Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Washington State: What You Need
A plain walk through the Washington cottage food permit, from the foods it covers to the paperwork in the application.
On this page
What to remember
- The permit is called a Cottage Food Permit, and it is required before you sell anything.
- Baked goods are on the list of foods a cottage food operation can produce.
- The application asks for a diagram of your premises, your recipes, and your processing and sanitation procedures.
- You apply on the form the department provides, and the permit is issued by the department.
If you have been baking for family and friends and are ready to start charging, this is the step that turns a hobby into a business you can talk about openly. The rules are not mysterious, they are just specific. If you want to see how another state handles the same question, our guide to the home bakery license in Florida walks through a different set of requirements.
What the Washington permit lets you sell
The state cottage food page lists the foods a permit covers as things that are not potentially hazardous, and it names baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends. The permit summary also names baked goods, standardized jams and jellies, vinegars, and dry mixes as activities that require a cottage food operation permit.
The application form adds dry herbs, dry herb blends, and dry tea blends to the foods a cottage food operation can produce. Read the list against what you actually plan to sell before you fill anything in, because it is easier to adjust your menu now than after you have taken orders.
What goes into the application
Apply on the department's form
Under WAC 16-149-060, the application must be submitted on the form provided by the department. Under chapter 69.22 RCW, the Cottage Food Operator Act, an operator must first make application to the department before a permit can be issued.
Draw your premises
The same rule says the application must include a diagram of the cottage food operation premises. This is a simple sketch of where you work, not an architectural drawing.
Write out your recipes
The application is detailed and calls for items such as recipes, so have the formulas for the bakes you plan to sell written down and easy to read.
Describe how you work
The application also calls for your processing and sanitation procedures, meaning how you make the food and how you keep the work area clean.
Send it in and wait
Washington requires a permit before any cottage food sales begin, so no taking orders until it is in hand.
While you wait on the permit
The waiting is a good time to sort out labeling and pricing, since both are easier to settle before the first order arrives. Our walk through Georgia cottage food labeling requirements covers what goes on a label in another state and gives you a sense of the questions to ask about your own.
Recipes with real costing, ingredient inventory, and a weekly planner inside Brevl let you price each bake from what the batch actually costs, so you are not guessing when someone asks for a quote. A real person answers questions, usually within minutes, if you get stuck.
Try the free bake costing calculator
Free, no signup.
If you are comparing how nearby states treat home bakers, our look at whether Oregon has cottage food laws is a useful next read. Rules differ by state, so always work from the Washington forms and rules for a Washington kitchen.
Common questions
Do I need a license or a permit in Washington?
The permit for a home food operation is called a Cottage Food Permit, and it is issued by the state agriculture department. You apply on the form the department provides.
Can I sell baked goods made in my home kitchen?
Yes. Baked goods appear on the state's list of foods a cottage food operation can produce, along with items such as candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and dry spice blends.
When can I start taking orders?
Only after the permit is issued. Washington requires a permit before any cottage food sales begin.
What paperwork will I need to send in?
The application must be submitted on the department's form and must include a diagram of your cottage food operation premises. The application is detailed and calls for items such as recipes, floor plans, and your processing and sanitation procedures.
Can I sell vinegars and dry mixes?
The permit summary names standardized jams and jellies, vinegars, and dry mixes as activities that require a cottage food operation permit. The application form also lists dry herbs, dry herb blends, and dry tea blends.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the Washington State Department of Agriculture before you apply or sell.