Michigan compliance guides

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Each poster has a tier badge, quick facts, three steps, a rule table, FAQ, printable checklist and linked sources.

• Aromatics

  Non-Food: Federal Labeling

  Candles, wax melts, sachets, room sprays and fragrance oils sold outside the food rules.

• Baked Goods

  Cottage Food Eligible

  Breads, cookies, cakes and shelf-stable pies from a home kitchen, now sellable online.

• Beverages

  Licensed Facility Required

  Juice, cider, kombucha and ready-to-drink products all need a licensed facility.

• Body Care

  Federal Rules Only

  Lotions, balms and scrubs: small makers skip FDA registration but not safety and labeling.

• Canned Goods

  Licensed Facility Required

  Home canning does not qualify for the cottage exemption: low-acid and acidified foods need a licensed process.

• Coffee & Tea

  Cottage Food Eligible (Dry Only)

  Roasted coffee and dry tea blends are cottage foods; ready-to-drink and health-claim teas are not.

• Dairy

  Licensed Facility Required

  Michigan bans retail raw milk; legal paths are pasteurized and licensed, or a herdshare you own into.

• Dried Goods

  Cottage Food Eligible

  Dehydrated produce, granola, pasta and dry mixes: low-risk shelf-stable foods you can make at home.

• Eggs

  Farm Exempt (Under 3,000 Hens)

  Small flocks can sell direct without an MDARD license if they follow the labeling and cold rules.

• Fruits

  Farm Exempt (Whole, Uncut)

  Whole, uncut fresh fruit sells license-free; anything cut, canned or juiced follows another path.

• Grains & Flour

  Cottage Eligible (Mixes Only)

  Dry mixes are cottage foods; milled flour is not named on MDARD's list, so confirm before selling.

• Herbs & Spices

  Cottage Food Eligible

  Dry herbs and blends sell under the cottage exemption; health claims move them to supplement rules.

• Honey

  Farm Exempt (Honey and Maple)

  Honey and maple syrup sit outside the cottage law with their own license exemption.

• Laundry

  Non-Food: Federal Labeling

  Detergents and laundry soaps are non-food consumer products governed by federal labeling.

• Meats

  Licensed Facility Required

  Meat and poultry must come from inspected or licensed processors; exempt poultry has strict limits.

• Mushrooms

  Cottage Eligible (Raw or Dried)

  Raw and dried mushrooms are cottage foods; wild-foraged ones need proof of expert identification.

• Nuts & Seeds

  Cottage Food Eligible

  Coated, roasted and ground nuts qualify; allergen labeling is the main risk.

• Oils

  Cottage Eligible (Dried Infusions)

  Only oils flavored with dried herbs or spices qualify; fresh herbs and garlic carry botulism risk.

• Pet Food/Treats

  Feed License Required

  Every pet food or treat seller needs an MDARD commercial feed license; cottage law covers only human food.

• Plants & Flowers

  Licensed (Nursery License)

  Selling nursery stock needs an annual MDARD license, with a smaller fee for the tiniest growers.

• Preserves

  Cottage Eligible (Fruit Only)

  Fruit jams and jellies in glass jars qualify; vegetable jellies, butters and low-sugar versions do not.

• Supplements

  Licensed Facility Required

  Michigan requires a food establishment license for anyone handling dietary supplements, effective May 1, 2025.

• Vegetables

  Farm Exempt (Whole, Uncut)

  Whole, uncut vegetables sell license-free; cut, cooked, canned and sprouted products need other routes.

• Vinegars

  Cottage Food Eligible

  Vinegar and flavored vinegars are cottage foods; drinking vinegars and sauces are not.