This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Permit and tax rules change, and your situation may differ. Always confirm current requirements with the official state agency linked in this guide, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice about your specific business.Last verified against official state sources: 2026-06-12
No permit, license, inspection, or registration of any kind; cottage food operations are exempt from state and local health codes beyond the statute itself. You may still need a Missouri sales tax license and any general local business license.
None.
Unusually narrow: only three categories qualify as cottage food: baked goods (cookies, cakes, breads, pies, pastries that are not potentially hazardous), canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes. Candy is NOT Missouri cottage food, a common point of confusion; some shelf-stable items like fruit butters and packaged spices may sell uninspected under a separate Food Code exemption, but only where local rules allow.
Everything outside the three categories or potentially hazardous: candy (outside the cottage law), meringue and cream pies, baked goods garnished with fresh fruit, freeze-dried foods, salsas, pickles, sauces, meats, dairy, plus no-sugar-added and hot pepper jams and jellies.
Direct to consumer only, anywhere in Missouri: craft fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and home sales, sold by the maker or a knowledgeable household member. Online sales are allowed since 2022 but only when both producer and buyer are in Missouri; out-of-state sales are prohibited, and wholesale removes the exemption entirely.
Annual sales cap: none (the original $50,000 cap was removed by HB 1697, effective August 28, 2022).
Labels need the operation's full name and address, the food's common name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight, allergens, and a statement that the product is prepared in a kitchen not subject to inspection by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Missouri taxes grocery-type food at a reduced 1.225 percent state rate plus full local rates, which covers typical cottage foods. Most cottage vendors should register with the Department of Revenue and collect tax; the under-$25,000 farmers market exemption is tied to farm-grown products and likely does not cover baked goods from purchased ingredients.
Local health departments may NOT regulate cottage food production; the statute expressly forbids it, with no local opt-outs for the three categories. Local rules do control the separate Food Code exemption items and general business licensing.
The statute has no penalty section; the practical risk is losing the exemption by selling outside the rules, which makes you an uninspected food establishment subject to general food law enforcement.
Selling non-food crafts too? See the Missouri craft fair permit and sales tax guide.
Yes, under Missouri Cottage Law (RSMo 196.298, amended 2022 by HB 1697). No permit, license, inspection, or registration of any kind; cottage food operations are exempt from state and local health codes beyond the statute itself. You may still need a Missouri sales tax license and any general local business license.
Unusually narrow: only three categories qualify as cottage food: baked goods (cookies, cakes, breads, pies, pastries that are not potentially hazardous), canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes. Candy is NOT Missouri cottage food, a common point of confusion; some shelf-stable items like fruit butters and packaged spices may sell uninspected under a separate Food Code exemption, but only where local rules allow. Everything outside the three categories or potentially hazardous: candy (outside the cottage law), meringue and cream pies, baked goods garnished with fresh fruit, freeze-dried foods, salsas, pickles, sauces, meats, dairy, plus no-sugar-added and hot pepper jams and jellies.
Yes: none (the original $50,000 cap was removed by HB 1697, effective August 28, 2022).
Direct to consumer only, anywhere in Missouri: craft fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and home sales, sold by the maker or a knowledgeable household member. Online sales are allowed since 2022 but only when both producer and buyer are in Missouri; out-of-state sales are prohibited, and wholesale removes the exemption entirely.
Labels need the operation's full name and address, the food's common name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight, allergens, and a statement that the product is prepared in a kitchen not subject to inspection by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Missouri taxes grocery-type food at a reduced 1.225 percent state rate plus full local rates, which covers typical cottage foods. Most cottage vendors should register with the Department of Revenue and collect tax; the under-$25,000 farmers market exemption is tied to farm-grown products and likely does not cover baked goods from purchased ingredients.
Browse upcoming craft fairs and markets in Missouri with booth fees and application deadlines, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan a profitable season.
Last verified: 2026-06-12. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.