Washington State Cottage Food Laws and Regulations: How to sell your homemade foods in Washington State

Looking for Washington State Cottage Food Laws and Regulations: How to sell your homemade foods in Washington State in 2026?  Scroll down this page and  follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above.  If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

If you have questions or feedback, please let me know! There are affiliate links on this page.  Read our disclosure policy to learn more. 

Washington State Cottage Food Laws and Regulations: How to sell your homemade foods in Washington State

Washington State Cottage Food Application Process

The fee is $230 (2019 cost) whether it is for a first time application or a permit renewal.

Overview of the process

Washington State's Agriculture Department has a page to help with the application process:

Get the Washington State Cottage Food application packet here.   If there link doesn't work (hey, it's the government - the link frequently stops working, then use this application packet link for a copy of April 2020 version of the packet. This page currently has the complete step-by-step process.

Step 1: Before you Apply	Step 2: Completing your Application	Step 3: After you Apply
• Are my products allowable under the Cottage Food Rules? • Items that are not allowed • What do I need to do before I apply?	• Floor Plan • Packaging • Labeling • Equipment • Cleaning & Sanitation • Processing Dates & Sales Plan • Child & Pet Management	• Review of your application and inspecting the Cottage Food Operation

Permitting Requirements

There are three specific requirements that must be met before you can get your Cottage Food Operation Permit. Copies or documentation of these tests or licenses is required to be submitted with your application.

1.  Water Testing If you are on City, Community or other Municipal Water Systems you do not need to have your water tested, but you do need to submit a copy of a recent water bill at the cottage food address. If you are on a private water supply you will need to have the supply tested at least 60 days prior to permitting and at least annually thereafter. You must submit a copy of the test and written report that demonstrate the water supply is potable. Check with your local county planning or health department for more information. 
2.  Food Worker Card Any person who will be working in your Cottage Food Operation must apply and receive their Food Worker Card (also known through as a Food Handlers Permit). This is available through your local county health jurisdiction or online at www.foodworkercard.wa.gov . For more information, please see the Washington State Department of Health "Food Worker Card" FAQ site: www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Food/FoodWorkerandIndustry/FoodWorkerCard.aspx  . You must provide signed copies of a Food Worker Card for each person named on your application.
3.  Master Business License In order to apply for the Cottage Food Operation Permit, you must have a Master Business License to do business in Washington. The name of the person(s) applying for the Cottage Food Operations Permit must be on the Master Business License. Your business license is also used to identify your business name and the address of your cottage food location for the permit and for your product labels. To apply for a Master Business License, go to: http://bls.dor.wa.gov.
4. Additional Application Requirements In addition to the preceding requirements, the Cottage Food Operation Permit application asks for technical details, including a floor plan, production process, equipment and utensil list, cleaning and sanitation plan, processing dates and sales plan, child and pet management plan. Documenting the production process is typically the most time-consuming step for both the applicant and the Cottage Food permit review team. This step includes submitting each of your recipes in a specific format, documenting the prescribed processing and packaging steps, as well as submitting an example of each product label per the specific labeling requirements. Each recipe and label is thoroughly reviewed for compliance. For additional information, please see "Things to keep in mind when completing your application" at http://agr.wa.gov/washington-agriculture/laws-and-rules/cottage-foods .
5. Master Recipes It is possible to submit a single Master Recipe with variations if the base of the recipe (for example batter or dough) does not change but different add-in ingredients (like nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips) can be noted on the recipe. A separate label for each variation must be submitted. www.wasmallfarms.org Cottage Food Permit Applications are limited to 50 master recipes. Add-in variations do not add to the recipe count.
6. Timing The Cottage Food Operation Permit is good for one calendar year. It will expire one year after it was issued on the last day of the month it was issued. How long it takes to review and approve your application depends on how many recipes were submitted, how thoroughly the application has been completed, and how timely the applicant responds to notices and questions from WSDA. The application can be approved as quickly as two weeks, but could take up to six months. Additional recipes and labels can be submitted throughout the year for a cost of $15 ($30 application and $75 public health review). New products or product changes can be submitted each year with your renewal for no additional fee.
7. Fees The annual application fee totals $230 and includes $75 for a public health review of the application, $125 for a WSDA on-site inspection of your kitchen, and a $30 processing fee for the application. The application fee is non-refundable and no refunds will be made after receipt of the Cottage Food Operation Application.
8. Permit Process After your application has been approved by the public health review, WSDA will contact you to setup an on-site inspection of your kitchen and all identified areas of your submitted floor plan. The inspection typically occurs within 1 to 4 weeks after your application has been approved. When you pass the inspection, your Cottage Food Operation Permit will be emailed to you within 1 to 3 days. Once you have the permit in hand, you may begin producing your approved products for sale.

Recommendations:

Beyond the requirements, common sense, good practices and reducing liability suggests you should do the following.

Training

Take the ServSafe® training classes for Manager and employees, the 7th Edition Book that accompanies this course should be purchased here.. 

Testing of pH

It's best to use a pH meter, properly calibrated on the day used. I use this one, which is reliable and inexpensive. And this pH meter is really good, but isn't always available.
Short-range paper pH test strips, commonly known as litmus paper, may be used instead, if the product normally has a pH of 4.0 or lower and the paper's range includes a pH of 4.6.

Record-keeping is suggested

Keep a written record of every batch of product made for sale, including:

• ​Recipe, including procedures and ingredients
• Amount canned and sold
• Canning date
• Sale dates and locations
• Gross sales receipts
• Results of any pH test

Sanitation

Although inspections are not required, you should consider doing the following:

• ​Use clean equipment that has been effectively sanitized prior to use
• Clean work surfaces and then sanitize with bleach water before and after use
• Keep ingredients separate from other unprocessed foods
• Keep household pets out of the work area
• Keep walls and floors clean
• Have adequate lighting
• Keep window and door screens in good repair to keep insects out
• Wash hands frequently while working
• Consider annual testing of water if using a private well

More resources:

• WSDA also has a "Cottage Foods Video" showing allowable foods, labeling requirements, permitted cottage food operators' kitchens, tips from cottage food operators, and the permitting and inspection process. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/WSDAgov .
• Washington State Cottage Food FAQs
• PDF fact sheet
• Chapter 69.22 RCW Cottage Food Operations 
  Chapter 16-149 WAC Cottage Foods
• Title 21 CFR Part 150 Title 21 CFR
• Additional WSDA Laws and Rules

Questions? Contact Information:

Please contact the WSDA Food Safety Program at

• Phone: (360) 902-1876. Alternate phone: (360) 902-1925,
• Email: cottagefoods@agr.wa.gov , or
• visit http://agr.wa.gov/washington-agriculture/laws-and-rules/cottage-foods . The website includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions for applicants.