Last verified 2026-09-12. Regulator: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Michigan?
A Michigan cottage food label must show these 8 items:
- The name and address of the business of the cottage food operation
- Or, if the operation registers with the MSU Product Center, the name, telephone number, and registration number of the business
- The name of the cottage food product
- The ingredients of the cottage food product, in descending order of predominance by weight
- The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product
- Allergen labeling as specified by federal labeling requirements
- If any nutritional claim is made, appropriate labeling as specified by federal labeling requirements
- The following statement printed in at least the equivalent of 11-point font size in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development."
What disclaimer must a Michigan cottage food label have?
Yes. A Michigan cottage food label must carry this statement, word for word:
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development.
Does Michigan require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
Only in some cases. Michigan requires a Nutrition Facts panel when the label makes a nutrient or health claim, such as "low sugar" or "high protein". If you want to add one, the Nutrition Label Maker prints it in the FDA layout for free.
What foods can you sell under the Michigan cottage food law?
Non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require time or temperature control for safety. MDARD names baked goods and jams as examples. MDARD keeps the detailed product list on its What Can I Make page.
Where can you sell cottage food in Michigan?
Direct from the cottage food operation to the consumer. Farmers markets, craft shows, and roadside stands are allowed. Internet and mail order sales are allowed, and so is delivery through a third-party food delivery platform, but only to a consumer in Michigan. Consignment and wholesale sales are prohibited.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Michigan?
No license, permit, or inspection is required. Registration with the MSU Product Center is optional. The center may charge a one-time fee of not more than $50.00. A registered operation must put its registration number on the label.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Michigan?
$50,000.00 in gross annual sales until October 1, 2026. The cap is $75,000.00 a year if the operation sells its products at $250.00 or more per unit. MDARD may adjust both amounts for inflation each October 1 after that. Gross sales are counted per person at a particular domestic residence.
What else should you know about the Michigan rules?
Cottage food products must be prepackaged and labeled before sale. Internet and mail order sales reach Michigan consumers only. Before that sale, the operation must let the buyer interact directly with it, in a face-to-face meeting or a virtual meeting with two-way audio or video. Products must be stored only in the primary domestic residence. Local ordinances still apply. MSU Extension runs an MDARD-funded online training on safe production, packaging, labeling, storage, and transport.
How accurate is this page?
The label items, the sales cap, the sales channels, and the registration rules were read from MCL 289.4102 on 2026-09-12. The description of allowed foods came from the MDARD cottage food page the same day. Public Act 51 of 2025 amended this section effective 2026-03-24 and raised the sales cap. The detailed list of allowed and prohibited products is not confirmed here; read the MDARD What Can I Make page. The rules for free samples are not confirmed; read the MDARD Selling and Samples page.