Michigan's Cottage Food Law lets you make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from your home kitchen without a license or inspection. Products must be sold directly to the consumer, be properly labeled, and total gross sales must not exceed $50,000 annually (through October 1, 2026).
Cottage food is governed statewide by the Michigan Cottage Food Law (MCL 289.4102), administered by MDARD, not by Washtenaw County. You may prepare non-potentially-hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, dry mixes, etc.) in your unlicensed home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers, at farmers markets, roadside stands, and similar venues. Wholesale and consignment sales are prohibited. Each product must be prepackaged and labeled with your name and address, the product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and the statement that it was made in a home kitchen not inspected by MDARD. Statewide gross sales are capped at $50,000 annually until October 1, 2026. Local zoning still applies as a home occupation.
Selling wholesale, exceeding the sales cap, or omitting the required label statement violates the Cottage Food Law and can lead to MDARD enforcement and loss of the exemption.
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