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Cottage food by state

Washington cottage food law: what you can sell and how

Washington requires a Cottage Food Permit from the state Department of Agriculture, with a home kitchen inspection, a $35,000 sales cap and direct, in-person sales only.

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Updated November 2026 by the Madeline's team, who set these tools up for makers and farms.

The short version

Get a WSDA Cottage Food Permit ($355 for two years) and pass a home kitchen inspection before you sell. Gross sales are capped at $35,000 a year. Sell directly to consumers in Washington: from home, at farmers markets and events. A website is fine, but no shipping, mail order, third-party delivery, wholesale or out-of-state sales.

Washington rules at a glance

  1. Who regulates

    Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Safety Program.

  2. Permit

    $355 for a two-year permit, nonrefundable. Your home kitchen is inspected. Only the products listed on your permit can be sold, up to 50 master products.

  3. Sales limit

    $35,000 in gross sales a year. WSDA reviews the cap every four years.

  4. Allowed foods

    Low-risk baked goods, candies, jams, jellies and fruit butters, dry herbs and mixes, small-batch roasted coffee and low-risk freeze-dried candy.

  5. Not allowed

    Meat, poultry, fish, foods that need refrigeration, custard or cream pies, canned fruits and vegetables, salsas and pickles.

  6. Where you can sell

    Directly to consumers in Washington: from home, farmers markets, craft fairs and similar venues. Online orders must be picked up or delivered in person.

  7. Not allowed sales

    Shipping, mail order, third-party delivery, consignment, wholesale and sales outside Washington.

  8. Other requirements

    A Washington food worker card and a business license. Labels include your permit number and a statement that the food was made in a home kitchen.

Check the source

  • Official source

    Washington State Department of Agriculture: Cottage Food

    Rules change. Confirm the current figures and forms with the state before you start selling.

    Open the official page

  • Cottage food to commercial kitchen

    What changes when you outgrow the limits.

    Read the guide

  • Free tool

    Cost per jar calculator

    Price your cottage food products from what they really cost.

    Use the calculator

  • Food label requirements

    What a packaged food label needs, including allergens.

    Read the guide

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Questions

How much is a cottage food permit in Washington?

$355 for a permit that lasts two years.

What is the Washington cottage food sales limit?

$35,000 in gross sales a year.

Can I ship cottage food in Washington?

No. Shipping, mail order and third-party delivery are not allowed. Online orders must be picked up or delivered in person.

Is there an inspection?

Yes. WSDA inspects your home kitchen before issuing the permit.

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