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Washington's Cottage Food Law

Washington state permits cottage food production under its cottage food law, which allows individuals to prepare and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from a licensed home kitchen. You don't need a commercial kitchen to qualify, but your home kitchen must meet basic cleanliness standards. The law covers baked goods, jams, honey, candy, and similar shelf-stable products that don't require refrigeration to stay safe.

You can sell your products directly to consumers through farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and home-based sales. Online orders are allowed, which means you can take orders through a website or social media. However, shipping your products is not permitted, so all transactions must end in a direct, in-person handoff to the buyer. You can't sell wholesale to retailers or restaurants under the cottage food exemption.

Your gross annual sales cannot exceed $25,000. No permit or registration is required before you start selling, which makes Washington relatively accessible for new producers. One practical advantage is that online ordering is allowed, giving you flexibility to build a customer base before investing in a commercial space. As your business grows, you can explore licensed commercial kitchens to scale beyond the revenue cap.

Quick Summary

Washington cottage food law allows:

  • •Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
  • •Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • •Honey and honey products
  • •Candy and confections
  • •Roasted nuts
  • •Dried herbs and seasonings

Not allowed:

  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Seafood products
  • •Items requiring refrigeration
  • •Canned low-acid vegetables
  • •Dairy-based products
  • •Cream-filled pastries

Sales limit: $25,000 per year

Annual Limit

$25,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Allowed

Shipping

Not Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • ✓Honey and honey products
  • ✓Candy and confections
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Dried herbs and seasonings
  • ✓Granola and trail mix
  • ✓Fruit pies (shelf-stable)

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Seafood products
  • ✗Items requiring refrigeration
  • ✗Canned low-acid vegetables
  • ✗Dairy-based products
  • ✗Cream-filled pastries
  • ✗Fermented or pickled vegetables

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Producer's full name and home address
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
  • ✓Major food allergen disclosure
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓Statement: 'Made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture'

Starting a Home Bakery in Washington

Once you understand the cottage food rules, most Washington home bakers focus on three things:

  • →Pricing recipes so they are profitable
  • →Creating compliant labels
  • →Managing orders and preorders

endvr helps Washington bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for Washington Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

endvr's label maker automatically includes the Washington required disclaimer and allergen labeling — so your labels are always inspection-ready.

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

Washington allows online orders

Launch an online bakery storefront

Since Washington permits online cottage food sales, endvr gives you a simple storefront where customers can browse, preorder, and pay — no website required.

Get your free storefrontDownload the iOS app →

Common Questions Washington Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in Washington?+
Yes. Washington's cottage food law permits individuals to produce and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from their home kitchen directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen license.
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Washington?+
No permit is required in Washington to sell cottage food products, though you must still comply with labeling requirements and sales restrictions.
How much can I earn selling cottage food in Washington?+
Washington cottage food producers may earn up to $25,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in Washington?+
Yes. Washington permits online orders for cottage food products. However, products must typically be delivered directly to the buyer in person — shipping is not permitted.
Can I ship cottage food products in Washington?+
No. Washington does not allow shipping of cottage food products. Sales must be completed through direct, in-person transactions with the consumer.
What foods can I sell from home in Washington?+
Under Washington's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries), Jams, jellies, and preserves, Honey and honey products, Candy and confections, Roasted nuts, Dried herbs and seasonings and others. Generally, any food that does not require refrigeration for safety qualifies. Foods with cream, custard, or meat fillings are typically not allowed.
What labeling is required to sell cottage food in Washington?+
Washington requires cottage food labels to include: Producer's full name and home address; Product name; Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight; Major food allergen disclosure.

Common Washington cottage food questions

→ Can I sell cottage food online in Washington?→ Can I ship cottage food in Washington?→ What is Washington's cottage food sales limit?→ What are Washington's labeling requirements?→ Can I use cream cheese frosting in Washington?

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