St. Louis, MO Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- State Law
- RSMo 196.298
- Sales Cap
- $50,000/year
- Direct Sales Only
- No wholesale
- Label Required
- Home kitchen disclosure mandatory
- Zoning
- Home occupation rules still apply
Summary
Missouri cottage food law (RSMo 196.298) allows St. Louis residents to sell non-potentially hazardous homemade foods directly to consumers without a health permit. Sales capped at $50,000 per year.
196.298. Definitions — operation not deemed food service establishment, when — no state or local regulation. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Baked good", includes cookies, cakes, breads, danish, donuts, pastries, pies, and other items that are prepared by baking the item in an oven. A baked good does not include a potentially hazardous food item as defined by department rule; (2) "Cottage food production operation", an individual operation out of the individual's home who: (a) Produces a baked good, a canned jam or jelly, or a dried herb or herb mix for sale at the individual's home; and (b) Sells the food produced under paragraph (a) of this subdivision only directly to consumers; [...] 2. A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment and shall not be subject to any health or food code laws or regulations of the state or department other than this section and rules promulgated thereunder for a cottage food production operation. 3. (1) A local health department shall not regulate the production of food at a cottage food production operation. (2) Each local health department and the department shall maintain a record of a complaint made by a person against a cottage food production operation. 4. The department shall promulgate rules requiring a cottage food production operation to label all of the foods described in this section which the operation intends to sell to consumers. The label shall include the name and address of the cottage food production operation and a statement that the food is not inspected by the department or local health department. 5. A cottage food production operation shall not sell any foods described in this section through the internet unless both the cottage food production operation and the purchaser are located in this state.
Full Breakdown
Under RSMo 196.298, Missouri cottage food producers may make and sell non-potentially hazardous foods (baked goods without cream fillings, jams, jellies, dry goods, candies, etc.) from a home kitchen without a food manufacturer license or Department of Health inspection. Direct-to-consumer sales only: farmers markets, roadside stands, in-home pickup, community events. Wholesale to restaurants or retailers is not allowed under cottage food rules. Sales cap is $50,000 per year. Labels must include: product name, producer name and address, ingredients, allergen disclosures, and the statement that the product is made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Department of Health. St. Louis City Health Department does not add extra permits for cottage food producers, but home occupation zoning rules still apply: no external signage, limited customer traffic, and 25 percent floor area limit. Potentially hazardous foods (meat, dairy, custard, low-acid canned goods) are not allowed under cottage food law and require a licensed commercial kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell cookies from my St. Louis home?
Can I sell homemade salsa online?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
Compare St. Louis to another location·View the Missouri home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.