Sell from home — Washington

Can I sell food from home in Washington?

Non-TCS / non-potentially hazardous foods are the general rule in this state (baked goods, jams/preserves, candy, dry goods, honey/syrups, coffee/dry beverages) unless the verification note says otherwise. Cottage Food Operation Permit from WSDA required; $35,000 gross cap; approved list in WAC 16-149-120 (baked goods, candies, jams/jellies/preserves meeting federal standard, dry mixes/herbs/seasonings/tea blends); online sales only in a limited sense.

The short answer: under the Washington Cottage Food Law (RCW 69.22), home sellers in Washington must complete a license before selling. The sales cap is $35,000. Full detail below — then run your exact food through the checker.

Washington's home-food framework

QuestionWashington's rule
FrameworkWashington Cottage Food Law (RCW 69.22) (RCW 69.22; WAC 16-149-120)
Sales cap$35,000 gross
Permit classLicense required
Permit feeNo permit/registration fee amount was verified from a source opened in this run — left null (null does not mean free; check the state agency).
Issued byState
TrainingNot verified field-by-field in this run; most states require or offer food handler / food safety training — check the state agency page.
ShippingIn-state only

Foods covered

Baked goods, Jams, jellies and preserves, Candy and confections, Dried herbs, spices and dry mixes, Honey and syrups, Coffee and dry beverages.

Not covered: Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods requiring refrigeration, meat and poultry products, seafood, raw milk products, and low-acid canned goods are generally prohibited unless the state row notes an exception.

Labels

Your labels must carry: Producer/business name and address (or state-allowed identifier/registration number), product name, ingredients, allergen information, and net weight/quantity — exact fields vary by state; verify on the state page before printing labels..

Where you may sell

ChannelAllowed?
Direct / in personYes
Farmers marketsYes
Online, in-stateYes
Mail / shippedNo
Wholesale to shopsNo
Retail shelvesNo

Don't read the table — run your verdict. Your food × your channel, computed against this exact framework.

Open the Home-Food Checker

The paperwork, filled in for you

Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.

See the $49 Opening Pack

Common questions

Do I need a permit to sell food from home in Washington?

Yes: license under the Washington Cottage Food Law (RCW 69.22), issued by state.

How much can I sell before I outgrow home in Washington?

The cap is $35,000. Past it, the next doors are a shared kitchen or your own permitted space — both mapped on this site.

Sources: Cottage Food Laws by State (2026) — cottagefoodrules.com (compiled table checked 2026-09-08, opened 2026-10-23) — RCW 69.22; WAC 16-149-120. This row was compiled from the named sources; confirm final figures with the issuing office before you rely on them.. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.