In Washington, you need a Cottage Food Permit from WSDA — it costs $355 for a two-year permit, includes a home-kitchen inspection, and caps annual sales at $35,000. You can take orders and payment online, but you can't ship — delivery must be person-to-person. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how the permit works, how to label it, and how to start.
The short version: Washington is a permit-and-inspection state. You apply to WSDA, pass a kitchen inspection (allow 6–10 weeks), and pay $355 for a two-year permit. Sales are capped at $35,000/year (inflation-adjusted every four years). You can sell low-risk non-perishable foods and even take orders and payment online — but you cannot mail or ship products; the customer must pick up at your home or you deliver in person. Every label needs your business name, permit number, and the home-kitchen disclaimer.
Washington caps cottage food sales at $35,000 per year, adjusted for inflation every four years (raised and the permit term extended to two years by HB 1500 in 2023).
| Washington rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | $35,000 (inflation-adjusted every 4 years) |
| Permit | Required — $355 for a 2-year WSDA Cottage Food Permit |
| Inspection | Required (home-kitchen inspection; ~6–10 weeks) |
| Allowed foods | Low-risk non-perishable (non-TCS) only |
| Online orders | Allowed (orders + payment), but no shipping — pickup or in-person delivery only |
| Label | Business name, permit number, + home-kitchen statement |
| Governing law | HB 1500 (2023) |
Yes. Washington requires a WSDA Cottage Food Permit before you sell. You submit an application, and a WSDA representative inspects your home kitchen and storage/packaging areas before the permit is issued. Processing takes about 6–10 weeks; the permit is $355 for two years. If the inspection fails, you correct the issues and pay $125 for a reinspection. It's more upfront work than a no-permit state, but the permit covers two years before renewal.
Washington allows low-risk, non-perishable (non-TCS) foods. Commonly approved items include:
Not allowed:
Confirm specifics with WSDA.
Each Washington cottage food label must include:
See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Washington lets you advertise online and take orders and accept payment online — but you cannot ship by mail or courier. Allowed fulfillment:
All sales are direct to the consumer (no wholesale or retail under the permit).
Because Washington allows online orders and payment but requires pickup or in-person delivery, a storefront with built-in pickup scheduling fits perfectly. Homegrown gives WA sellers an online storefront with payments and pickup/local-delivery scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have a Washington-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
The cap is $35,000 per year (inflation-adjusted), so the goal is to make the most of a fixed ceiling. Most successful Washington sellers focus on higher-margin products and repeat customers rather than chasing volume. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Because Washington caps sales at $35,000 and bans shipping, the smartest Washington sellers treat their business like a tight local operation: a predictable weekly pickup rhythm, a short menu of high-margin items, and a base of regulars who pre-order. Premium and custom work — wedding and celebration cakes, holiday gift boxes, specialty cookie orders — lets you earn more within a capped ceiling than a high-volume, low-price approach ever could. And because you can take payment online but must hand off in person, batching pickups into set windows keeps fulfillment manageable as you grow.
The change made the program a bit more workable for growing sellers, though Washington remains a permit-and-inspection state. Always confirm current fees and rules with WSDA.
Up to $35,000 per year, adjusted for inflation every four years under HB 1500.
Yes. Washington requires a WSDA Cottage Food Permit ($355 for two years) and a home-kitchen inspection before you can sell.
You can take orders and payment online, but you cannot ship. Delivery must be person-to-person — the customer picks up at your home or you deliver directly to them.
About 6–10 weeks, since a WSDA inspection of your kitchen is required before the permit is issued.
Low-risk non-perishable foods — baked and fried goods, jams and jellies (per FDA standards), and approved dry mixes. Refrigerated foods are not allowed.
Your business name, WSDA permit number, product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and a statement that the food was made in a home kitchen not subject to standard inspection.
$355 for a two-year permit. A failed inspection requires a $125 reinspection fee before the permit is issued.
No. Sales under the Cottage Food Permit are direct to the consumer only — no wholesale or retail sales.
Washington asks for a permit and inspection up front, but once you're approved you can take orders and payment online and fulfill by pickup or local delivery. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Washington cottage food orders with pickup scheduling, then compare the rules in nearby states like Oregon, Idaho, California, and Montana, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — verify current requirements with WSDA before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
