Cottage Food Laws in Missouri

Missouri doesn't state a sales cap in its guidance. No state food permit is required for cottage food, though local requirements may still apply. Foods that need refrigeration have to be made in a commercial kitchen. Of the 40 common products in our finder, 6 can be made in a home kitchen in Missouri, many with conditions.

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Limited sources. The detailed rules for Missouri rely on a 2022 statute. They may be out of date or incomplete, so confirm with the state agency before relying on them.

Quick facts

Sales cap: No cap stated
Permit or registration: None
Online & shipping: Online only when seller and buyer are both in Missouri
Sell through stores: Direct to consumers only
Refrigerated & TCS foods: No; only baked goods, canned jams, and dried herbs

Quick facts are summarized from 50-state trackers (Ardent Seller, reviewed October 1, 2026, cross-checked with PermitDeck and Food Business Pros). Where the details below differ, follow the state sources listed at the bottom of this page and confirm with the agency.

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Missouri ranks 37th of 51 in our Cottage Food State Rankings, with a score of 50 out of 100.

To see how many items you can sell before the cap, try the pricing and sales cap calculator. When you're ready to grow, read Outgrowing cottage food.

What can you make at home in Missouri?

How 40 common products are treated in Missouri, with the condition or reason for each. Items marked "general rule" weren't specifically addressed in the state's guidance.

Allowed from a home kitchen

Sourdough bread. Baked goods are one of the three categories in the law.
Cookies & brownies. Baked goods are one of the three categories in the law.
Fruit pie. Pies are baked goods.
Macarons. Baked goods are allowed, if the filling is shelf-stable.
Strawberry jam. Canned jams and jellies are one of the three categories in the law.
Loose-leaf tea blends. Dried herbs and herb mixes are allowed.

Needs a commercial kitchen

Pumpkin pie. Potentially hazardous baked goods are excluded.
Cheesecake. Potentially hazardous baked goods are excluded.
Cake with cream cheese frosting. Cream cheese frosting is usually potentially hazardous.
Fruit tamales. Tamales are steamed, not baked, so they're outside the law's categories.
Meat tamales. Potentially hazardous foods are excluded.
Fresh salsa (refrigerated). Not one of the law's three categories.
Sauerkraut & kimchi. Not one of the law's three categories.
Roasted coffee. Coffee isn't one of the law's three categories.
Dried fruit & fruit leather. Only dried herbs are named; dried fruit isn't.
Freeze-dried candy. Candy isn't one of the law's three categories.
Chocolates & truffles. Candy isn't one of the law's three categories.
Toffee, fudge & caramels. Candy isn't one of the law's three categories.
Marshmallows. Candy isn't one of the law's three categories.
Nut butter. Not one of the law's three categories.
Infused honey. Not one of the law's three categories.
Vanilla extract. Not one of the law's three categories.
Fruit-infused vinegar. Not one of the law's three categories.
Garlic or herb-infused oil. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Garlic or herbs in oil carry a botulism risk and need a validated commercial process.
Mustard (no egg). Not one of the law's three categories.
Home-cooked meals. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Prepared meals need refrigeration, so they're made in a permitted commercial kitchen.
Kombucha. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Fermented beverages need a commercial kitchen, and producers monitor alcohol, since at 0.5% ABV or more it is treated as an alcoholic beverage.

Needs a canning license

Pepper jelly. Pepper jelly is an acidified vegetable product, not a fruit jam.
Shelf-stable salsa. Acidified foods aren't one of the law's three categories.
Hot sauce. Acidified foods aren't one of the law's three categories.
Canned pickles. Acidified foods aren't one of the law's three categories.
Canned tomato sauce. Acidified foods aren't one of the law's three categories.

Regulated separately

Beef jerky. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Meat products need USDA or state meat inspection, regardless of kitchen.
Cheese & yogurt. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Dairy products are licensed separately, through the state's dairy program.
Cold-pressed juice. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Juices aren't home-kitchen foods. Wholesale juice needs a Juice HACCP plan with a 5-log pathogen reduction.

Ask the agency first

Cake with buttercream. Baked goods are allowed; whether a frosting is potentially hazardous depends on the recipe.
Low-sugar or freezer jam. Canned jams are allowed; refrigerated or freezer jams aren't addressed.
Granola. Dried herbs and herb mixes are allowed; granola counts as a baked good, but other dry mixes aren't named.
Spice rubs & seasoning blends. Dried herbs and herb mixes are allowed; granola counts as a baked good, but other dry mixes aren't named.
Pure honey. Not one of the law's three categories; honey has separate rules.

How to start selling from home

Check that the product is a baked good, canned jam or jelly, or dried herb or herb mix, and doesn't need refrigeration. Those are the only categories in the law.
No registration or inspection is required, and local health departments can't regulate you.
Sell directly to consumers. Online sales are allowed only when you and the buyer are both in Missouri.
Label every product (see the checklist below).

Legal paths

Cottage food production

Where: Your primary home's kitchen
Sell: Directly to consumers; online only when you and the buyer are both in Missouri
Sales cap: None stated
Paperwork: None

Commercial kitchen

Where: A permitted commercial kitchen
Sell: Candy, sauces, and everything outside the three cottage categories
Sales cap: None
Paperwork: Local health department permit; usually FDA registration

Commercial canning

Where: Licensed commercial facility
Sell: Pickles, salsas, sauces, and canned foods
Sales cap: None
Paperwork: Process authority review, FDA scheduled-process filing

Label requirements

Required by RSMo 196.298 and DHSS rule on cottage food labels.

A statement that the food is “not inspected by the department or local health department”. Check DHSS rules for the full required wording.
Name and address of the operation
Product name and ingredients. Recommended, with allergens.

Turning a recipe into a product?

Mendocino Food Consulting helps food entrepreneurs with food science, formulation, and process questions. We are food scientists, not attorneys, and we don't provide legal advice.

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Sources

Missouri Revisor of Statutes · RSMo 196.298

Based on: RSMo 196.298 (2022). Reviewed October 2026; rules may have changed since.

Other states: Mississippi · Montana · all 50 states + DC