Cottage food laws in Washoe County, NV
Washoe County, Nevada — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Washoe County is a county in Nevada (pop. 486,674). Under Nevada's Okay-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 35000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Yes. Start with Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Washoe County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Washoe County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit required. Explicitly states business license required from Washoe County (775-328-3733), City of Reno, or City of Sparks. Registration with NNPH required for Washoe County (not state registration). No online/mail/phone sales — in-person only. $35,000 annual cap. DPBH Cottage Food Guide 2023 also confirms NNPH coverage of Washoe County. Nevada AB352 (2025) reorganized NRS Chapter 446; fundamental cottage food rules maintained. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Washoe County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Washoe County.
County PDFTier: Okay
Nevada has an Okay-tier cottage food law — meaningful sales caps and/or limited channels. Operable for a side business, but you'll likely outgrow the rules if you want to go full-time.
View state law →Health department
Many states delegate cottage food registration and inspection to the county health department. Contact theirs for the local process.
Home occupation rules
The county or city zoning code governs whether you can run a home-based food business — customer visits, signage, employees, floor area.
Home kitchen, inspection, and zoning rules for Washoe County
State baseline: NRS §446.866 (repealed 2025; superseded by AB352/chapter 420 & 512, Statutes of Nevada 2025)
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Non-potentially hazardous foods on approved list only. Must be prepared in private residence of registered individual. No groups/partnerships allowed. Registration with Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) required for Washoe County. $35,000 annual gross sales cap.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No specific state cottage food pet restriction; general kitchen sanitation required
- Water supply
- No specific water testing requirement; kitchen must be in private residence
- Handwashing
- Implied by general sanitation; no specific separate provision
- Food storage
- Standard home kitchen storage; products must be labeled
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No health permit required; registration with NNPH for Washoe County. Complaint-based only.
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) FAQ explicitly states a Business License is required: Washoe County (775-328-3733), City of Reno (775-334-2090), City of Sparks (775-353-2360). Contact respective business license department. The NNPH FAQ also notes registration with the local jurisdiction is required to sell in Washoe County. State registration only applies to counties covered by the guide; must register with NNPH for Washoe County.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- In-person/direct sales only. No online sales, no phone sales, no shipping. Allowed venues: home, roadside stand on own property, flea markets, swap meets, church bazaars, garage sales, craft fairs, farmers markets. No wholesale to stores or restaurants. $35,000 annual cap.
- Max employees in home
- Individual operation only; groups not permitted
- Relevant code section
- NRS Chapter 446 (superseded 2025 by AB352). Northern Nevada Public Health registration. Local business license required.
Explicitly states business license required from Washoe County (775-328-3733), City of Reno, or City of Sparks. Registration with NNPH required for Washoe County (not state registration). No online/mail/phone sales — in-person only. $35,000 annual cap. DPBH Cottage Food Guide 2023 also confirms NNPH coverage of Washoe County. Nevada AB352 (2025) reorganized NRS Chapter 446; fundamental cottage food rules maintained.
Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 446 — Food Establishments, Section 446.866: Exemption from certain requirements; certain local governing bodies prevented from prohibiting cottage food operations; registration; fee; inspection. [Repealed 2025 — see AB352, Statutes of Nevada 2025, chapters 420 and 512]
Full Nevada state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerptNRS 446.866 Exemption from certain requirements; certain local governing bodies prevented from prohibiting cottage food operations; registration; fee; inspection. 1. A cottage food operation which manufactures or prepares a food item by any manner or means whatsoever for sale, or which offers or displays a food item for sale, is not a "food establishment" pursuant to paragraph (h) of subsection 2 of NRS 446.020 if each such food item is: (a) Sold on the private property of the natural person who manufactures or prepares the food item or at a location where the natural person who manufactures or prepares the food item sells the food item directly to a consumer, including, without limitation, a farmers' market licensed pursuant to chapter 244 or 268 of NRS, flea market, swap meet, church bazaar, garage sale or craft fair, by means of an in-person transaction that does not involve selling the food item by telephone or via the Internet; (b) Sold to a natural person for his or her consumption and not for resale; (c) Affixed with a label which complies with the federal labeling requirements set forth in 21 U.S.C. §343(w) and 9 C.F.R. Part 317 and 21 C.F.R. Part 101; (d) Labeled with "MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION" printed prominently on the label for the food item; (e) Prepackaged in a manner that protects the food item from contamination during transport, display, sale, and acquisition by consumers; and (f) Prepared and processed in the kitchen of the private home of the natural person who manufactures or prepares the food item or, if allowed by the health authority, in the kitchen of a fraternal or social clubhouse, a school or a religious, charitable, or other nonprofit organization.
Source: dpbh.nv.gov/mpd-home/cottage-food-registration-home/dta/environmental-health-cottage-food-registration-faq →
Washoe County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Washoe County, Nevada?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Non-potentially hazardous foods on approved list only. Must be prepared in private residence of registered individual. No groups/partnerships allowed. Registration with Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) required for Washoe County. $35,000 annual gross sales cap.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Washoe County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No health permit required; registration with NNPH for Washoe County. Complaint-based only..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Washoe County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) FAQ explicitly states a Business License is required: Washoe County (775-328-3733), City of Reno (775-334-2090), City of Sparks (775-353-2360). Contact respective business license department. The NNPH FAQ also notes registration with the local jurisdiction is required to sell in Washoe County. State registration only applies to counties covered by the guide; must register with NNPH for Washoe County.
What is the Nevada cottage food sales cap?
Nevada state law caps cottage food sales at 35000. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Washoe County rules
Washoe County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Washoe County This county | Lyon County | Carson City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No specific state cottage food pet restriction; general kitchen sanitation required | No specific pet restriction stated in state cottage food rules. | No specific pet restriction stated in state cottage food rules. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | In-person/direct sales only. No online sales, no phone sales, no shipping. Allowed venues: home, roadside stand on own property, flea marke… | Under AB352 (2025): in-person sales, phone/internet orders with in-person or mail/delivery fulfillment allowed. No wholesale to distributor… | Under AB352 (2025): in-person sales, phone/internet orders with in-person or mail/delivery fulfillment allowed. No wholesale to distributor… |
| Home occupation permit | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Local business license | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Non-potentially hazardous foods on approved list only. Must be prepared in private residence of registered individual. No groups/partnershi… | Nevada AB352 (2025) reorganized cottage food. New law: license from State Department of Agriculture required; $100,000 annual sales cap (up… | Nevada AB352 (2025) reorganized cottage food. New law: license from State Department of Agriculture required; $100,000 annual sales cap; ac… |
| Food storage | Standard home kitchen storage; products must be labeled | Non-potentially hazardous, non-TCS foods required. | Non-potentially hazardous, non-TCS foods required. |
| Population | 486,674 | 59,435 | 58,249 |
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