Washington cottage food laws
A real permit, a real inspection, a real cap. Tighter than its neighbors but well-defined.
Washington requires a Cottage Food Permit issued by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) before any cottage food sales. The permit fee is $355 for two years, includes a home-kitchen inspection, and authorizes up to $35,000 in gross annual sales as of 2025. Operators also need a Food Worker Card from the Washington State Department of Health and a state business license. Shipping is not allowed; product handoff must be in person inside Washington.
Washington cottage food, quick facts.
How the Washington cottage food law actually works.
Washington's cottage food framework is in RCW 69.22 and is run by WSDA out of the Olympia office. Unlike most western states, Washington requires a real permit before any cottage food sales begin. The application is detailed: floor plans, recipes, processing and sanitation procedures, individual label approvals, and child or pet management plans. WSDA reviews the package, inspects the home kitchen, and either issues or denies the permit.
Washington's cottage food cap is $35,000 in gross annual sales. The cap was raised from $25,000 to $35,000 in 2024 and went into effect in 2025. Earnings above the cap push the operator into commercial regulation through a WSDA Food Processor License or a county-issued retail food establishment permit.
Allowed foods are limited to non-time-temperature-control-for-safety (non-TCS) items. Each individual product label must be reviewed and approved by WSDA before that product can be sold. Sales must happen directly with the end consumer in person; cottage operators may take orders and payment online but cannot ship by mail or carrier. That makes Washington's cottage food permit functionally a local-radius program despite the state-level permit.
Operators also need a Food Worker Card from the Washington State Department of Health (good for two years, with a refresher card valid for five) and a state business license through the Washington Department of Revenue. Local cities and counties may add their own licensing.
Allowed and prohibited foods.
- Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
- Cakes and cupcakes (shelf-stable frostings only)
- Breads, rolls, pastries, scones, muffins
- Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries that are non-TCS
- Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates, brittle
- Jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves (with required pH and process review)
- Honey
- Roasted coffee beans, dry teas, dried herbs and spice blends
- Granola, cereal, popcorn, popcorn balls, snack mixes
- Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
- Dry mixes
- 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
- Acidified foods such as pickles, hot sauce, salsa, beyond approved jams and jellies
- Fermented vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut)
- Canned vegetables and low-acid canned goods
- Beverages requiring refrigeration
Each label and recipe must be approved individually by WSDA before sale. Adding a new product means submitting an updated label for review.
Sales channels for Washington cottage bakers.
- WSDA explicitly prohibits shipping cottage food by mail or courier.
- Online ordering platforms are fine for taking the order and payment, but the baker has to physically hand the product to the consumer.
Label every product, exactly like this.
Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.
- Each label must be approved by WSDA before the product is sold. Saving a label template that you can swap product names into is a common workflow.
- 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.
How much can you earn under Washington cottage law?
Washington caps Cottage Food Permit holders at $35,000 in gross annual sales. The cap rose from $25,000 to $35,000 in legislation passed in 2024. Once you cross the cap, you must move to a WSDA Food Processor License or county-issued retail food establishment permit, both of which require a commercial kitchen.
Food safety training in Washington
Washington requires a Food Worker Card from the Washington State Department of Health. The basic card is valid for two years; once you have held a basic card for at least 30 days, you can renew with a refresher card that is valid for five years. The course is online, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and costs about $10. Keep a digital or printed copy with your records and have it ready for WSDA's inspection.
Registration, permits, and inspections in Washington
WSDA Cottage Food Permit application requires: a completed application, $355 fee for two years, a detailed business plan (floor plan, recipes, sanitation, packaging, child or pet management), individual product label approvals, private water supply test results if applicable (within 60 days, then annually), and signed consent for WSDA entry and inspection. WSDA review and inspection typically takes four to six weeks from a complete submission. The permit is renewed every two years.
How to start a cottage bakery in Washington.
- 01Get your Washington Food Worker CardTake the online course from the Washington State Department of Health. The card is required before WSDA will approve your Cottage Food Permit.Washington Food Worker Card →
- 02Get a state business licenseUse the Washington Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service. Cottage food operators need a state business license before they sell.WA Department of Revenue Business Licensing →
- 03Prepare the WSDA Cottage Food Permit applicationBuild the floor plan, recipes, sanitation plan, child or pet plan, and individual product labels. Submit the package and pay the $355 fee.WSDA Cottage Food Permit →
- 04Pass the WSDA home-kitchen inspectionWSDA contacts you to schedule an inspection. The reviewer walks the kitchen, verifies storage, and confirms that the layout matches the plan you submitted.
- 05Build your label template and submit each label for reviewEach individual product label must be reviewed by WSDA before that product is sold. Save the approved template and just swap product details for new flavors.
- 06Plan in-person sales and set up your storefrontCottage food cannot be shipped. Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, pricing, and pickup or delivery zones for Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, or your local market.Create a free Cakery page →
A few things Washington bakers should know.
- Washington's permit is genuinely a permit. Plan for four to six weeks of WSDA review before the first sale.
- Each label must be approved individually. New flavors mean a new label review.
- Shipping is not allowed. Online orders are fine for taking the order and payment, but a baker must physically hand the product to the customer.
- The cap rose to $35,000 in 2025. Earlier sources still mention $25,000.
- Sales tax applies to many cottage products in Washington. Bakery items for off-premises consumption are sometimes exempt as grocery food, but prepared single servings, candies, and similar items are usually taxable. The Department of Revenue handles registration.
- Cities and counties can layer their own home-occupation permits and business licenses on top of the WSDA permit.
Bookmark these for Washington baking.
Official agency resources
Statute and rules text
Helpful resources for bakers
Recent and upcoming changes in Washington.
- January 1, 2025Washington's cottage food sales cap rose from $25,000 to $35,000 in gross annual sales after legislation passed in 2024.
Washington cottage food FAQ.
Do Washington cottage bakers need a permit?
What is the Washington sales cap?
Can I ship cottage food in Washington?
Can I sell cream cheese frosting or cheesecake?
How long does WSDA take to issue a permit?
Do I need to submit each new product label?
Do I also need a state business license and food worker card?
You bake. We handle the tech.
Get your own bakery link, take custom orders without the DM chaos, and get found by customers in Washington searching for local bakers.
cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery