Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Laws in Washington DC: What to Know
A clear look at what DC asks of home bakers before they sell.
On this page
What to remember
- Register with DC Health before you sell.
- Your home kitchen must be in your primary domestic residence.
- A pre-operational inspection may be required.
- DC sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales.
- The rules are in Title 25-K of the DC Municipal Regulations.
If you bake from your own kitchen and sell to neighbors, this is the page to read before you take your first order. The steps are narrow, but they are not optional. Start with the cottage food laws by state guide if you want to see how DC compares with other places.
What DC calls a cottage food business
DC Health defines a cottage food business as one that produces food products in the home kitchen of the owner’s primary domestic residence. Food products produced, packaged, and stored in a person’s cottage food business are covered by the cottage food rules described in the DC Health FAQ document. That definition ties the business to the home kitchen of your primary domestic residence.
How to register with DC Health
Registration starts with the Cottage Food Registry Application. DC Health publishes a page for cottage food businesses. The regulations page is separate, so read both before you fill out the form. The application and the rules answer different questions.
The application is a form, not a full set of instructions. The regulations page is where the District’s rules sit. The FAQ document explains what the cottage food rules cover. Read all three before you send anything, because each one answers a different question.
Check the kitchen
A cottage food business produces food products in the home kitchen of the owner’s primary domestic residence.
Submit the application
Send a Cottage Food Registry Application to DC Health.
Prepare for a possible inspection
A pre-operational inspection may be required before you begin cottage food operations.
What DC does not limit
The District of Columbia sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. No dollar limit does not mean no rules. The definition, the application, and the possible inspection are all part of the same set of rules. You still need to follow the cottage food regulations that apply to your business.
Once you are registered, the day to day work is taking orders, baking, and getting paid. If you are choosing a way to run your shop, Home Bakery App is a fair roundup to read next. Keep your application and any inspection paperwork together so you can find them when you need them.
If the application asks for something you do not understand, contact DC Health before you send it. The cottage food business page and the regulations page are the two places to check first. The FAQ document is useful too, because it explains what the cottage food rules cover.
If you are comparing DC with another place, use the cottage food laws by state guide and then come back to the DC Health pages for the final word. The District’s pages are the ones that matter for your application. They are also the pages to check if a rule changes.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my home in DC?
DC Health asks cottage food businesses to submit a Cottage Food Registry Application. A pre-operational inspection may be required before you begin. Check the DC Health cottage food business page for the current application.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food businesses in DC?
No. The District of Columbia sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales.
What is a cottage food business in DC?
It is a business that produces food products in the home kitchen of the owner's primary domestic residence.
Where are the DC cottage food regulations?
The District's Cottage Food Regulations are in Title 25-K of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, under Division of Food Regulations. DC Health publishes a dedicated regulations page for cottage food businesses.
Are food products made, packed, and stored at home covered?
Food products produced, packaged, and stored in a person's cottage food business are covered by the cottage food rules described in the DC Health FAQ document.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change. Confirm details with DC Health before you sell.