Minnesota direct-to-consumer guide, 2026
Pet Food & Treats
Dog and cat treats, and packaged pet food.
Cottage Pet Treats or Licensed Feed ProductWhat is covered and what needs a different path
What’s covered
- Baked or dehydrated dog and cat treats under the cottage exemption (non-potentially hazardous)
- Treats shipped by mail or commercial delivery to the end consumer
- Other pet food with a Minnesota commercial feed license and registered products
Needs a different path
- Pet food for other species (specialty pets) under the cottage exemption
- Raw, refrigerated, or freeze-dried pet food as a cottage product
- Selling into Minnesota without a license, including online sales
Three compliance steps
Choose cottage or commercial
Baked or dehydrated dog and cat treats can use the cottage exemption. Most other pet food needs a commercial feed license.
Register or license
Cottage: register as a cottage food producer. Commercial: $75 license, plus $100 per product registration for packages of 10 pounds or less, annual product list and label.
Label to the right standard
Cottage labels show name and registration number or address, date, ingredients, and “These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” Commercial labels follow Minnesota feed rules.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage pet treats | Dogs and cats; baked or dehydrated; non-potentially hazardous; may ship | MDA |
| Feed license | $75; required if you make or distribute pet food, including from outside Minnesota | MDA |
| Product registration | $100 per product for packages of 10 lb or less | MDA |
| Late fee | $100 added to a late license | Minn. Stat. 25 |
| Online sales | Offering on a website counts as distribution into Minnesota | MDA |
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship dog treats?
Under the cottage pet treat rule, yes: mail or commercial delivery is allowed, unlike human cottage food.
Do I need a commercial kitchen?
MDA says a commercial kitchen is not required to manufacture pet food in Minnesota.
Do chews and bones need a license?
Certain bones, hides, and chews that meet MDA’s Exempt Product Policy are exempt. Treats that supply calories do not qualify.
Printable checklist
- Cottage or commercial decision
- Cottage registration or $75 feed license
- Product registrations ($100 each, 10 lb or less)
- Label with required statement
- Species limited to dogs and cats (cottage)
- Website lists only licensed products