Cottage food laws/Oregon
Very permissive

Oregon cottage food laws

No registration, no permit, no inspection, with a CPI-indexed sales cap that rises every year.

Oregon's Cottage Food Exemption is run by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Operators do not register with ODA, do not pay a fee, and do not get inspected, as long as they stay under the annual gross sales cap. The cap is $52,700 for 2026 (up from $51,200 in 2025) and adjusts every March based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics West-region CPI. Food handler training is required for everyone involved in preparing the food.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Oregon Cottage Food Exemption (ORS 616.706 to 616.730, OAR 603-025-0320)
At a glance

Oregon cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
Not required
💰
Sales cap
$52,700 gross annual sales for 2026 (CPI-indexed)
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Oregon buyers; in-person handoff required
📦
Shipping in-state
Not allowed under the cottage exemption (Domestic Kitchen License required)
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed
🎓
Training
Food handler card required for everyone preparing cottage food
🏠
Inspection
Not required
How it works

How the Oregon cottage food law actually works.

Oregon governs cottage food under ORS 616.706 through 616.730 and OAR 603-025-0320, all administered by ODA's Food Safety Program. Cottage food is treated as an exemption from food processor licensing rather than as a separate permit. The trade-off is that ODA does not register or inspect cottage operators, and cottage operators in turn do not gain the privileges that come with a Domestic Kitchen License (more channels and shipping).

The exemption covers non-time-temperature-control-for-safety (non-TCS) foods produced from a domestic kitchen. The product list is intentionally broad, and Oregon allows acidified canned goods like salsas and pickles under the exemption when the recipe meets pH and water-activity rules. Each person involved in preparing cottage food must finish a food handler training program; the card is good for three years.

The annual sales cap adjusts every March based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics West-region CPI. ODA published the 2026 figure at $52,700 (up from $51,200 in 2025). Operators who exceed the cap need a Domestic Kitchen License or a full Food Processor License. The Domestic Kitchen License also unlocks shipping and third-party delivery, which the cottage exemption does not.

Cottage food sales must end with an Oregon consumer. Online ordering is allowed for in-state buyers, but shipping is not allowed under the exemption itself. In-person handoff (pickup or delivery) is required.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
  • Cakes and cupcakes (shelf-stable frostings only)
  • Breads, rolls, pastries, scones, muffins
  • Cake pops, macarons, donuts
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates, brittle, truffles
  • Jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves
  • Honey
  • Roasted coffee beans, dry teas, dried herbs and spice blends
  • Granola, cereal, popcorn, snack mixes, trail mix
  • Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
  • Dry pasta
  • Acidified canned goods (pickles, salsas) with required pH and water-activity controls
✕Prohibited
  • Cream pies, custard pies, meringue pies
  • Cream cheese frostings and cheesecakes
  • Refrigerated cakes (tres leches, mousse cakes)
  • Meat, fish, and shellfish products
  • Dairy products other than what is baked into goods
  • Low-acid canned goods (canned vegetables, canned meats)
  • Beverages requiring refrigeration
  • Acidified products that do not meet the pH or water-activity rule

Oregon is unusually generous on canned acidified products at the cottage level. The catch is the pH and water-activity rule: items must be safe by recipe, not by guesswork. ODA publishes guidance on which products qualify.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Oregon cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed in Oregon. Home pickup, delivery, farmers markets, fairs, festivals, roadside stands.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed for Oregon buyers. Online orders are fine; in-person handoff is required.
📦
Shipping in-state
Not allowed under the cottage exemption. To ship in-state, get a Domestic Kitchen License.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not allowed. Out-of-state sales fall under federal interstate commerce.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed. As many as you can fit in your schedule.
🏪
Retail stores
Allowed only with a Domestic Kitchen License. The cottage exemption itself is direct-to-consumer.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed for resale at the cottage level.
  • If shipping or wholesale matters to your business, the Domestic Kitchen License is the next step up. It still allows you to bake from home but adds inspection and a license fee.
  • ODA does not require a separate registration for cottage food; ODA tracks operators through the food handler card and through inspections triggered if the cap is exceeded.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Product name
e.g. "Sourdough Loaf" or "Strawberry Jam".
02
Producer name and address
Your legal name (or registered business name) and the home-kitchen address.
03
All ingredients in descending order by weight
Include sub-ingredients of compound ingredients.
04
Allergen statement
Identify the major allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
05
Net weight or net volume
Customary (oz/lb) and metric (g) units.
06
Required home-kitchen disclaimer
Exact wording is below.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
This product is homemade and is not prepared in an inspected food establishment.
  • Acidified canned goods made under the exemption need additional pH or water-activity statements per ODA guidance.
  • Labels must be in English. Other languages may be added.
  • When selling unpackaged items at a market, the same information must appear on a clearly visible placard at the point of sale.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Oregon cottage law?

Oregon's cottage exemption cap is $52,700 in gross annual sales for 2026 (effective March 13, 2026). The cap is adjusted every year per the West-region CPI for All Urban Consumers; ODA publishes the new number each March. Operators who exceed the cap need a Domestic Kitchen License (still home-based, but with ODA inspection and licensing) or a full Food Processor License. The cap is per individual operator.

Training

Food safety training in Oregon

Oregon requires a food handler card for each person involved in preparing cottage food. The card is issued through the Oregon Health Authority and its certified providers. The course is online, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, costs about $10, and is valid for three years.

Oregon.FoodHandler.com (state-run)
Oregon Health Authority's official food handler training and card portal.
→
Learn2Serve by 360training
ANAB-accredited national food handler course recognized in Oregon.
→
StateFoodSafety.com Oregon Food Handler
ANAB-accredited Oregon-focused food handler card.
→
Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Oregon

Oregon does not require cottage food operators to register or apply with ODA. There is no fee, no application, and no inspection at the cottage level. Operators only have to follow OAR 603-025-0320 and stay under the annual sales cap. Once you cross the cap, or once you want to ship or sell wholesale, the next license up is the Domestic Kitchen License (still home-based, but with ODA inspection).

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Oregon.

  1. 01
    Get an Oregon food handler card
    Take the Oregon Health Authority training. Each person preparing cottage food must hold a current card. Save the certificate.
    Oregon Food Handler Training →
  2. 02
    Confirm your products are non-TCS or qualify as acidified
    Use ODA's cottage food guidance. Acidified canned goods (pickles, salsas) need to meet pH and water-activity rules.
    ODA Cottage Food Exemption FAQ →
  3. 03
    Build your label template
    Include all required elements plus the home-kitchen disclaimer. Keep one template you can reuse for new flavors.
  4. 04
    Track your gross sales toward the CPI-indexed cap
    $52,700 in 2026. The cap rises every March based on the West-region CPI. If you cross or expect to cross the cap, plan to upgrade to a Domestic Kitchen License or Food Processor License.
  5. 05
    Set up your storefront and direct-to-consumer workflow
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, pricing, lead times, and pickup or delivery zones for Portland, Eugene, Bend, or your local market.
    Create a free Cakery page →
  6. 06
    Confirm city, county, and tax rules
    Some Oregon cities require a local business license. Oregon does not have a state sales tax, but home-occupation rules and federal income tax still apply.
Worth knowing

A few things Oregon bakers should know.

  • Oregon does not have a state sales tax, which simplifies cottage food bookkeeping compared to most other western states.
  • The cap for 2026 is $52,700 (up from $51,200 in 2025). Watch ODA's March release each year for the new figure.
  • The cottage exemption does not cover shipping. If shipping in Oregon matters, the Domestic Kitchen License unlocks it.
  • Acidified canned goods (pickles, salsa) are allowed under the exemption only if they meet pH or water-activity rules. ODA publishes process guidance.
  • Each person who prepares cottage food must hold a current Oregon food handler card. ODA can ask to see it.
Resources

Bookmark these for Oregon baking.

Official agency resources

ODA: Food Safety Licensing (cottage food and beyond)
ODA's main licensing hub. Cottage Food Exemption sits alongside the Domestic Kitchen License here.
→
ODA: What Can I Do Without a License?
ODA's plain-language description of the cottage exemption boundaries.
→
ODA: Cottage Food Exemption FAQ (PDF)
Detailed Q&A from ODA covering allowed foods, sales, and labels.
→
ODA: 2026 Cottage Food Cap Adjustment (PDF)
Final rulemaking document raising the cottage food cap to $52,700 for 2026.
→
Oregon Food Handler Training (state portal)
Required food handler card for everyone preparing cottage food.
→

Statute and rules text

ORS 616.706 to 616.730 (Cottage Food Operations)
→
OAR 603-025-0320 (Cottage Food Exemption rules)
→

Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Oregon guide
Plain-English Oregon cottage food guide kept current by an active editor.
→
OSU Extension: Oregon's Cottage Food Exemption (EM 9192)
Oregon State University Extension's friendly walkthrough of the exemption.
→
Institute for Justice: Cottage Food
National cottage food policy tracking; useful context for where Oregon fits.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
Recent changes

Recent and upcoming changes in Oregon.

  • March 13, 2026Annual cottage food sales cap rose from $51,200 to $52,700 for 2026, reflecting a 2.9% increase in the West-region CPI for All Urban Consumers (BLS data through December 2025).
FAQ

Oregon cottage food FAQ.

Do Oregon cottage bakers need a permit?
No. The cottage exemption does not require ODA registration, fee, or inspection. Each person preparing cottage food does need a current food handler card.
What is the Oregon sales cap for 2026?
$52,700 in gross annual sales (effective March 13, 2026). The cap rises each March based on the West-region CPI for All Urban Consumers.
Can I ship cottage food in Oregon?
Not under the cottage exemption. To ship inside Oregon you need a Domestic Kitchen License. Out-of-state shipping is interstate commerce and requires a full Food Processor License.
Can I sell cream cheese frosting or cheesecake?
No. Anything that requires refrigeration to be safe is TCS and falls outside the exemption. A Domestic Kitchen or Food Processor License is the next step.
Can I sell pickles, hot sauce, or salsa?
Often yes, when the recipe meets ODA's pH or water-activity rule. Oregon is unusually generous on acidified canned goods at the cottage level.
Do I need to collect Oregon sales tax?
No. Oregon does not have a state sales tax. You still owe federal and Oregon income tax, and your city may have a business license fee.
What happens if I cross the sales cap?
You move to a Domestic Kitchen License or full Food Processor License. The Domestic Kitchen License is still home-based but adds inspection and licensing, and unlocks shipping plus retail and restaurant sales.
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Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Oregon cottage food laws and is not legal advice. Cottage food rules change, and local health departments often add their own requirements. Always confirm the current rules with the Oregon agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.