Last verified 2026-09-15. Regulator: Washington State Department of Agriculture. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Washington?
A Washington cottage food label must show these 7 items:
- The name and permit number of the cottage food operation business
- The name of the cottage food product
- The ingredients of the product, in descending order of predominance by weight, with sub-ingredients listed for any ingredient made from subcomponents
- The net weight or net volume of the product (metric weight is not required)
- Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements
- If any nutritional claim is made, nutritional information as specified by federal labeling requirements
- The statement, in at least the equivalent of 11-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria."
What disclaimer must a Washington cottage food label have?
Yes. A Washington cottage food label must carry this statement, word for word:
Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.
Does Washington require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
Only in some cases. Washington requires a Nutrition Facts panel when the label makes a nutrient or health claim, such as "low sugar" or "high protein". If you want to add one, the Nutrition Label Maker prints it in the FDA layout for free.
What foods can you sell under the Washington cottage food law?
Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits, quick breads, muffins, cakes, pastries, scones, cookies, bars, crackers, cereals, trail mixes, granola, pies that do not need refrigeration, nuts and nut mixes, snack mixes, donuts, tortillas, molded candies and chocolates, fudge, caramels, nut brittles, taffy, standardized jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters, repackaged dry herbs, seasonings and mixes, and rebottled vinegars. Only the products listed on your permit may be sold.
Where can you sell cottage food in Washington?
Direct to the consumer only, in person, from the home, at farmers markets, craft fairs, and charitable events. A website may show products, but every sale must close in person. Internet sales, mail order, shipping, consignment, wholesale, and sales outside Washington are prohibited.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Washington?
A WSDA Cottage Food Permit is required before any sale. The permit lasts two years. The application fee is $355 and is not refundable. Every person who prepares the food needs a Washington food worker card. WSDA inspects the home kitchen before permitting and each year after.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Washington?
$35,000 in gross sales of cottage food products per calendar year, counted per residence and not per person. WSDA reviews the cap every four years.
What else should you know about the Washington rules?
Washington is a permit state. WSDA must approve each product and each label before you sell it, and each application is limited to 50 recipes. A copy of the permit must be displayed at every sale location. Your home address is not required on the label. For large cakes or bulk products that cannot carry a label, deliver an ingredient sheet with all the label information. If a product contains alcohol as an ingredient, WSDA requires the added statement “This product contains liquor and the alcohol content is one percent or less of the weight of the product.” Check with your city and county about zoning and business rules for a home business.
How accurate is this page?
The label items, the exact statement, the sales limits, and the permit fees were read from RCW 69.22 and WAC 16-149 on 2026-09-15. The allowed foods list was read from WAC 16-149-120 the same day. The $355 application fee, the 6-to-8 week processing time, the alcohol statement, and the home address rule were read from the WSDA cottage food page the same day. RCW 69.22.020 writes the statement as “home kitchen” in lower case; WAC 16-149-110 writes it as “Home Kitchen”. WSDA accepts all capitals or upper and lower case. Rules on free samples are not confirmed.