Home baker and cook guide
How to sell homemade food in Michigan
Michigan exempts qualifying shelf-stable cottage foods from MDARD licensing and routine inspection when made in the operator's primary home kitchen. Start with the official program below, then confirm the rules for your product, preparation setting, and local jurisdiction.
Official resources last reviewed 2026-07-21. Rules can change.
Official Michigan resources
Open the official pages below for registration, labeling, allowed foods, and temperature rules. This app collects your application only. After approval, classify every meal when you publish.
What the official pathway currently emphasizes
- No MDARD application or food license is required when the operation and food qualify.
- Only non-TCS foods on the current guidance qualify; meat, dairy, refrigerated foods, canned or acidified products, and specialized processes are generally excluded.
- Products must be individually packaged and labeled, including ingredients, allergens, operation identification, and Michigan's home-kitchen disclosure.
- Sales and delivery must remain within Michigan and provide direct consumer interaction as required.
A practical preparation sequence
- Check every product in MDARD's current allowed-food guidance.
- Confirm local zoning, tax, market, and business-name requirements.
- Prepare complete labels before sale.
- Use only eligible direct-sale, internet, mail-order, or delivery methods within Michigan.
Questions to answer before listing
- Which foods may be produced in your proposed kitchen?
- Does the product require refrigeration or temperature control?
- Are registration, training, inspection, testing, or permits required?
- What must appear on the product label and customer disclosure?
- Where may you advertise, sell, deliver, ship, or arrange pickup?
- Do county, city, zoning, tax, or tribal rules add requirements?
Prepare your local kitchen page
Once you understand the applicable pathway, create a kitchen profile, describe your general pickup area, upload real food photos, and post specific preorder windows. Kitchen Counter-Measures does not approve a product on behalf of a regulator.