Michigan Cottage Food Law: Tier 1, No License or Registration
Michigan is a Tier 1 cottage food state under the Michigan Food Law (MCL §289.1105). No license, no registration, no home inspection is required. The $25,000 annual gross sales cap is the same as neighboring Ohio, and the framework is similar: start with compliant labels, sell direct to consumers, stay under the cap.
Michigan has one of the most active farmers market scenes in the Midwest. Ann Arbor's Saturday market, the Eastern Market in Detroit, and dozens of smaller community markets across the Lower Peninsula provide strong venues for cottage food sellers.
What You Can Sell in Michigan
- Baked goods — cookies, cakes (no cream/custard), breads, muffins, scones, brownies
- Candy — fudge, brittles, hard candy, toffee, chocolate bark
- Jams, jellies, and preserves — high-acid, high-sugar
- Granola, trail mix
- Roasted nuts
- Dried herbs and spice blends
- Honey
- Popcorn
Not permitted: Anything requiring refrigeration, meat products, dairy products, home-canned low-acid vegetables.
Michigan is one of the top fruit-producing states in the US — blueberries, cherries, peaches, apples, and strawberries are all major Michigan crops. Cottage food jams and preserves featuring Michigan-grown fruit are a natural product focus and very popular at markets throughout the state.
Michigan Cottage Food Label Requirements
"MADE IN A HOME KITCHEN NOT INSPECTED BY THE MICHIGAN DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT."
Additional required fields: your full name and home address, product name, ingredient list (descending by weight), net weight, allergen declaration for all major allergens present.
Michigan Farmers Markets
- Detroit: Eastern Market (one of the largest public markets in the US; Shed 3 typically has cottage food vendors), Detroit Rivertown Market
- Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Farmers Market (year-round, City Market location; well-established cottage food vendor community)
- Grand Rapids: Fulton Street Farmers Market
- Traverse City: Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market (strong seasonal market)
- Lansing: Capital Area Farmers Market
Frequently Asked Questions
- No — Michigan is a Tier 1 cottage food state. No license, registration, or home inspection is required under the Michigan Food Law exemption for cottage food sales under $25,000/year.
- Yes — Eastern Market is a premier cottage food venue in Michigan. Cottage food vendors typically participate in Shed 3 and Saturday market days. Contact the Eastern Market Corporation directly for current vendor applications.
- Michigan-made fruit jams and preserves (blueberry, cherry, peach, apple butter) align perfectly with the state's agricultural identity and sell very well at Michigan markets. Cherry pralines and blueberry granola are also popular.
Official Source
Michigan cottage food law: MCL §289.1105. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.