Cottage food rules
New Cottage Food Laws in Washington State
What the Washington permit covers, how to get it, and what is being weighed for 2026.
On this page
What to remember
- A Cottage Food Operation Permit is what makes selling legal in Washington.
- Baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit products are covered.
- Clear your county and city home business rules before you apply.
- After approval, a WSDA specialist schedules a visit to check food safety standards.
- A request to update Chapter 69.22 RCW is being considered for the 2026 session.
If you have been hearing talk about new cottage food laws in Washington, here is the honest picture. The Washington State Department of Health is considering a request for the 2026 legislative session to update Chapter 69.22 RCW, the law that governs cottage food operations. Nothing in that request changes what you have to do today to sell a cake or a jar of jam. The rules below are the ones you work with right now. If you bake somewhere else, our guides to new cottage food laws in Texas and cottage food laws in South Carolina cover those states.
What the Washington cottage food permit covers
A Washington Cottage Food Permit allows a resident of Washington state to make food that is not potentially hazardous. That list includes baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit products. The permit is issued to cottage food operations by WSDA Food Safety and Consumer Services, and it is the piece of paper that turns a home kitchen into a business you can sell from.
How to get your cottage food operation permit
The order matters. You clear local rules first, then you apply to the state, then you get a visit. Doing it out of order is the most common way home bakers lose weeks.
Check your county and city rules
A cottage food operation has to comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and zoning ordinances that apply to running a business from your home before it can be permitted.
Apply to the department
To qualify for a new cottage food operator permit under chapter 69.22 RCW, the Washington Cottage Food Operator Act, you first make application to the department.
Schedule the visit
After your application is approved, a WSDA Food Safety Compliance Specialist contacts you to set up a visit and make sure food safety standards are being met.
Know what the permit covers you for
With a valid permit under RCW 69.22.030, a cottage food operation is not subject to chapter 69.07 RCW or to permitting and inspection under that chapter, except as otherwise provided in the chapter.
Keep it in good standing
Chapter 69.22 RCW also covers denial, suspension, or revocation of a permit, how the administrative procedure act applies, and penalties. Treat the permit as something you maintain, not something you finish.
What could change for the 2026 session
The Washington State Department of Health is considering a request for the 2026 legislative session to update Chapter 69.22 RCW governing cottage food operations. That is a request under consideration, not a change you can plan around yet. If you are pricing and planning your season now, build it on the permit rules as they stand and leave room to adjust if the law moves.
When customers ask whether you are allowed to sell, the answer that holds up is the one tied to your permit. If you bake in another state or you are comparing how different places handle home baking, the Maryland cottage food laws are a useful read alongside this one.
While you wait on the 2026 picture, keep the everyday parts of your business moving. Write down your recipes and your process so the visit from the compliance specialist is simple, and keep a record of what you sold and when. If you want a hand working out what to charge for each bake, the free bake pricing calculator below is a good place to start.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
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Common questions
Do I need a permit to sell cookies from my home in Washington?
Yes. A Cottage Food Operation Permit is issued by WSDA Food Safety and Consumer Services and is needed to legally sell cottage food products. Baked goods are on the list of foods a Washington Cottage Food Permit covers.
What foods can I sell under a Washington cottage food permit?
Food that is not potentially hazardous, which includes baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit products.
Is there a new cottage food law in Washington for 2026?
The Washington State Department of Health is considering a request for the 2026 legislative session to update Chapter 69.22 RCW, which governs cottage food operations. That is a request under consideration, not a rule in effect.
Will someone visit my kitchen?
After your application is approved, a WSDA Food Safety Compliance Specialist contacts you to schedule a visit and make sure food safety standards are being met.
Do county rules still apply to me?
Yes. A cottage food operation must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and zoning ordinances for running a business from your home before it can be permitted.
Does the cottage food permit replace other food licensing?
With a valid permit under RCW 69.22.030, a cottage food operation is not subject to chapter 69.07 RCW or to permitting and inspection under that chapter, except as otherwise provided in the chapter.
Sources
This is general information about the rules, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the current requirements with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and your county before you sell.