Where You Can Sell
- Permitted sales channel: Home Pickup
- Permitted sales channel: Farmers Markets
- Permitted sales channel: Events & Fairs
- Permitted sales channel: In-state only
- Not permitted sales channel: Interstate Sales
If you are a home baker in the Evergreen State looking to turn your signature sourdough or custom cookie boxes into a business, you are operating under one of the most structured cottage food programs in the country. Unlike many states that let you start selling immediately, Washington requires a formal permit process with a mandatory kitchen inspection before your first sale.
The good news? As of late 2023, Washington has made it easier to scale — the annual sales cap was raised to $35,000 and permits now last two years instead of requiring annual renewal. Whether you are planning a weekly porch pickup, a farmers market booth, or a weekend bread drop, the framework is clear once you understand it.
The sections below walk you through exactly what the law requires, what it allows, and what to do before you submit your application.
Is Cottage Food Legal in Washington?
Yes. Cottage food production is legal in Washington under Chapter 69.22 RCW (Cottage Food Operations) and Chapter 16-149 WAC (Cottage Foods). These statutes define who qualifies, what products can be produced, and the labeling and permitting requirements that make cottage food sales legal.
Unlike many states with a light-touch registration or no permit at all, Washington requires a cottage food permit from WSDA before you sell a single item. The permit is specific to the applicant and their primary residential kitchen — it is not transferable to another person or address.
WSDA is the regulatory body. Contact their food safety team at (360) 902-1876 or cottagefoods@agr.wa.gov.
What Foods Can You Sell?
Washington's cottage food law covers non-potentially-hazardous foods that do not require refrigeration for safety. WSDA's rule includes baked goods, candies, standardized jams and preserves, fruit butters, dry mixes, dry teas, dry coffees, and vinegars from approved sources, but only products approved by WSDA and listed on your permit may be produced.
✅ You Can Sell
- Breads, rolls, muffins, biscuits, scones, and quick breads
- Cookies, brownies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and fruit pies with shelf-stable fillings
- Candy, fudge, chocolate bark, and shelf-stable chocolate-dipped items
- High-acid jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters
- Vinegars from approved sources, with fruit or herb flavors added if approved
- Dry spice blends, dry seasoning mixes, dry soup mixes, and dry dip mixes
- Dry tea blends, loose-leaf tea mixes, dry coffee blends, and roasted coffee
- Granola, trail mix, and shelf-stable dry snack mixes
- Vanilla extract and other approved extracts
❌ You Cannot Sell
- Refrigerated or frozen items, including cream pies, custard, and cream-filled pastries
- Fresh vegetable or meat pies
- Acidified foods — salsa, tomato sauce, pickled vegetables, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce
- Low-acid canned goods and canned vegetables
- Meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish products
- Foods requiring temperature control for safety
- Dairy products such as cheeses and yogurt
- Pet treats (regulated separately under commercial feed law)
- Beverages, fresh juices, cut fresh produce, and garlic-in-oil mixtures
| ✅ You Can Sell | ❌ You Cannot Sell |
|---|---|
| Breads, rolls, muffins, biscuits, scones, and quick breads | Refrigerated or frozen items, including cream pies, custard, and cream-filled pastries |
| Cookies, brownies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and fruit pies with shelf-stable fillings | Fresh vegetable or meat pies |
| Candy, fudge, chocolate bark, and shelf-stable chocolate-dipped items | Acidified foods — salsa, tomato sauce, pickled vegetables, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce |
| High-acid jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters | Low-acid canned goods and canned vegetables |
| Vinegars from approved sources, with fruit or herb flavors added if approved | Meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish products |
| Dry spice blends, dry seasoning mixes, dry soup mixes, and dry dip mixes | Foods requiring temperature control for safety |
| Dry tea blends, loose-leaf tea mixes, dry coffee blends, and roasted coffee | Dairy products such as cheeses and yogurt |
| Granola, trail mix, and shelf-stable dry snack mixes | Pet treats (regulated separately under commercial feed law) |
| Vanilla extract and other approved extracts | Beverages, fresh juices, cut fresh produce, and garlic-in-oil mixtures |
⚠ Watch out
Acidified foods — including salsas, tomato sauces, and pickled vegetables — are outside Washington's cottage food framework. WSDA specifically notes that manufacturers of cooked vegetable products like salsas and tomato sauces "must meet significant federal and state training and licensing requirements." Do not assume your salsa or fermented hot sauce qualifies as a cottage food product.
✓ Tip
If you are unsure whether a specific product is permitted, contact WSDA directly at (360) 902-1876 or cottagefoods@agr.wa.gov before including it in your permit application.
Annual Sales Cap
Washington cottage food law caps annual gross sales at $35,000. This limit was raised from $25,000 on July 23, 2023 — and the law now requires the cap to be reviewed and adjusted every four years starting in 2027, based on the Seattle-area consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers.
The $35,000 applies to total gross revenue from all cottage food products produced at a particular domestic residence. It is not a per-person cap that can be multiplied by adding helpers or family members. If you exceed that ceiling, you must stop selling under your cottage food permit for the rest of the calendar year or transition to a licensed food processing facility.
A 2024 bill (SB 5107) proposed raising the cap further to $50,000, but that legislation did not advance. Under current law, $35,000 is the ceiling. If you are trying to keep a capped cottage food business profitable, use the home bakery pricing guide to sanity-check your margins before you scale.
Sales Channels: Where You Can Sell
Washington permits direct-to-consumer sales only. Your products cannot be resold by a third party — no wholesale to grocery stores, cafés, or other retailers under your cottage food permit.
Permitted sales channels:
- Porch pickup and home sales — selling directly from your permitted residence to individual consumers
- Farmers markets — a common channel for Washington cottage food sellers; confirm with each market that your valid WSDA permit satisfies their vendor requirements
- Temporary events and craft fairs — permitted where sales are direct to the consumer
- In-state sales only — Washington cottage food law applies only within state borders
Online ordering: Washington's rule prohibits shipping, mail order sales, consignment, wholesale, and sales outside the state. WSDA's cottage food guidance focuses on direct-to-consumer sales. If you use a website or social media to collect preorders, structure the transaction around direct in-state handoff and verify the model with WSDA before building a delivery-first or mail-order workflow.
Interstate shipping: Not permitted. Cottage food law governs in-state, direct-to-consumer transactions only.
⚠ Watch out
"Direct to consumer" means you sell to the end customer — not to a store, café, or reseller. A retail shop carrying your products to sell to its own customers is resale, which is prohibited under your cottage food permit regardless of how the arrangement is structured.
Permit, License, and Registration Requirements
Washington requires a cottage food permit from WSDA before selling. This is not optional — the permit must be issued before your first sale, and a WSDA inspector will visit your kitchen as part of the process.
Key permit facts:
- Total fee: $355 for a two-year permit, nonrefundable after WSDA receives the application (a separate $125 re-inspection fee applies only if you fail the initial inspection and request a second one)
- Validity: Two years from the date of issuance (extended from annual in 2023)
- Tied to: The applicant and their primary domestic residence — if you move, you must submit a new application with the fee
- Processing time: Approximately 6–8 weeks from the date WSDA receives a complete application
- Inspection: WSDA inspects your kitchen and all permitted areas identified in the application before issuing the permit
- Food worker cards: The permit holder and any authorized people processing cottage food products must have valid food worker cards
The application process:
- Confirm that your intended products fall within WSDA's permitted categories
- Create accurate labels for every product you plan to sell — these must be submitted with the application
- Gather the required application materials, including the premises diagram, labels, recipe and processing information required by WAC 16-149-060, proposed processing dates, sales locations, water documentation if needed, food worker cards, and any required pet or child control plan
- Submit the completed application with the $355 fee to WSDA
- WSDA schedules a kitchen inspection and evaluates your space against the inspection criteria in Chapter 16-149 WAC
- If the inspection passes, WSDA issues your permit (allow 6–8 weeks from receipt of a complete application)
Recipe privacy note: WAC 16-149-060 says the application must include recipes plus a description of processing and packaging steps. WSDA also warns that information included in the application, including recipes, is subject to the Washington State Public Records Act. Do not include extra proprietary detail beyond what WSDA requires, and contact WSDA directly if you have trade-secret concerns before applying.
Local note: Check with your city and county about zoning ordinances and municipal laws that apply to conducting a business from your home. Some municipalities have home occupation permit requirements or restrictions on customer traffic to residential addresses.
Food worker card requirement: Washington's current cottage food rules require the permit holder and any authorized people involved in cottage food processing to have valid food worker cards. Food worker cards are issued through local county health departments, and WSDA says cards from third-party websites are not accepted.
Label Requirements for Washington Cottage Food
Every Washington cottage food product must carry a complete, accurate label before it reaches a customer. The labels you submit with your permit application must match what you use in the field — and you are responsible for ensuring every label accurately reflects the ingredients in each batch.
Required label elements under Chapter 16-149 WAC:
- Name and WSDA permit number of the cottage food operation business
- Name of the food product
- Ingredient list in descending order of predominance by weight — including sub-ingredients of compound ingredients
- Net weight or volume of the product — metric weight is not required by Washington's rule
- Major allergen declaration when any major allergen is present (wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame)
- Nutrition facts only if you make a nutrient or health claim
- The required disclaimer — quoted below, printed in at least the equivalent of 11-point type in a color that clearly contrasts with the label background
The required disclaimer — use this exact language on every label:
Made in a Home Kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.
WSDA allows all capital letters or upper/lower case — but the substance of the statement must be exact. Do not paraphrase. Earlier phrasings like "not inspected by a local health agency" appear in older guidance and do not match the current official WSDA requirement.
REQUIRED vs. RECOMMENDED
| Element | Required by WA Law | Recommended Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | ✅ Required | Use the common name customers recognize |
| Ingredient list (descending by weight) | ✅ Required | Include sub-ingredients for compound ingredients |
| Net weight or volume | ✅ Required | Include both US and metric units (e.g., Net Wt. 8 oz / 227 g) |
| Major allergen declaration | ✅ Required when applicable | Use a clear "Contains:" line near the ingredient list |
| Business name and WSDA permit number | ✅ Required | Display prominently — inspectors and market managers may check for it |
| Required disclaimer | ✅ Required | Verbatim WSDA text; at least 11-point equivalent with clear contrast |
| Home address | Not required (permit number substitutes) | Not recommended — privacy concern for home-based producers |
| Production or bake date | Not required | ✅ Recommended — builds customer trust and simplifies quality follow-up |
| Best-by or use-by date | Not required | ✅ Recommended for items with shorter shelf life |
| Storage instructions | Not required | ✅ Recommended for humidity-sensitive items |
| QR code linking to storefront | Not required | ✅ Drives repeat orders |
| Nutrition facts panel | Required only if you make a nutrient or health claim | Usually omit unless a claim requires it |
Common labeling mistakes Washington bakers make:
- Using older disclaimer language ("not inspected by a local health agency") instead of the current WSDA-required text
- Omitting the cottage food operation business name or WSDA permit number — this element is unique to Washington and frequently overlooked by bakers familiar with other states
- Listing allergens incompletely — sesame was added to the federal major allergen list in 2023 and must now be declared when present
- Changing a formula after the permit is issued without updating the submitted label
- Printing the disclaimer below the required 11-point equivalent or in a low-contrast color
MyPorch can help you organize the product details every Washington label needs — product name, ingredient list, net weight, allergen disclosures, permit number, and the 11-point home-kitchen disclaimer — and generate printable labels from that product data. For broader label examples, use the cottage food labeling guide alongside WSDA's application materials. Start a free MyPorch storefront → and keep your WSDA permit information current before printing.
Now That You Know the Rules — Here's How to Start Selling
Washington's permit process is the most important variable to plan around. The 6–8 week timeline is not flexible — WSDA processes applications in order received, and an incomplete submission resets the clock. A baker who submits a complete application today should plan to start selling roughly two months out.
The $355 fee and mandatory inspection make this a higher-stakes launch than most states. Getting your labels right before you apply — and your ordering system ready before the permit arrives — protects that investment.
- Confirm your product list. Stick to WSDA's permitted categories — baked goods, candy, standardized jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, vinegars from approved sources, dry spice blends, dry mixes, dry coffee, and dry tea blends. For any gray-area product, email cottagefoods@agr.wa.gov before investing in packaging.
- Create compliant labels for every product you plan to sell. Labels must be submitted with the application. Draft your labels first, verify they include all required elements, and keep them accurate as your formulas evolve.
- Get food worker cards for everyone who will process cottage foods. The application requires a copy of the applicant's food worker card and the cards for any other people conducting cottage food processing.
- Submit a complete application and pay the $355 fee. Include the required labels, premises diagram, processing details, sales-location information, water documentation if applicable, and any required pet or child control plan. Remember that application materials can become public record.
- Prepare for the WSDA kitchen inspection. Review WSDA's published inspection criteria before your appointment. The inspector evaluates your kitchen, food storage, and all areas identified in the application.
- Once the permit arrives, add your permit number to every label. Your permit number is required on all labels before your first sale.
- Set up your ordering system before you announce your first batch. Taking orders through Instagram DMs or text messages works until about the tenth order, when tracking becomes a problem. A dedicated pre-order system that collects payment in advance, locks in your order count before bake day, and sends confirmations automatically is dramatically more sustainable. The home bakery pre-order guide walks through that workflow. Start your free MyPorch storefront →
- Track your gross sales against the $35,000 annual cap. Keep a simple monthly record so you know where you stand year-to-date.
Summary
Key Takeaways — Washington Cottage Food Law
- Washington requires a $355 cottage food permit from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) before you sell — your kitchen will be inspected as part of the application process.
- The annual sales cap is $35,000 — raised from $25,000 in 2023, with four-year adjustments tied to the Seattle-area CPI starting in 2027.
- Every Washington cottage food label must include the business name, permit number, required 11-point disclaimer, ingredient list, net weight, and allergen disclosures — a home address is not required.
- The permit holder and any authorized people processing cottage food products must have valid Washington food worker cards.
- Products can only be sold directly to the consumer — no wholesale, no resale by a third party, and no interstate shipping.
- The application process averages 6–8 weeks — submit a complete application with product labels and the required recipe/process information before you plan to sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Washington's cottage food law?
How do I get a cottage food permit in Washington state?
How much does a cottage food permit cost in Washington?
How long does it take to get a cottage food permit in Washington?
Does my kitchen need to be inspected to get a cottage food permit?
Do I need a food worker card for a Washington cottage food permit?
Does my cottage food permit expire?
Can I operate a cottage food business without a permit in Washington?
What happens if I move while I have a cottage food permit?
What information needs to be on a cottage food label in Washington?
Does my cottage food label need to include my home address in Washington?
What is the required disclaimer for Washington cottage food labels?
Do I need to list allergens on my cottage food label in Washington?
Is there a specific font size required for the disclaimer on my Washington cottage food label?
What is the annual sales cap for cottage food in Washington?
What happens if I exceed the $35,000 sales cap?
Can I sell cottage food products online in Washington?
Can I ship cottage food products out of state from Washington?
Can I sell my cottage food products at a retail store in Washington?
Can I sell cottage food products at a coffee shop or café in Washington?
Can I sell cottage food products at a temporary event or craft fair in Washington?
What foods can I sell from home in Washington state?
Can I sell sourdough bread made in a home kitchen in Washington?
Can I sell cookies from home in Washington?
Can I sell jams and jellies from home in Washington?
Can I sell canned goods from home in Washington?
Can I sell refrigerated goods in Washington?
Can I sell pet treats under the Washington Cottage Food Law?
Do I need to collect sales tax on my cottage food sales in Washington?
Can I operate my cottage food business from an apartment in Washington?
How does WSDA verify my kitchen is safe?
Do I need to register my cottage food business name in Washington?
What are the consequences for violating the Washington Cottage Food Law?
Who regulates the cottage food laws in Washington?
How do I start a cottage food business in Washington?
How do I get compliant labels for my Washington cottage food products?
Recent Law Changes
2023 — Sales Cap Increase and Two-Year Permit Validity
Effective July 23, 2023, Washington raised the annual sales cap from $25,000 to $35,000. The same legislation extended permit validity from one year to two years, reducing the cost and administrative burden of annual renewal. The law also established that the cap will be reviewed and adjusted for inflation every four years starting in 2027, based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
2025 — SB 5605 (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations)
Senate Bill 5605, concerning microenterprise home kitchen operations (MEHKOs), was introduced in the 2025 session and was reintroduced/retained in the 2026 regular session. MEHKOs are a separate track from cottage food — they would cover meal service and cooked-to-order food produced in a home kitchen, with separate permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. As of this review, SB 5605 has not changed Washington's cottage food framework. Monitor the bill if you are interested in offering prepared meals beyond the current cottage food product list.
2024 — SB 5107 (Did Not Advance)
SB 5107 was introduced in 2024 to raise the annual sales cap to $50,000 and require biennial WSDA cap reviews. This bill did not advance. Under current law, the $35,000 cap with Seattle-area CPI-indexed adjustments every four years remains in effect.
_This guide was last reviewed May 12, 2026. Washington cottage food law should be verified against the official sources below before making compliance decisions. Laws change — check WSDA's cottage food page and the current text of Chapter 69.22 RCW for the most current requirements._
How Washington Compares
Washington vs. Similar States
Key metrics across states with similar baker populations.
| State | Annual Cap | Wholesale | Online Sales | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WashingtonThis guide | $35K | No | No | Yes |
| Idaho | None | No | Yes | No |
| Oregon | $53K | No | Yes | No |
| Alabama | $20K | No | Yes | No |
| California | $75K / $150K | Yes | Yes | No |
