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Cottage food laws

Mississippi Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Mississippi? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food Operation
Annual sales cap
$35,000
Where you can sell
Direct/in-person onlyFarmers marketsHome pickup
Registration / to start
No permit/registration from health department; online advertising allowed but NOT online sales
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods: baked goods, candies, condiments (mustards, nut butters, pickles, vinegars), dry goods, fermented foods, jams/jellies, snacks
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat; internet/mail-order sales, wholesale, retail
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding $35,000, selling online/mail/wholesale/retail, or TCS foods requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) · Miss. Code § 75-29-951; HB 326 (2020)

Source: Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

HB 326 (2020) raised cap from $20,000 to $35,000 and allowed online advertising, but internet/mail-order SALES remain prohibited — all sales must be in person.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Mississippi food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Operation) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $35,000. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).
What foods can I sell under Mississippi's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods: baked goods, candies, condiments (mustards, nut butters, pickles, vinegars), dry goods, fermented foods, jams/jellies, snacks Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat; internet/mail-order sales, wholesale, retail
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Mississippi?
Exceeding $35,000, selling online/mail/wholesale/retail, or TCS foods requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Mississippi?
No permit/registration from health department; online advertising allowed but NOT online sales
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