Cottage Food Laws by State
Missouri Cottage Food Laws
Missouri exempts small home food businesses from its food establishment rules through RSMo 196.298. You do not apply for a permit or license, and the state does not inspect your kitchen. The tradeoff is a short list of eligible foods and a requirement that you sell straight to the people who will eat the product.
Annual sales cap
No cap
Permit
None
Training
Not required
Home inspection
No
Online sales
Allowed
Across state lines
Not allowed
Wholesale
Not allowed
Verified against official sources on 2026-10-21.
Where You Can Sell in Missouri
The statute describes a home-based operation selling directly to consumers. Internet sales are allowed, but only if you and the buyer are both in Missouri. Selling to stores or restaurants for resale falls outside the exemption. The statute does not name farmers markets, so ask DHSS or the market before relying on them.
| Channel | Status |
|---|---|
| From home | Allowed |
| Online orders |
Conditions apply
Allowed only when both the seller and the buyer are located in Missouri. |
| Retail stores | Not allowed |
| Wholesale | Not allowed |
| Restaurants | Not allowed |
What You Can Sell in Missouri
Three categories qualify: baked goods that are not potentially hazardous, canned jams and jellies, and dried herbs or herb blends. Anything else, such as candy, dairy, meat, or pickled vegetables, is not covered by this exemption and would need a different route.
Only non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes made in your own home and sold directly to consumers.
Bread
Dry goods
Preserves
Not allowed
Limits and Requirements
Annual sales cap
No cap
- Product list is limited to baked goods, canned jam or jelly, and dried herbs or herb mixes
- Must be produced in the individual's home
- Sales must be directly to consumers; wholesale is not covered
- Internet sales only if seller and buyer are both in Missouri
- Labels are required
Local rules: The statute bars local health departments from regulating these operations' food production, but zoning, HOA, and business license rules were not researched.
How to Start Selling in Missouri
-
1
Check your product against the three categories
Confirm that what you make is a baked good that is not potentially hazardous, a canned jam or jelly, or a dried herb or herb mix.
-
2
Prepare labels
Each label must carry your name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected by the Department of Health and Senior Services or the local health department.
-
3
Choose where to sell
Sell directly to the customer. Keep internet orders within Missouri. Check with any farmers market about its own vendor rules.
-
4
Handle taxes separately
The cottage food statute does not address sales tax; contact the Missouri Department of Revenue about your obligations.
What a Compliant Missouri Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Sunflower Home Bakery
Ingredients:
Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Starch, Salt, Soybean Oil; Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla; Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Confectioner's Glaze, Carnauba Wax, FD&C Colors; Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Red 40.
Contains:
This product is home-produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Missouri must have a label that includes the following.
| Required field |
|---|
| All 9 FDA major allergens present |
| Complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight |
| Business name |
| Product name |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Missouri Labeling Notes
- The statute directs DHSS to set label rules; check the current DHSS rule for any added items such as ingredients or allergens.
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Missouri.
This product is home-produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
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Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Missouri Cottage Food — Common Questions
Missouri has no cottage food permit, license, or registration; the operation is outside the food establishment rules if it follows RSMo 196.298 and labels its products.
Missouri does not set a dollar cap on cottage food sales.
No food-safety training is required by the cottage food statute.
Online sales are allowed. Allowed only when both the seller and the buyer are located in Missouri.
Not allowed: Potentially hazardous baked goods as defined by DHSS rule; Any food outside baked goods, canned jam or jelly, and dried herbs.
Resources and Law History
Who to contact
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Environmental Health Services
573-751-6095
Agency website2014
SB 525 created the cottage food exemption (section 196.298).
2022
HB 1697 amended section 196.298, effective August 28, 2022 (the Revisor lists a new version from that date).
Law reference: Missouri Cottage Food Law (RSMo 196.298 - Cottage food production operations) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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