Skip to content
Food Freedom (no cap) Last reviewed 2023-07-01

2026 reference

Washington Cottage Food Law

Washington's cottage food law sets no statewide revenue cap and no state permit or registration is required. Direct sales, farmers markets, and online sales permitted.

Watch for: Permissive for shelf-stable only. Anything refrigerated requires the formal exemption path.

Key facts

Annual revenue cap
No cap (shelf-stable)
Permit / registration
Not required
Kitchen inspection
Not required
Food handler training
Not required
Acidified foods
Excluded
Interstate shipping
In-state only

Where you can sell

Direct sales, farmers markets, and online sales permitted.

  • Direct (in-person)
  • Farmers markets
  • Online (in-state)

What's required before your first sale

No permit for shelf-stable goods. Perishables require the Food Processors Exemption.

Sources

Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.

Tools that work with Washington

Revenue cap tracker

Enter your year-to-date gross sales and see how close you are to the No cap (shelf-stable) cap.

50-state PDF guide

Printable 17-page reference covering every state with quick-scan cards.

Compare with nearby states

ID No cap

Idaho

No cap

OR Mid cap

Oregon

$52,000

Run your Washington cottage food business in one place

Ardent Seller tracks ingredients, batches, labels, and revenue against your state's cap — built for cottage food producers.

Start free For at-home bakers
Back to all 51 jurisdictions