Updated for the law in effect since March 24, 2026
Michigan Cottage Food Law, in plain English
Michigan lets you make certain foods in your home kitchen and sell them directly to customers — no license, no inspection, no commercial kitchen. In 2026 the rules got a lot friendlier. Here's what matters.
What changed in 2026
- The sales cap doubled to $50,000 a year ($75,000 if your products sell for $250 or more each — think wedding cakes). From October 2026 the cap rises with inflation.
- Online sales are legal. You can take orders and payment on a website.
- You can ship and deliver within Michigan, by mail or through a third-party delivery service. Out-of-state sales are still not allowed.
- You must offer customers a chance to talk with you before the sale — in person or by video call.
What you can sell
Foods that are shelf-stable and don't need refrigeration to stay safe:
- 🎂 Cakes & Cupcakes. Buttercream or fondant — no cream cheese, custard, or whipped cream fillings.
- 🍪 Cookies & Bars. Cookies, brownies, blondies, decorated sugar cookies.
- 🍞 Breads. Sourdough, loaves, rolls, bagels, quick breads — no focaccia with fresh vegetables or cheese.
- 🥧 Pies & Pastries. Fruit pies, muffins, scones, unfilled donuts — no pumpkin, custard, or cream pies.
- 🍫 Candy & Chocolate. Fudge, caramels, brittle, hard candy, chocolate-covered treats.
- 🍓 Jams & Jellies. Fruit jams and jellies only — no pickles, salsa, or canned vegetables.
- 🥨 Granola & Snacks. Granola, popcorn, trail mix, coated nuts, dry cereal.
- 🫙 Dry Mixes & Pantry. Baking mixes, dried herbs, spice blends, roasted coffee, dried pasta.
What you can't
- Anything that needs refrigeration (cheesecake, cream/custard fillings, cream cheese frosting)
- Meat, poultry, fish, or jerky
- Pickles, salsa, canned vegetables, hot sauce, or other acidified foods
- Kombucha, fermented foods, juices, or other beverages
- Nut butters, garlic-in-oil, cut fresh fruit or vegetables
- Pet treats (regulated separately as animal feed)
Wholesale and consignment are also out: you can't sell to a café, grocery, or restaurant for resale.
Labels
Every product needs a label with:
- Your business name and address (or your MSU Product Center registration number, if you've registered to keep your home address private)
- The product name
- Ingredients in descending order by weight, including sub-ingredients
- Net weight or volume
- Allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame
- This exact statement, in at least 11-point type: “Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.”
How Ajinto helps
Ajinto was built around these rules: checkout only accepts Michigan addresses, every shop shows a way to contact or video chat with the maker, the label maker prints the required statement for you, and your dashboard tracks sales against the annual cap.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm details with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and MSU Extension before you start selling. Sales tax rules are separate — check with the Michigan Department of Treasury.