Missouri — the rules
Selling Food From Home in Missouri: Cottage Food Rules (2026)
Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in Missouri, under the Cottage Food Production Operation (RSMo 196.298). There is no state sales cap on the books. Here is exactly what that means.
Missouri at a glance
| Home food sales | Allowed |
| Program | Cottage Food Production Operation (RSMo 196.298) |
| Annual sales cap | None specified |
| Sales channels | Direct to consumers (see details — many direct-only states still allow online orders with delivery) |
What foods are covered
non-potentially-hazardous only (baked goods such as cookies, cakes, breads, pies; canned jams and jellies; dried herbs and herb mixes)
Permits and registration
No permit, license, registration, or inspection — statute exempts operations from state/local health and food-code regulation; labeling required (name, address, not-inspected statement); internet sales allowed only when both seller and buyer are in Missouri; former $50,000 cap removed by HB 1697 (2022)
Going legal in Missouri: the plate-seller checklist
- Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
- Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
- Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
- Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
- Build the storefront — a menu page, order-ahead with cutoffs, your own business line. Our free guide covers the whole playbook.
Sources and verification
Verified 2026-07 against: revisor.mo.gov · health.mo.gov · forrager.com. Rules change — confirm with the primary source before acting; this guide is information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Is it legal to sell food from home in Missouri?
Yes — under Cottage Food Production Operation (RSMo 196.298). Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.
How much can you sell under Missouri's cottage food law?
Missouri does not specify a state sales cap in the current rules.
Do you need a permit to sell food from home in Missouri?
No permit, license, registration, or inspection — statute exempts operations from state/local health and food-code regulation; labeling required (name, address, not-inspected statement); internet sales allowed only when both seller and buyer are in Missouri; former $50,000 cap re