Ramsey County, MN Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Minn. Stat. 28A.152 (statewide)
- Register with
- MN Dept. of Agriculture
- Annual sales cap
- $78,000 gross receipts
- Registration fee
- $0 or $50 by sales
- Allowed foods
- Non-hazardous only
Summary
Cottage food is a statewide exemption, not a county rule. Under Minn. Stat. 28A.152 you must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before selling and are capped at $78,000 in gross annual sales, with only non-potentially-hazardous foods allowed.
A person selling exempt foods under this section is limited to total sales with gross receipts of $78,000 or less in a calendar year.
Full Breakdown
The cottage-food exemption in Minn. Stat. 28A.152 lets individuals make and sell certain foods from home without a food license, if they register annually with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), not with Ramsey County. Total sales are limited to gross receipts of $78,000 or less per calendar year; exceeding that requires a food license. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, and home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruit with pH 4.6 or below) may be sold; meat, dairy and other hazardous items are prohibited. The registration fee is $0 for producers selling $7,665 or less annually and $50 above that. Labeling with the producer's name, address and the exemption statement is required.
Violations & Fines
Selling exempt foods without registering, exceeding the $78,000 cap, or selling prohibited hazardous foods can result in enforcement by the MDA and loss of the exemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I register with Ramsey County for cottage food?
How much can I sell under cottage food?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramsey County
Compare Ramsey County to another location·View the Minnesota home business overview
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