Can I Sell Baked Goods From Home in Missouri

The Short Answer: Yes, With Conditions

Missouri's Home Sales Law (RSMo § 196.298) explicitly allows you to produce and sell non-potentially hazardous baked goods from your home kitchen. Under this statute, state and local health departments cannot require permits, inspections, or food safety certifications for qualifying products.

But "allowed" does not mean "unregulated." There are specific limits on what types of baked goods qualify, how you can sell them, and what local paperwork you still need to file.

Which Baked Goods Qualify

The statute covers shelf-stable, non-perishable baked goods — the kind that do not need refrigeration to stay safe. That includes:

• Yeast breads, rolls, and sourdough
• Cookies, brownies, and biscuits
• Fruit pies (apple, peach, cherry)
• Cakes without refrigerated fillings
• Pastries, donuts, and muffins

Items that require refrigeration are excluded. Cheesecakes, cream-filled pastries, custard pies, meringue pies, and anything with cream cheese frosting cannot legally be produced in a home kitchen for sale. These are classified as potentially hazardous foods (TCS), and selling them requires a licensed commercial kitchen.

There Is No "Home Bakery License" in Missouri

If you have been searching for a Missouri home bakery license, you will not find one — because it does not exist at the state level. RSMo § 196.298 specifically bars health departments from imposing licensing requirements on qualifying cottage food operations.

What you do need is separate from health licensing:

• Business registration: A Fictitious Name Registration ($7) with the Secretary of State if operating under a trade name, or an LLC filing ($50) if you want liability protection
• Sales tax license: Register through myTax Missouri with the Department of Revenue. The license is free, though first-time registrants typically post a $25 bond. Baked goods sold for home consumption qualify for the reduced 1.225% state food tax rate
• Local business license or home occupation permit: Requirements vary by city and county. Kansas City needs a Zoning Clearance Letter and KCMO Business License. St. Louis City requires a Home Occupancy Waiver and Cottage Food Production Waiver. Smaller cities may require an occupation license or nothing at all

How You Can Sell

The Home Sales pathway allows four sales channels:

1. Direct from your home — customers pick up orders at your residence
2. Local delivery — you bring orders to customers within Missouri
3. Online orders — through your website or social media, from Missouri buyers only
4. In-state shipping — via USPS, FedEx, or UPS to Missouri addresses

Selling across state lines, wholesaling to stores or restaurants, or selling through third-party distributors all require a commercial kitchen and additional licensing.

Labels Are Required

Every packaged baked good you sell needs a label with your name and home address, the product name, a full ingredient list with allergen declarations, net weight in both customary and metric units, and the statutory disclaimer: "This product is prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to inspection by the Department of Health and Senior Services."

The Farmers Market Question

Selling baked goods at a farmers market is legal in most Missouri jurisdictions — but not all. St. Louis County prohibits home-prepared foods at any county market or community event. In jurisdictions that allow it, you may need a market-specific vendor application and potentially a Farmers' Market Food Permit if you plan to offer samples.

Getting Started the Right Way

The gap between "Missouri says I can sell baked goods" and actually running a compliant operation is wider than most people expect. Product classification, local zoning, business registration, sales tax, and labeling all need to be handled before your first sale. Our Missouri Cottage Food & Home Food Business Guide covers the full first-sale workflow with city-specific checklists, so you do not miss a step.

See more Missouri guides →