Why this matters
What Washington actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Chapter 69.22 RCW, WAC 16-149; HB 1500 (2023) raised cap to $35,000 and extended permit to 2 years.
Annual revenue cap
$35,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$35,000
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture
— Chapter 69.22 RCW; WAC 16-149; HB 1500 (2023)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Washington — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
NoFederal restriction on uninspected food crossing state lines.
Seller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Washington requires registration before you sell.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Washington? Yes — Washington wants you to register before selling. Here is what that path involves.
- Registration
Required
Type: permit
- Registration cost
$355
- Timeline
About 60 days
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
Required
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: food handler
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Seafood
- Cut Produce
- Custard Pies
- Unbaked Pies
- Pumpkin Pies
- Cream Pies
- Canned Goods
- Fresh Fruits
- Fresh Vegetables
- Freeze Dried High Risk
- Pet Foods
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Washington.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Washington's cottage food rules. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Register with your state agency
Washington requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration cost is $355. Expect about 60 days for processing.
Washington registration portalComplete food safety certification
Washington requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: food handler.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Washington allows online orders, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Washington cottage food — your questions answered.
How much is a food license in Washington state?
Washington's cottage food permit is on the higher end — around $355 — and includes an application and a kitchen inspection, with a $35,000 annual cap. It is more involved than most states, so budget time for the inspection step.
What kind of food can I sell from home in Washington?
Washington's permit covers non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, baked and stovetop candies, jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters, and extracts like vanilla, up to the $35,000 cap. It draws hard lines elsewhere: anything needing refrigeration, custard, unbaked, pumpkin or cream pies, foods with fresh fruits or vegetables, canned or jarred produce, meat and fish, pet foods, and freeze-dried high-risk foods are all out — as is any product testing at 0.3% THC or higher.
What does getting a Washington cottage food permit involve?
More than in most states. Beyond the roughly $355 two-year permit, WSDA inspects your kitchen before the first permit and every year after, and you submit a detailed business plan — floor plan, recipes, and sanitation and child- or pet-management procedures — plus individual product-label approvals. Everyone preparing food needs a food worker card, and you need a master business license. Processing runs up to 60 days, and a failed initial inspection adds a $125 reinspection fee.
Can I ship cottage food orders in Washington?
No. Washington allows online ordering, in-person pickup, and personal delivery you make yourself, but shipping is prohibited now that the temporary COVID exception has ended. Sales are also direct-to-customer only — no wholesale, restaurants, or retail stores — and your label must give a physical producer address, since P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Washington cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Washington requires permit before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $355. The annual gross sales cap is $35,000. Washington allows online orders, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Washington?
Yes. Washington requires permit before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $355. Check the official state source before selling because local zoning, food safety training, or label rules may still apply.
What foods can I sell from home in Washington?
Washington's cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.