Cottage food rules
Cottage Food License in Oregon: What Home Bakers Need
A plain look at when Oregon's cottage food exemption applies and when you need a license.
On this page
What to remember
- A food license is the default in Oregon unless an exemption applies.
- The Cottage Food Exemptions are separate from the domestic kitchen bakery and food processing license.
- If your home kitchen does not meet the exemption, you must get the license.
- A cottage food establishment may request a UIN from the Oregon Department of Agriculture for labels.
- Senate Bill 643 A updated Oregon’s cottage food rules.
Before you bake for paying customers in Oregon, sort out which set of rules you are under. The Oregon Department of Agriculture publishes a page on food licensing without a license and a Cottage Food Exemption FAQ. Read both before you print labels or take a deposit. If you also sell in another state, check that state’s guide as well, such as Cottage Food License in Idaho or Cottage Food License in Nevada.
Start with the exemption question
Oregon’s default rule is that all food vendors need a food license unless they qualify for an exemption. The Cottage Food Exemptions are the path the state describes for some home kitchen foods. The ODA FAQ says anyone who wants to sell food made in a home kitchen that does not meet the Cottage Food Exemptions must obtain and meet the requirements for a domestic kitchen bakery or food processing license. So the first question is not which form to file. It is whether your products and your kitchen fit the exemption.
Write down what you plan to sell and how you make it. Then compare that list with the ODA Cottage Food Exemption FAQ and the exemption document. If anything on your list falls outside the exemption, treat it as a licensed product and follow the domestic kitchen bakery or food processing path. If you are unsure, ask ODA before you take orders. A short answer from the state is worth more than a guess.
What the license path looks like
If your kitchen does not qualify for the exemption, the state points you to a domestic kitchen bakery or food processing license. The ODA FAQ says you must obtain that license and meet its requirements. Use the ODA licensing page and the FAQ to confirm which license fits your operation. Then build your labels, your order process, and your record keeping around that answer.
Labels, UINs, and your business address
A cottage food establishment may request a unique identification number, or UIN, from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The state says the UIN can be used on a food label as an alternative to a business address. If you want that option, request it from ODA and keep the approval with your business records.
Labels are often the first thing a customer sees, so decide early what your label will say and whether you will use a UIN. If you sell at markets or take custom orders, keep a copy of your exemption or license details with your order notes. That way you are not hunting for paperwork when a customer asks a question.
What changed in Oregon
The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 643 A, a measure that expands economic opportunity for cottage food producers by making necessary updates to regulations on home-based food businesses. The legislative document is a useful starting point for understanding the direction of the rules. The ODA FAQ and exemption document are the pages to check for the requirements that apply to you now.
Rules can change, and the page you read last year may not be the page you need today. Before you take a new kind of order or add a product, revisit the ODA pages and the legislative update. If you are comparing tools for taking orders, read Home Bakery App and keep the state rules as your first filter. A simple shop is only useful if the food you sell is allowed.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
Common questions
Do I need a cottage food license in Oregon?
Oregon requires a food license for food vendors unless they qualify for an exemption. If your home kitchen meets the Cottage Food Exemptions, you can sell under that exemption. If it does not, the state says you need a domestic kitchen bakery or food processing license.
Is the Cottage Food Exemption the same as a license?
No. The state treats the Cottage Food Exemptions as an exemption from the license requirement. A home kitchen that does not meet them must obtain a domestic kitchen bakery or food processing license.
What is a UIN on an Oregon cottage food label?
A UIN is a unique identification number that a cottage food establishment may request from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. It can be used on a food label as an alternative to a business address.
Did Oregon change its cottage food rules?
The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 643 A, which updates regulations on home-based food businesses to expand economic opportunity for cottage food producers. Check the current ODA guidance before you rely on an older summary.
Where can I check if my bake qualifies?
Start with the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Cottage Food Exemption FAQ and its page on food licensing without a license. Those pages explain the exemption and when a license is required.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Check the Oregon Department of Agriculture and a qualified professional for your situation.