Michigan's cottage food law lets home producers sell directly to consumers without a license, but MDARD (the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) is precise about two things every label must get right: the exact disclosure sentence, and the minimum size it has to be printed at.
The exact statement MDARD requires
Every Michigan cottage food label must include this sentence, printed or handwritten in type at least 11-point in size — roughly 1/8 inch tall:
"Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development."
That 11-point / 1/8-inch minimum applies to the disclosure statement itself — a common compliance mistake is shrinking the disclosure to fit a small label while keeping the product name large, which defeats the point of a legibility minimum.
What else belongs on the label
Alongside the disclosure statement, MDARD requires the product's name and the complete name and address of the cottage food business on every label. Beyond those cottage-food-specific items, a Michigan cottage food label also has to meet the general labeling provisions of the Michigan Food Law that apply to any packaged food — which in practice means an ingredient list in descending order by weight, a net weight declaration, and an allergen statement for any of the major allergens your product contains, the same core information nearly every other state requires too.
No license, but a sales cap that changed in 2026
Michigan doesn't require a license or permit to sell cottage foods directly to consumers, and cottage kitchens aren't subject to the routine inspection a licensed food establishment faces. Public Act 51 of 2025 (HB 4122), effective March 24, 2026, set the gross annual sales cap at $50,000 — or $75,000 if any product sells at $250 or more per unit — and also opened up in-state online sales, mail order, and third-party delivery, which weren't allowed before. MDARD may adjust these figures for inflation starting October 1, 2026, so confirm the current-year number directly on MDARD's cottage food page, or by calling MDARD at 800-292-3939, before you plan around a specific ceiling.
Using the free generator for a Michigan label
Select Michigan in the generator on this site's homepage and it fills in your business name and address, product name, ingredients in descending order, net weight, and allergen line, then inserts the exact MDARD disclosure sentence automatically, live in the preview, sized to satisfy the 11-point minimum when printed at standard label dimensions. Print directly or save it as a PDF.
Required label elements at a glance
- The product's name
- The complete name and address of the cottage food business
- The exact MDARD disclosure statement (below), ≥11-point type
- Compliance with the general labeling provisions of the Michigan Food Law (ingredients, net weight, allergens)
Minimum type size
At least 11-point type, about 1/8 inch tall.
Sales cap
$50,000/year gross sales, or $75,000/year if any product sells at $250 or more per unit — set by Public Act 51 of 2025 (HB 4122), effective March 24, 2026. MDARD may adjust these figures for inflation starting October 1, 2026 — confirm the current-year figure on MDARD's cottage food page.
Permit / registration
No license from MDARD is required to operate a cottage food business, but you must still comply with Michigan Food Law's labeling requirements and any applicable local ordinances.