Cottage food laws · WA

Selling homemade food in Washington

Washington requires a paid permit ($355 for 2 years) and a kitchen inspection before you can sell, and caps annual sales at $35,000 per residence (adjusted for inflation every 4 years). Online ordering is fine, but every sale must end in an in-person pickup or delivery - no mail order or courier shipping.

Program

Washington Cottage Food Law

Registration

Cottage Food Operation permit from WSDA ($355 for a 2-year permit) plus a pre-operational kitchen inspection, a Food Worker Card, water source approval, and a Master Business License

Annual sales cap

$35,000 gross annual, per residence (raised from $25,000 in 2023; RCW 69.22.050 requires WSDA to re-adjust the cap every 4 years using the Seattle-area CPI)

Online sales

Allowed (see notes)

You can sell

Baked goods
Jams, jellies, preserves
Candy
Dried herbs & mixes
Popcorn and snack foods

You can't sell

Potentially hazardous foods needing refrigeration
Meat and poultry products
Low-acid canned vegetables

Where you can sell

Direct to consumer
Farmers markets
Online with in-state delivery/pickup

Selling online

Online ordering is allowed, but RCW 69.22.020 requires the sale to be a direct, person-to-person transaction between the producer and end consumer completed by in-person pickup or delivery; mail order, courier shipping, and sales through retail outlets are excluded

What your labels must include

Producer name & address
"Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture" statement
Ingredient list
Allergen disclosure
Net weight