Washington Cottage Food Laws 2026: Permit, $35K Cap, No Shipping

What you can sell

Washington allows non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require refrigeration. Allowed products include oven-baked goods like bread, brownies, cookies, muffins and fruit pies, as long as they do not require refrigeration. You can also make candy cooked on a stove top or in a microwave, provided you use a candy thermometer for temperature control (WSDA).

You may produce jams and jellies, preserves and apple butter, but only if they meet FDA standards for standardized fruit butters, jellies, and preserves set by 21 CFR Part 150. Low-sugar jams are not allowed because they do not meet the FDA standard of identity (WSDA).

You can sell popcorn, granola, trail mix, roasted nuts, dried fruit, dried pasta, dried herbs, spices, dry soup mixes, and tea or coffee blends. You may rebottle vinegar obtained from an approved source. You can also roast coffee beans in your home kitchen, as long as the roaster is residential size and fits on a kitchen countertop (WSDA).

What you can’t sell

You cannot sell foods requiring refrigeration, such as cakes or pies with cream or custard fillings, pumpkin pies, cheesecakes, or cream-filled pastries. Meat, poultry, and jerky are potentially hazardous and not allowed. Raw milk and raw milk aged cheese are also not allowed (WSDA).

Home-canned foods like salsa, pickles, and hot sauce do not qualify under the Cottage Food Law. Acidified foods like ketchup, barbeque sauces, and mustards require pH control and a process authority review under federal law. Syrups and beverages are also prohibited (WSDA).

Pet treats are not covered, as the law applies to human-grade food only. You cannot produce or sell homemade beers and ciders. Ice products and focaccia-style breads with vegetables or cheeses are also not allowed (WSDA).

How and where you can sell

Cottage food products may be sold only to the end consumer through direct sales from your home, at farmers markets, craft fairs, and other public venues. The actual sale must be made person-to-person between the producer and the consumer (WSDA).

You can advertise your products on the internet and take orders online. Processing the payment online is acceptable. However, you cannot ship cottage food products by mail or a courier service. Product delivery or pick up must be directly from the producer to the end consumer in a person-to-person transaction within Washington State (WSDA).

You cannot sell cottage food products to restaurants, grocery stores, wholesalers, brokers, or distributors. You cannot sell on consignment or have other people sell your products. If you wish to wholesale goods to stores, you must acquire a WSDA Food Processor’s License (WSDA).

Kitchen, registration, and training rules

You must make cottage food products only in the kitchen of your primary domestic residence. Second homes, vacation homes, motor homes, rented kitchens, or outbuildings like sheds or barns do not qualify if they are not your primary residence and kitchen. You may use your home domestic kitchen appliances; only typical residential style kitchen equipment and utensils are allowed (WSDA).

You must obtain a Food Worker Card from your local county health department for each person working in the cottage food business. You must also obtain a Master Business License through the Washington State Department of Revenue. If you are on a private well, the water should be tested annually for coliform bacteria. No testing is required if the home is on a city or municipal water system (WSDA).

Your kitchen and all permitted areas must be inspected by a WSDA representative before permitting. The inspector will check the kitchen, packaging area, restroom, and both raw ingredient and finished product storage areas. If you fail the inspection, you must submit documentation of corrections and pay $125.00 for an additional inspection. If you fail inspection twice, your application will be denied (WSDA).

Infants and young children are restricted from being in the cottage food operation during production. If infants or children under the age of six are present at the location, a child management plan that precludes child entry/access to all areas of the cottage food operation during operating hours must be in place. If pets are going to be present at the location during operation hours, a pet management plan that precludes pet entry/access to all areas of the cottage food operation and exclusion from storage areas must be in place (WSDA).

Labels

Washington requires a specific label on every cottage food product. The block below lists each item with the official wording. You no longer need to list your home address on the label.

Before your first sale

• ☐To do: Check every product and ingredient against the WSDA allowed products list.
• ☐To do: Obtain a Food Worker Card and a Master Business License.
• ☐To do: Complete the WSDA Cottage Food Operation Permit application, including floor plan, labels, and packaging details, and submit the $355.00 fee.
• ☐To do: Pass the WSDA home kitchen inspection to receive your permit number.
• ☐To do: Print labels with your permit number and the required home kitchen statement.
• ☐To do: Check city business license, zoning, and tax rules separately; the cottage food rules do not cover them.

Common questions