Kent County, MI Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Michigan Cottage Food Law
- Citation
- MCL 289.4102
- Sales cap
- $50,000 annually
- Higher cap
- $75,000 if $250+/unit
- Regulator
- Michigan MDARD (not county)
Summary
Michigan's Cottage Food Law lets you sell certain homemade non-hazardous foods without a license. Annual gross sales are capped at $50,000 ($75,000 for items $250+ per unit) until October 1, 2026. It is a state law, not a Kent County rule.
the gross sales of cottage food products by a cottage food operation must not exceed $50,000.00 annually until October 1, 2026. If the cottage food operation sells cottage food products at a price of $250.00 or more per unit, the gross sales of the cottage food products by the cottage food operation must not exceed $75,000.00 annually until October 1, 2026.
Full Breakdown
Michigan's Cottage Food Law (MCL 289.4102) allows home producers to make and sell non-potentially-hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, dry mixes) directly to consumers without a food establishment license, if products are properly labeled. Gross sales must not exceed $50,000 annually, or $75,000 if any product sells for $250 or more per unit, until October 1, 2026, after which the caps may be adjusted for inflation. Kent County does not administer cottage food; it is regulated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, though local zoning still applies to where you operate.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the sales cap or selling prohibited/hazardous foods removes cottage food protection and requires full state food-establishment licensing; violations can bring MDARD enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I earn from cottage food?
Does Kent County license cottage food?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kent County
Compare Kent County to another location·View the Michigan home business overview
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