Minnesota Food Business Laws

Minnesota allows up to $78,000/year per registered individual. Two fee tiers: Tier 1 ($7,665 or less) no registration fee; Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000) $50 registration fee. Registration with MN Dept of Agriculture required. Producers may advertise and take orders online, but human cottage food must currently be handed off to the customer in person — in-state shipping of human foods is not allowed until August 1, 2027 (2025 law change). Registration period changing to April 1 - March 31 beginning 2026.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year per registered individual. Tier 1 (≤$7,665): $0 fee. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): $50 fee.

License

Required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota allows high-acid canned goods under cottage food up to $78,000/year with tiered registration. Food safety training, permit, and pH testing required. Online sales allowed. Low-acid canning prohibited.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year gross revenue cap with tiered registration

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota allows honey under cottage food up to $78,000/year with tiered registration. Apiary registration required. Food safety training required at higher tiers. Online sales allowed. Honey specifically listed as permitted.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year gross revenue cap with tiered registration

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota allows specialty dry goods under cottage food up to $78,000/year with tiered registration. Food safety training required. Dried herbs, spice blends, granola, and dry mixes permitted. Online sales allowed.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year gross revenue cap with tiered registration

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota is one of the most friendly states for home-based pet treat businesses. Minn. Stat. § 25.391 exempts pet treats made in a home kitchen from commercial feed licensing if sold directly to end consumers, properly labeled, and not making nutritional adequacy claims. Full commercial feed registration also available at $50 annually plus $35 per product.

Revenue Cap

No revenue cap

Cottage pet treat exemption has no revenue cap; commercial feed license has no cap either

License

Not required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota does not permit fermented foods under its cottage food law. All fermented products are considered potentially hazardous. Commercial food processing license required.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

Fermented foods not permitted under cottage food law

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Not allowed

Minnesota has no standalone Food Freedom Act. Homemade food sales are governed by Minnesota's cottage food law, which is permissive (a $78,000/yr cap, registration/permit required). See the Cottage Food vertical for the full roadmap.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year per registered individual. Tier 1 (≤$7,665): $0 fee. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): $50 fee.

License

Required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Not allowed

Minnesota has no standalone domestic-kitchen / home-kitchen license tier. Home food production is governed by Minnesota's cottage food law, which is permissive (a $78,000/yr cap, registration/permit required). See the Cottage Food vertical for the full roadmap.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year per registered individual. Tier 1 (≤$7,665): $0 fee. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): $50 fee.

License

Required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Not allowed

Minnesota has no standalone farm-direct exemption. Farm value-added products are governed by Minnesota's cottage food law, which is permissive (a $78,000/yr cap, registration/permit required). See the Cottage Food vertical for the full roadmap.

Revenue Cap

$78,000 / year

$78,000/year per registered individual. Tier 1 (≤$7,665): $0 fee. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000): $50 fee.

License

Required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Not allowed

Minnesota requires full commercial feed registration for complete & balanced pet food. The Minn. Stat. § 25.391 cottage pet treat exemption does NOT apply to complete & balanced products — only to treats/snacks. Annual license $50 plus $35 per product. Commercial facility required. AAFCO nutritional adequacy profiles must be met.

Revenue Cap

No revenue cap

No revenue cap; cottage exemption does not apply to complete pet food

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota requires full commercial feed registration for raw pet food. The Minn. Stat. § 25.391 cottage pet treat exemption explicitly excludes raw meat treats. Raw products require pathogen testing, commercial facility, and HACCP plan. Annual license $50 plus $35 per product.

Revenue Cap

No revenue cap

No revenue cap; cottage exemption explicitly excludes raw meat

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota requires commercial feed registration for pet supplements. The cottage pet treat exemption (Minn. Stat. § 25.391) does NOT apply to supplements. Annual license $50 plus $35 per product. Supplements regulated as animal feed. Minnesota has a DFAHP registration pathway for certain supplement forms.

Revenue Cap

No revenue cap

No revenue cap; DFAHP registration may apply

License

Required

Training

Required

Online Sales

Allowed

Minnesota is the BEST state for pet bakeries. Minn. Stat. § 25.391 provides a specific cottage pet treat exemption that allows home-baked pet treats to be sold without a commercial feed license. Must be sold directly to consumers, properly labeled, and cannot make nutritional adequacy claims. No permit, no facility inspection, no tonnage fees. This is the only state with an explicit home pet bakery exemption.

Revenue Cap

No revenue cap

Cottage pet treat exemption has no revenue cap

License

Not required

Training

Not required

Online Sales

Allowed