Learn about MDARD's four bureaus, including contact information, by clicking the above link, or view specific information below.
Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.
Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos
Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan
Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.
Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan
Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.
Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).
Materials developed to provide information on how an individual may become a qualified Animal Control Officer.
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.
Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.
The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.
Find a licensed firm in Michigan, from pesticide businesses to retail establishments, and more.
For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
Retail Motor Fuel Outlet licensing information, applications and forms.
Information on Weights & Measures service person and agency registration, as well as weights and measures advisories.
Each new, existing, and proposed commercial pesticide or fertilizer bulk storage facility is required to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
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This page contains a list of food establishment licenses with associated fees. For dairy-related businesses, please visit our Dairy-Related Businesses site.
An operation that sells or offers to sell food directly to a consumer. Most (51% or more) of the firm’s annual gross sales come from retail (direct to consumer) transactions. Examples may include a grocery store, convenience store, party store, freezer meat operation, or a small food processor that sells most of their product to the final consumer. Note: If the business has both food service and seating for the food service, go to Extended Retail Food Establishment.
A food processor that processes, manufactures, packages, or labels food for wholesale (sells to someone other than the final consumer). Most (51% or more) of the firm’s food sales must be wholesale transactions that equate to $25,000 or less in annual gross wholesale transactions. This can be determined based off the actual business done in the preceding licensing year or based off reasonably anticipated business for the current licensing year. Examples may include a small jam or jelly processor, small juice processor, small salsa processor, repackaging operations, and a small poultry or rabbit slaughterer.
A food establishment that stores or distributes prepackaged food for wholesale (sells to someone other than the final consumer). This may include a small or large food warehouse, distribution center, transfer station, public cold storage facility, or reclamation center.
A food establishment that holds and distributes packaged foods to retail vending banks, including vending machines, micro markets, or other vending facilities owned and operated by the same person or business entity. This can be a warehouse with only pre-packaged foods or a commissary that prepares and packages foods for sale at any number of vending banks.
If a single business entity operates more than one vending base location in the state of Michigan, then one vending base location is designated as the Primary Vending Base Location. All additional base locations are designated as a Secondary Vending Base Location.
The fee for the aggregate number of vending banks operated by one business entity is applied only to the Primary Vending Base Location according to the fee schedule below:
| 1-20 Banks | $500.00 |
| 21-50 Banks | $750.00 |
| 51-75 Banks | $2000.00 |
| Over 76 Banks | $3000.00 |
If the Vending Base Location is not located in the State of Michigan, but a business or entity operates any vending bank(s) within the State of Michigan, then they must designate one vending bank within Michigan as a Primary Vending Base Location. All fees will be associated with this location.
Upon application and each year at renewal, a Primary Vending Base Location is required to submit an aggregate list of vending banks by utilizing the List of Vending Machine Locations template.
NOTE: New Extended Retail Food Establishments require plan review and a $197 plan review fee is required. More information on the plan review page.
An operation that processes, manufactures, packages, or labels food for wholesale (sells to someone other than the final consumer). Most (51% or more) of the firm’s food sales must be wholesale transactions that equate to more than $25,000 in annual gross wholesale transactions. Examples include an ice manufacturer; wholesale bakery or bread plant; winery; brewery; water, juice, soft drink, or beverage plant; canning plant; flour mill; cereal plant; specialty foods processor; wholesale fish or seafood processor; wholesale fish smoking operation; fruit & vegetable packer; egg grading plant; or repackaging operation.
An example may include door to door frozen food sales from a truck. Note: the commissary must obtain a Mobile Food Establishment Commissary License.
An operation that predominantly services a mobile food establishment. Examples include a facility where food is stored or prepared and packaged for retail sales in a mobile food establishment.
A prepackaged food establishment which operates at a fixed location for a temporary period that does not exceed 14 consecutive days.
A prepackaged temporary food establishment that is licensed to operate throughout the state without the 14-day limits, or a prepackaged mobile food establishment that is not required to return to a commissary.
NOTE: Additional fees associated with Transitory Food Units includes a one-time $197 initial plan review fee as well as two $90 inspection fees per licensing year.
MDARD and local county health department food inspectors issue temporary food licenses for food trucks, fair kitchens, and other food vendors at each county fair. Please see the Fair Inspection Transition Project to determine if you need to apply for a license with a local county health department or MDARD.
Find locally offered Food Service Licenses here.