment money changes hands, the registration needs to be in place. To get a sense of what the paperwork side runs, see home bakery license cost.
Check that your bakes are covered
Open the MDA cottage food law guidance and read the types of food allowed. Confirm the things you actually bake are on that list before you plan a menu.
Complete the training the law describes
The Cottage Food Law includes details on training. Work through what the MDA guidance asks for and keep a record that you finished it.
Register with the Department of Agriculture
Register as a cottage food producer before you sell anything. Do this first, even if your first order is small and going to a neighbor.
Set up your labels to match the law
Food labeling is part of the law. Build your label around the MDA guidance so every box and bag says what it is supposed to say.
Confirm where you are allowed to sell
The law describes the types of sales locations. Check that your farmers market, porch pickup, or event fits before you commit to a date.
Keep an eye on your sales amount
The law also covers the amount of sales. Track what you take in so you know where you stand.
Check your city and county
Call your local offices and ask what they require of a home food business at your address.
Your city or county may ask for more
Cottage food requirements for a Minnesota home based bakery can vary by city or county. Your state registration does not automatically answer every local question, so once it is in hand, call your city or county and ask what they need from a home baker. A short phone call now is much easier than finding out at a market that you needed one more piece of paper. You can also cross check the state rules against Forrager cottage food laws, and if you sell near a border, Michigan’s home bakery license is a useful comparison.
If your baking grows past cottage food
Cottage food has a ceiling, and plenty of home bakers eventually bump into it. As of August 1, 2025, several existing Minnesota Department of Agriculture food license classifications were simplified into one Food Handler license, so the path forward may look different than it did a few years ago. The MDA’s Food Licensing Wizard helps guide you to the license you might need, or points you to the authority responsible for licensing your type of food business. The Cottage Foods Exemption itself is set out in Minn. Stat. 28A.152, with further amendments taking effect August 1, 2027, so plan to re read the guidance before that date rather than relying on what you know today.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
Before you price your first order under the new registration, know what a batch actually costs you. Brevl’s recipes carry real costing, ingredient inventory, and a weekly planner, so the pricing conversation with yourself is short and based on numbers instead of guesses.
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my home in Minnesota?
To operate a home based bakery in Minnesota you typically need a Cottage Food Producer Registration from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Everyone who wants to make and sell foods described in the Cottage Food Law registers with the MDA before selling.
Can I sell before I register?
No. Registration comes first, and it applies even in the lowest sales tier. Register before your first sale rather than after your first order.
Is there a limit on how much I can sell?
The Cottage Food Law includes the amount of sales, and the MDA cottage food law guidance covers it. Read the current guidance for the figure that applies to you.
Does my city have its own rules?
Possibly. Cottage food requirements for a Minnesota home based bakery can vary by city or county, so check with your local offices after you register with the state.
What if I want to sell more than cottage food allows?
As of August 1, 2025, several MDA food license classifications were simplified into one Food Handler license. The MDA Food Licensing Wizard can guide you to the license you might need or point you to the authority responsible for your type of food business.
Where is the law written?
The Minnesota Cottage Foods Exemption is set out in Minn. Stat. 28A.152, with further amendments taking effect August 1, 2027.
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Cottage food law guidance
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Food licenses
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Food Licensing Wizard
- Cottage Food Law Library: Minnesota
- The Craft Map: Minnesota cottage food laws
- Business Licenses Guide: Home based bakery in Minnesota
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, and your city or county may add requirements. Confirm details with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and your local offices before you sell.