Washington Cottage Food Law
A complete guide to cottage food regulations in Washington (WA) — revenue limits, allowed products, labeling, and permitting requirements.
Annual Revenue Limit$35,000
Food Handler CertRequired
Business LicenseRequired
RegistrationRequired
Requirements & Restrictions
Permitting & Registration
- Food Handler Certification
- Required
- Business License
- Required
- State Registration
- Required — Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Safety Program
Where You Can Sell
- Farmers markets
- Craft fairs
- Charitable organization functions
- From home
- Online (in-person pickup or delivery within Washington State only)
- Farm stands
- Seasonal events (such as harvest festivals)
- CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) — operator must run the CSA themselves
Allowed Products
- Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits, quick breads and muffins
- Cakes including celebration cakes such as birthday, anniversary, and wedding cakes
- Sweet breads made with fresh fruit or vegetables (incorporated into batter and oven-baked)
- Pastries and scones
- Cookies and bars
- Crackers
- Pies (except custard style pies, pies with fresh unbaked fruit, and pies requiring refrigeration after baking)
- Candies cooked on a stove top or in a microwave (with candy thermometer)
- Molded candies and chocolates
- Products dipped or coated with candy or chocolate coatings
- Fudge or fudge-like candies
- Caramels
- Nut brittles
- Taffy and marshmallow-like candies
- Nuts and nut mixes
- Snack mixes
- Donuts, tortillas, pizelles, krumkake, and similar products
- Cereals, trail mixes and granola
- Jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters (made according to FDA standards in 21 C.F.R 150)
- Recombining or packaging of dry herbs, seasoning and mixtures including teas, bread mixes, soup mixes and dip mixes
- Low risk freeze dried foods (candy)
- Small batch roasted coffee beans
- Vinegar and flavored vinegars
- Potato chips, kale chips, etc.
- Some frostings (must have a cook step or be made with ingredients stable at room temperature)
Prohibited Products
- Note: This list is not inclusive
- Fresh or dried meat or meat products including jerky
- Fresh or dried poultry or poultry products
- Canned fruits, vegetables, vegetable butters, salsas, etc.
- Fish or shellfish products
- Products made with meat, poultry or fish products
- Raw seed sprouts
- Canned pickled products such as corn relish, pickles, sauerkraut
- Bakery goods requiring refrigeration such as cream, custard or meringue pies and cakes or pastries with cream or cream cheese fillings, fresh fruit fillings or garnishes, glazes or frostings with low sugar content, cream, or uncooked eggs
- Milk and dairy products including hard, soft and cottage cheeses and yogurt
- Cut fresh fruits or vegetables
- Food products made from fresh fruits or vegetables
- Garlic in oil mixtures
- Juices made from fresh fruits or vegetables
- Ice or ice products
- Barbeque sauces, ketchups, or mustards
- Focaccia-style breads with vegetables or cheeses
- Beverages
- Freeze-dried high-risk foods (fruit, ice cream)
- Food products not for human consumption such as dog treats
Labeling Requirements
The following information must appear on every cottage food product label sold in Washington:
Required Disclaimer
Made in a Home Kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.
Additional Notes
Annual gross sales cap is $35,000 per calendar year (per 2025 WSDA fact sheet; an earlier 2019 publication cited $25,000 — the 2025 figure is current). If the cap is reached, the operator must cease operations for the remainder of that permit period. The sales cap is reviewed every four years based on the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index. Permit is valid for 2 years; fee is $355 (updated from $230/year in July 2023). Maximum of 50 master products allowed per permit. Products may not be shipped, sold outside Washington State, or sold through third-party delivery companies or consignment/wholesale. Cottage food products must be sold directly to the end consumer. Required pre-application items include a Master Business License (Washington Dept. of Revenue), Food Worker Card (WA Dept. of Health), and water supply coliform test or recent water bill. A WSDA inspection of the home kitchen is required before the permit is issued. Labels must be written in English. Nutrition Facts labels are only required when health or nutritional claims are made on the label. Baker phone number and website are optional (may be included). bakerAddress not listed as a required label element; bakerEmail not listed as required. bakerIdentifier=true reflects required permit number on label. Allergen advisory statements ('May contain…') are not required. The permit number must appear on the label as 'Permit #:____'.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual revenue limit for cottage food businesses in Washington?
- Washington cottage food producers may earn up to $35,000 per year from cottage food sales.
- Do I need a food handler certification to sell cottage food in Washington?
- Yes. Washington requires cottage food producers to hold a valid food handler certification.
- Is a business license required for cottage food sales in Washington?
- Yes. Cottage food producers in Washington are required to obtain a business license.
- Does Washington require cottage food producers to register with the state?
- Yes. Washington requires cottage food businesses to register with Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Safety Program.
- Where can I legally sell cottage food products in Washington?
- In Washington, cottage food products may be sold at: Farmers markets, Craft fairs, Charitable organization functions, From home, Online (in-person pickup or delivery within Washington State only), Farm stands, Seasonal events (such as harvest festivals), CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) — operator must run the CSA themselves.
- What allergen labeling standard applies to cottage food in Washington?
- Washington follows the FDA Big Nine allergen standard for cottage food labeling.
- What products are allowed under Washington cottage food law?
- The following product categories are permitted for cottage food production in Washington: Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits, quick breads and muffins, Cakes including celebration cakes such as birthday, anniversary, and wedding cakes, Sweet breads made with fresh fruit or vegetables (incorporated into batter and oven-baked), Pastries and scones, Cookies and bars, Crackers, Pies (except custard style pies, pies with fresh unbaked fruit, and pies requiring refrigeration after baking), Candies cooked on a stove top or in a microwave (with candy thermometer), Molded candies and chocolates, Products dipped or coated with candy or chocolate coatings, Fudge or fudge-like candies, Caramels, Nut brittles, Taffy and marshmallow-like candies, Nuts and nut mixes, Snack mixes, Donuts, tortillas, pizelles, krumkake, and similar products, Cereals, trail mixes and granola, Jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters (made according to FDA standards in 21 C.F.R 150), Recombining or packaging of dry herbs, seasoning and mixtures including teas, bread mixes, soup mixes and dip mixes, Low risk freeze dried foods (candy), Small batch roasted coffee beans, Vinegar and flavored vinegars, Potato chips, kale chips, etc., Some frostings (must have a cook step or be made with ingredients stable at room temperature).
- What products are prohibited under Washington cottage food law?
- The following products may not be sold under Washington's cottage food exemption: Note: This list is not inclusive, Fresh or dried meat or meat products including jerky, Fresh or dried poultry or poultry products, Canned fruits, vegetables, vegetable butters, salsas, etc., Fish or shellfish products, Products made with meat, poultry or fish products, Raw seed sprouts, Canned pickled products such as corn relish, pickles, sauerkraut, Bakery goods requiring refrigeration such as cream, custard or meringue pies and cakes or pastries with cream or cream cheese fillings, fresh fruit fillings or garnishes, glazes or frostings with low sugar content, cream, or uncooked eggs, Milk and dairy products including hard, soft and cottage cheeses and yogurt, Cut fresh fruits or vegetables, Food products made from fresh fruits or vegetables, Garlic in oil mixtures, Juices made from fresh fruits or vegetables, Ice or ice products, Barbeque sauces, ketchups, or mustards, Focaccia-style breads with vegetables or cheeses, Beverages, Freeze-dried high-risk foods (fruit, ice cream), Food products not for human consumption such as dog treats.