Food Licenses

Making Food Licensing Simpler

As of August 1, 2025 multiple existing license classifications have been simplified into one "Food Handler" license. This is part of an effort by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Food and Feed Safety Division to modernize and streamline food licensing — making it easier for you to manage your food business and stay compliant.

Key Licensing Enhancements:

• Simplified: Several license types have been combined into one Food Handler license.
• Streamlined: Most licenses will be moved to a January 1 through December 31 license period.
• Fair: The license fee schedule is based on your business size and food safety risk. You pay for the level of oversight your business needs.
• Flexible: Small businesses (<$50,000 annual sales) may operate up to three locations under one license.

NEW Food Business Licensing Process

As part of this effort, the FFSD food business licensing process has been updated. The roles of the applicant and the MDA have been outlined in the image below. 

During the food business licensing process, the applicant will: 

• Ask questions
  • Contact the MDA (mda.licensing@state.mn.us) to find out:
    • Do you need a food license?
    • What requirements apply to your business type?
    • Will you need a Retail Plan Review?
  • Learn how to apply for a Food Handler License
• Apply for a license
  • Complete the Applicant Form
  • Pay the $50 non-refundable application fee
  • Respond promptly to any questions about your Applicant Form
• Prepare for the technical review
  • Prepare for your technical review by following the instructions in your application intake email
  • Respond promptly to questions from reviewers regarding your business and food handling activities
  • Submit additional Retail Plan Review Application if required
• Prepare for the facility inspection
  • Read and understand the technical review letter to prepare for the facility inspection
  • Work with your inspector to schedule a facility inspection
  • Answer questions and show facilities, equipment, and processes to the inspector for verification and final approval
  • Receive form to pay license fee
• Get licensed to operate
  • Fill out your Initial License Fee form
  • Pay your license fee, based on food safety risk level and expected gross annual food sales
  • When you receive your printed license, post it at your place of business

During the food business licensing process, the MDA will:

• Ask questions
  • Inform callers about food licensing requirements and how to apply
  • Provide the Applicant Form
• Review the Applicant Form
  • Review the submitted Applicant Form for eligibility and send for technical review
  • Send the applicant an intake email with instructions on their technical review
• Conduct a technical review
  • Check that facilities and equipment meet all requirements based on food handling activities
  • Provide technical review letter with direction for facility inspection
• Conduct a facility inspection
  • Schedule the facility inspection
  • Confirm the business is ready to begin operating
  • Provide the initial License Fee form
• Issue license to operate
  • Issue a Food Handler License once completed fee form and correct payment have been received

The general timeframe to complete this process is approximately thirty to forty-five days upon receipt of a complete Applicant Form. 

General Food License Information

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Food and Feed Safety Division issues food licenses and conducts food safety inspections for a variety of businesses in Minnesota. A food license is required unless you meet an exclusion or exemption from food licensing, including selling products of your farm or garden and cottage foods.

How do I know if I need a license from the MDA or a health department?

Food businesses in Minnesota are either licensed and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Health, or a local city or county health department, depending on a businesses' proposed menu and where they plan to operate. 

Some types of food businesses licensed and inspected by the MDA include packaged food manufacturing and sales, grocery stores, convenience stores, retail meat stores, bakeries, storage warehouses, vending machines, and food stands that primarily sell prepackaged foods, baked goods, candy, nuts, popcorn and sno cones.

• A good way to get your questions answered is by filling out a pre-consultation questionnaire to connect with a MDA Licensing Liaison. They can help determine if you need a food license or not, provide next steps if you have a food business plan already in mind, or if you want to start selling cottage foods or your own farm products.
• If you want to start a new food business and don't know where to start, also try exploring the Starting a Food Business Roadmap.
• If you currently own a licensed food business and want to expand, remodel, relocate, or sell your existing business, or are ready to begin the licensing process, please call 651-201-6062 or email MDA.Licensing@state.mn.us. 

Restaurants, Bars, and other Food Stands

If you need a license for a restaurant, bar, or food stand that primarily prepares foods or beverages per customer order (like hot foods, lemonade stands, coffee trailers, dirty sodas), please contact the Minnesota Department of Health for guidance at 651-201-4500 or health.foodlodging@state.mn.us, or visit their website.

Additional Resources Based on Primary Food Handling Activity

• Food Handler License -  For more detail on requirements depending on the primary food handling activity, please see the pages below:
  • Retail Food Handler (Brick-and-mortar food establishments that predominantly sell prepackaged food to be consumed by the customer off site. Some examples of food establishments the MDA licenses and inspects are grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, meat markets, wineries, brewery taprooms, and vending machines.)
  • Retail Mobile Food Handler (Mobile Food Unit, Seasonal Temporary Food Stand, Special Event Food Stand, or Retail Food Vehicle/Portable Structure/Cart that predominantly sells prepackaged foods and beverages, baked goods, popcorn, cotton candy, nuts, candy, or snow cones/shaved ice.)
  • Wholesale Food Handler
  • Wholesale Food Processor/Manufacturer
• Special Event Food Stand License - For food businesses operating no more than ten (10) total days within the applicable license period.
• Food Handler License - USDA - For food businesses producing only United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected products and selling to other businesses for resale.