Hosting a ticketed dinner in Meridian: the checklist

At a glance

Cottage food covers your pound cake, not your plated supper. Serving food for pay needs an MSDH permit. §75-29-951 MSDH Q&A

Often the simplest route: book a licensed venue; your tickets cover the rental fee. Permit cover is unaddressed (unverified). MSDH Q&A

Union Station says caterers "are not required to be licensed." State rules still apply there. City policy MSDH Q&A

Quick answers

Can I sell tickets to a dinner I cook at home in Meridian? No. MSDH requires a permit to "serve food for pay" and names no exception for private dinners. MSDH Q&A Home kitchens are out. MSDH regulations

What is the simplest legal way to host a ticketed dinner in Meridian? Often a permitted venue; your tickets cover the rental fee. Permit cover is unaddressed (unverified). MSDH Q&A Your own MSDH permit is $224.25 plus $40 to $264.50 a year, plus a kitchen. MSDH fees

Can I include wine in a dinner ticket in Meridian? Best not; it's unsettled, so ask a lawyer. Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. §67-1-51 A caterer's permit is $1,225 a year, or $325 with an on-premises permit. DOR

Start here: one dish, free, at home

Your routes, cheapest first

Route	What you need	Cost	Lead time
Permitted venue	MSDH confirms its permit covers you (unverified)	Rental fee plus deposit	Check with the venue
Temporary event permit (unverified: usually tied to a community event; call first)	MSDH event permit (MSDH), plus Meridian vendor permit (city form)	About $40 or $198 (unverified) (guide), plus $25	Check with MSDH
Food permit plus permitted kitchen	Own MSDH permit	$224.25 plus $40 to $264.50 a year (MSDH fees), plus kitchen	Check with MSDH

Steps, in order

Already done some of these? Skip them.

Suggested order.

1. Talk to a lawyer before you charge anyone.

2. Get a food manager certificate. Every permitted facility needs one. MSDH Q&A

3. Get a Meridian privilege license, from $20 a year. City form

4. Sales tax: 7% state, plus Meridian's 2% on prepared food and drinks. MS DOR

5. Get your MSDH permit. MSDH fees

6. Book a permitted kitchen. Home kitchens are out, though a separate room with an outside entrance may qualify. MSDH regulations

7. Get liability insurance. Union Station requires $1M naming the city. City policy

8. Put the fee, deposit, permit cover and drinks plan (see Drinks below) in writing with the venue.

9. List your night.

Drinks

Cheapest legal route: book a caterer who already holds an ABC caterer's permit. They bring and sell the drinks; you pay no permit fee. §67-1-51

That permit is $1,225 a year, or $325 with an on-premises permit. It needs an MSDH catering permit, a wet-town base and 40% food revenue. DOR fees

The caterer files notice with ABC 10 days before each event, stays on site and makes every drink sale. Lauderdale County is wet, homes included. R. 2-03-14-102 DOR map data

Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. Folding them in is unsettled; ask a lawyer. §67-1-51

BYOB with nothing sold: likely legal (unverified), adults only in Meridian. Hired bartender pouring your liquor: untested (unverified). No city permit, but check the 400-foot church and school rule (unverified). §5-8.1, §5-4 HB 1087

Watch-outs

Insurance: homeowners policies exclude activity "engaged in for money." Some policies exempt small side income; get it in writing from your insurer. ISO HO-3

Only charities, nonprofits and private schools skip the permit. A "donation" price doesn't help (unverified). MSDH Q&A

From people who've done it: a caterer sold a ticketed dinner at Meridian's Union Station, June 2026 (anecdotal). Eventbrite