Cottage food rules
MSU and the Michigan Cottage Food Law: What to Know
A plain answer on where MSU fits in Michigan cottage food law, and what you actually have to do to sell.
On this page
What to remember
- The MSU Product Center is named in section 289.4102 of the Michigan Food Law.
- Qualifying cottage food operations are exempt from food establishment licensing.
- No application forms and no registration are required under the exemption.
- You still have to follow labeling and the other provisions in the Michigan Food Law.
- Sales must go directly to the consumer, never by internet, mail order, consignment, or wholesale.
If you went looking for MSU because someone mentioned it in a cottage food conversation, here is the plainer story. MSU shows up in the statute, not as a step you have to complete before you bake. Start with the wider picture in Michigan cottage food law and then come back here for the MSU piece.
Where MSU fits in the law
Section 289.4102 of the Michigan Food Law is the section that covers cottage food operation requirements, a registration program, and the MSU Product Center. That is the whole of the MSU reference in the material here. The cottage food guidance and the getting started FAQ you will actually read day to day are published on michigan.gov, under the state agriculture department’s food and dairy pages.
What you can sell, and how you can sell it
The law covers shelf stable foods: breads, cookies, shelf stable pies and cakes, jams and jellies in glass jars, dried mixes, popcorn, and granola. If your bakes need the fridge to stay safe, they are not in this list.
Where you sell matters just as much as what you sell. Cottage food products may be sold directly from the cottage food operation to the consumer only. Internet sales, mail order, consignment, and wholesale are all prohibited.
Check your bakes against the list
Shelf stable breads, cookies, shelf stable pies and cakes, jams and jellies in glass jars, dried mixes, popcorn, and granola are the foods named in the material on Michigan’s cottage food law.
Sell face to face
Products may be sold directly from the cottage food operation to the consumer only. No internet or mail order, no consignment, no wholesale.
Skip the license if you qualify
Qualifying operators are exempt from a food establishment license under the Food Code, with no application forms to complete and no registration required.
Get your labels right
A cottage food operation must still comply with labeling and the other provisions in the Michigan Food Law. Our guide to Michigan cottage food law labels walks through what goes on yours.
Watch the high price rule
If a cottage food operation sells cottage food products at a price of $250.00 or more per unit, the gross sales of those products by the operation must not exceed a statutory limit.
Labels and the 2026 picture
The exemption from licensing is not an exemption from labeling. Michigan’s Food Law exempts cottage food operations from licensing and inspection provisions, but a cottage food operation must still comply with labeling and the other provisions in the Michigan Food Law. Rules around cottage food have also been moving, so it is worth reading what changed in 2026 before your next market day.
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- Michigan cottage food law: what home bakers need to know
- Michigan cottage food law labels: what goes on yours
- Michigan cottage food law update: what changed in 2026
Common questions
What does MSU have to do with the Michigan cottage food law?
Section 289.4102 of the Michigan Food Law covers cottage food operation requirements, a registration program, and the MSU Product Center. That is where MSU appears in the law.
Do I need a license or registration to sell cottage food in Michigan?
If you qualify for the cottage food exemptions, you are exempt from a food establishment license under the Food Code, with no application forms to complete and no registration required.
Can I sell my cottage food bakes online or ship them?
No. Cottage food products may be sold directly from the cottage food operation to the consumer only, and not by internet or mail order. Sales by consignment or at wholesale are also prohibited.
What foods can I sell under Michigan's cottage food law?
Shelf stable items such as breads, cookies, shelf stable pies and cakes, jams and jellies in glass jars, dried mixes, popcorn, and granola.
Is there a limit if I charge a high price per unit?
If a cottage food operation sells cottage food products at a price of $250.00 or more per unit, the gross sales of those products by the operation must not exceed a statutory limit.
Do I still have to label my bakes?
Yes. Cottage food operations are exempt from licensing and inspection provisions, but a cottage food operation must still comply with labeling and the other provisions in the Michigan Food Law.
Sources
This is general information about Michigan cottage food rules, not legal advice. Rules can change. Check the current Michigan Food Law and the state's cottage food guidance, or talk to a lawyer, before you sell.