Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Laws for Washington State
A clear look at the Washington cottage food permit so you know what to check before you sell.
On this page
What to remember
- The food must be made in the home kitchen of your primary domestic residence.
- Sales are direct to the consumer only.
- A Cottage Food Permit covers not potentially hazardous foods such as baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends.
- The permit lasts two years and expires on the last day of the month it was issued.
- The Cottage Food Law Library lists the Washington Cottage Food Operation Permit at $355 for two years.
If you bake from home in Washington and sell to people who buy from you directly, the cottage food rules are the first thing to check. The state law is Chapter 69.22 RCW, and the product rules are in Chapter 16-149 WAC. This guide walks through the permit basics. For a wider view, see cottage food law requirements by state.
Who can use a Washington cottage food permit
Washington defines a cottage food operation as a person who produces cottage food products only in the home kitchen of that person’s primary domestic residence and only for sale directly to the consumer. The permit is for a Washington state resident. The Cottage Food Operations law was enacted in 2011.
The state permit summary lists baked goods, standardized jams and jellies, vinegars, and dry mixes as activities that require a Cottage Food Operation Permit. The state cottage food page also lists candies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends as foods a permit allows, as long as they are not potentially hazardous.
What the permit covers and what it does not
The permit is for foods that are not potentially hazardous. The state gives examples: baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends. Chapter 16-149 WAC covers allowable cottage food products, prohibited products, and suspension, revocation, and denial of registrations. Read that chapter before you plan a menu, because it is where the product rules live.
How long it lasts and what it costs
A completed Cottage Food Permit is valid for two years. It expires at the end of the two years on the last day of the month in which the permit was issued. According to the Cottage Food Law Library, the Washington Cottage Food Operation Permit costs $355 for two years.
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If you are comparing states or helping a friend in another state, use the cottage food laws by state map and how to check your state’s cottage food laws to see what to verify. The map helps you find the right rule page, and the checklist keeps you from missing a step.
Common questions
Do I need a cottage food permit to sell baked goods in Washington?
Yes, if you make baked goods in your home kitchen and sell them directly to the consumer, the state permit summary lists baked goods as an activity that requires a Cottage Food Operation Permit.
What foods can I make under a Washington cottage food permit?
The state lists baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends as foods a permit allows, as long as they are not potentially hazardous. The permit summary also lists standardized jams and jellies, vinegars, and dry mixes.
How long is a Washington cottage food permit good for?
It is valid for two years. It expires at the end of the two years on the last day of the month in which the permit was issued.
How much does the Washington cottage food permit cost?
According to the Cottage Food Law Library, the Washington Cottage Food Operation Permit costs $355 for two years.
Does the cottage food law replace local health inspection?
Chapter 69.22 RCW provides an exemption from chapter 69.07 RCW and from permitting and inspection by a local health jurisdiction, but it states that other state or federal laws or local ordinances are not affected.
Where can I read what is allowed and prohibited?
Chapter 16-149 WAC covers allowable cottage food products, prohibited products, and suspension, revocation, and denial of registrations.
Sources
This is general information for home bakers, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Chapter 16-149 WAC before you sell.