Scott County, MN Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Register with
- MN Dept. of Agriculture
- Sales cap
- $78,000 per year
- Food license
- Not required
- Training
- Food-safety course required
- Law
- MN Stat. §28A.152
Summary
Minnesota's Cottage Food Law lets you make and sell non-hazardous homemade food from a Scott County home after registering with the state Department of Agriculture. Gross sales are capped at $78,000 a year.
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
Minnesota's Cottage Food Law, MN Stat. §28A.152, lets an individual sell non-potentially-hazardous homemade foods, such as baked goods, jams, and candies, directly to consumers without a food license. You must register annually with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling and complete food-safety training. Registration is tiered: sales of $7,665 or less a year require only a free online course, while sales up to the $78,000 cap require a $50 registration and an approved food-safety course. Products need labels listing ingredients, allergens, and a home-kitchen disclosure. Foods needing refrigeration for safety stay excluded.
Violations & Fines
Selling without registering with the MDA, exceeding the $78,000 cap, omitting required labeling, or offering foods outside the allowed categories can pull the operation under full food-license requirements and state enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell homemade food?
What can I sell as a cottage food producer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scott County
Compare Scott County to another location·View the Minnesota home business overview
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