Michigan direct-to-consumer compliance guide, 2026

Beverages

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

Licensed Facility Required

YesWhat's covered

  • Powdered drink mixes and dry tea mixes under the cottage exemption
  • Ground or roasted coffee beans under the cottage exemption
  • Juice, cider, lemonade, kombucha and canned drinks made in a licensed facility
  • Bottled water under its own MDARD license

NoNeeds a different path

  • Any ready-to-drink beverage, concentrate, juice, cider or lemonade made at home
  • Kombucha and other fermented drinks: MDARD says a license is required
  • Beer, wine, spirits: Michigan Liquor Control Commission, not MDARD
  • Drinks with health or dosing claims: dietary supplement rules

Three compliance steps

  1. A

    Confirm you are outside the cottage exemption

    MDARD's list states that beverages, including juice, cider and kombucha, cannot be made under the cottage exemption.

  2. B

    Get a food establishment license

    Apply to MDARD at least 30 days before opening. Licenses expire April 30 and late renewals carry a $150 fee. Juice processors also follow FDA's juice HACCP rule.

  3. C

    Label, warn and tax correctly

    Label to FDA rules, include the untreated-juice warning where it applies, and note that alcohol is excluded from Michigan's food sales tax exemption.

Quick reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Juice and ciderLicensed facility; 21 CFR 120 HACCP; warning label on untreated juiceMDARD / FDA
Kombucha, fermented drinksLicensed; not allowed as cottage foodMDARD
Lemonade, RTD drinksNot allowed as cottage food; license requiredMDARD
Dry mixes, coffee, dry teaAllowed as cottage food; label as cottage productsMDARD
Bottled waterSeparate MDARD bottled water licenseMDARD
AlcoholSeparate state liquor licensing; taxableMLCC / Treasury

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell lemonade at a market with a cottage label?

No. MDARD's list says lemonade and other ready-to-drink beverages are not cottage foods.

Is a temporary license possible?

Temporary food establishment licenses cover up to 14 consecutive days at an event.

Are sparkling or fermented drinks different?

Fermentation is a specialized process, so a full license is required.

Printable checklist