Do You Need a License to Sell Food From Home in Michigan?

The Short Answer: Usually No

Michigan doesn't require a license, permit, registration fee, or pre-opening kitchen inspection to sell food from your home — as long as what you're selling qualifies under the state's cottage food exemption.

That exemption, codified under Section 4102 of the Michigan Food Law, lets you produce and sell certain shelf-stable foods from your primary residence without going through MDARD or your local health department. No application. No annual renewal. No inspector walking through your kitchen before you start.

But the exemption isn't a blank check. It comes with strict limits on what you can make, where you can sell it, and how much you can earn.

What Qualifies as Cottage Food

The dividing line is food safety classification. Cottage food must be "non-potentially hazardous" — the food science term is non-TCS (non-Time/Temperature Control for Safety). These are products that stay safe at room temperature because of low water activity or high acidity.

Products that qualify include breads, cookies, muffins, brownies, fruit pies with shelf-stable fillings, celebration cakes without perishable frosting, hard candies, dry mixes, granola, roasted coffee, dried pasta, fruit-only jams, and spice blends.

Products that don't qualify include cheesecakes, cream-filled pastries, fresh pasta, pickled vegetables, salsas, hot sauces, jerky, dairy products, meat, pet treats, beverages of any kind, and anything containing garlic or herbs in oil.

If your product needs refrigeration to stay safe, it's not cottage food.

The Rules You Must Follow

Even without a license, you're bound by specific operating constraints:

Location: All production must happen in the kitchen of your primary single-family residence. Not a garage, barn, shed, or friend's kitchen.

Sales cap: $50,000 in gross annual sales per person. If every product you sell is priced at $250 or more per unit, the cap rises to $75,000. These limits adjust annually for inflation starting October 2026.

Sales channels: Direct-to-consumer only. You can sell at farmers markets, craft fairs, roadside stands, through your front door, and — since March 2026 — through online ordering and in-state delivery. Wholesale, consignment, and sales to restaurants or retail stores are prohibited.

Labeling: Every product needs a label showing the product name, net weight in US and metric units, a complete ingredient list, allergen declarations, and a specific MDARD disclaimer in at least 11-point font stating your kitchen has not been inspected.

Online sales: If you sell online, you must offer buyers a chance for real-time voice or video interaction (such as a phone/VoIP call or video call) before the sale is completed. All deliveries must stay within Michigan.

When You Do Need a License

The cottage food exemption dissolves the moment you cross any of its boundaries:

• Your annual sales exceed the cap
• You start making products that require refrigeration
• You sell to a store, restaurant, or wholesaler
• You move production out of your home kitchen

At that point, you need either an MDARD food establishment license (for wholesale and manufacturing) or a local health department food service license (for direct retail and on-site consumption). Both require a commercial-grade kitchen, plan review, food manager certification, and regular inspections.

Getting Started Without Overthinking It

The barrier to entry is genuinely low. Pick a product that's clearly shelf-stable, design a compliant label, track your sales from day one, and start selling. The Michigan Cottage Food & Home Food Business Guide covers the full eligibility checklist, label templates, and revenue tracking tools to keep you on the right side of the law from your first sale.

See more Michigan guides →