Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)

Cottage Food Label Requirements in Washington

What Washington legally requires on your cottage food label — the required statement, sales cap, registration rules, and what you can (and can't) sell.

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This is not legal advice.

Cottage food laws change frequently and vary by county or local health department. Always confirm current requirements with Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) or a local food safety professional before printing labels or selling product. View the official source. Last verified: 2026-08.

Required Label Statement

Exact wording Washington requires

“Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.”

Must be printed in at least 11-point font (or, if hand-printed, clearly legible and written in durable, permanent ink at an equivalent size) in a color that clearly contrasts with the background. Labels must also include the cottage food operation's name and permit number, the product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight or volume, and allergen labeling as WSDA requires.

Sales Cap & Registration

Annual Sales Cap

$35,000 in annual gross sales per household. The cap is reviewed for inflation every four years against the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index through WSDA rulemaking — confirm the current figure with WSDA before relying on it.

Registration & Permitting

A biennial (2-year) Cottage Food Operation Permit from WSDA is required, including a mandatory on-site kitchen inspection. Total fees run about $230 ($125 for the inspection, $75 for public health plan review, $30 processing fee); a failed inspection requires a $125 reinspection fee. Everyone who prepares food in the cottage kitchen must also hold a valid Food Worker Card from their local county health department.

Food Safety Course

Yes — every person preparing food in the cottage kitchen must hold a Food Worker Card (Washington's food handler permit under RCW 69.06), obtained through a local county health department.

What You Can (and Can't) Sell

Allowed

Non-potentially-hazardous foods only: baked goods, stovetop candies, and jams, jellies, and preserves that meet the federal standard of identity in 21 C.F.R. Part 150. WSDA's director can approve additional foods by rule.

Not Allowed

Any potentially hazardous food that needs time/temperature control for safety, and any product containing 0.3% or more THC.

Selling something that needs a full Nutrition Facts panel (like packaged prepared meals) instead of a cottage food disclosure? See our meal prep labeling guide →

Official Source

This page summarizes guidance published by Washington State Department of Agriculture – Cottage Food.

Last verified: 2026-08

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Washington's required cottage food label statement?

Your label must say, in at least 11-point font in a clearly contrasting color: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria." This comes directly from RCW 69.22.030.

How much can I sell as a Washington cottage food operation?

$35,000 in annual gross sales per household. The cap is periodically adjusted for inflation, so confirm the current number with WSDA if you're getting close to it.

What does a Washington cottage food permit cost?

Budget around $230 total: a $125 kitchen inspection fee, a $75 public health plan review fee, and a $30 processing fee. The permit then covers you for two years.

Do I need my kitchen inspected in Washington?

Yes — unlike many states, Washington requires an on-site WSDA inspection of your home kitchen before your Cottage Food Operation Permit is issued.

Ready to build your Washington cottage food label?

NutriLabelPro helps you create clean, print-ready labels — you add the required statement for your state.

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