Cottage food law & license in Washoe County, NV
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Washoe County Permits 101 for Washoe County, Nevada (69 pages). After you pay, you get lifetime access to premium dashboard features. Unlock the permit planning workspace on your dashboard.
Nevada cottage food — common first products
County zoning cannot expand a state ban. Check the product, then the local rules on this page.
What's in the Washoe County permit report
How to start in Washoe County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under Nevada cottage food rules in Washoe County. Not legal advice.
Confirm your menu under state law
Nevada cottage food rules control what you may make at home (Non-potentially-hazardous foods prepared in the kitchen of the operator's primary private home (or approved nonprofit kitchen) may be sold directly to consumers in person. Under the pre-2025 law, allowed items included baked goods, candy, jams, dried foods, and other non-TCS foods. AB352 (2025) expands the definition to include certain acidified foods and raises the sales cap to $100,000; the new law also allows phone and internet sales with in-person or mail/delivery service fulfillment.). Washoe County cannot expand a food the state bans.
Map channels and local sales rules
State sales cap: $35,000. On-site / porch pickup in Washoe County: Yes. Prefer markets or off-site pickup if residential customer traffic is restricted.
Local permits, tax, and home occupation
Home occupation permit: Yes. Many places still need a general business license or tax certificate even when the state has no cottage food “permit.” Check planning, the clerk, and any HOA or lease before advertising your address.
Training, registration, inspection
State registration: Yes. Local inspection in Washoe County: No. Finish food handler training early — markets often ask for a copy.
Labels that match the state
Print labels with Nevada disclaimer and allergen rules before market day. Use the free Nevada label page for the one-pager checklist and mockup.
Insurance and first sales
Farmers markets often require a certificate of insurance. Soft-launch with pre-orders, keep a sales log, and re-verify rules if you change products or venues.
What usually goes on the package
- Product name (common or usual name of the food)
- Business or producer name
- Producer address (or address alternative your state allows)
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Major allergen disclosures (e.g. wheat, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
- Net weight or quantity
- Home-kitchen disclaimer: “MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION.”
Planning checklist only. Confirm with state and local agencies before you sell.
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 reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Washoe County cottage food reports
Home cottage-food permit stack — zoning, health, license, and what the state does not require.
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Washoe County.
Download county report
Full Nevada License & Permit Guide (52 pages). Statute, all counties, and official source links.
Tier: 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.
Nevada cottage food 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 License & Permit Guide →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 Permit Guide $26
This page stays free — the Washoe County statute, zoning notes, and official links. Permit Guide 101 is the paid packet (69 pages): the home cottage-food permit stack (zoning, health, and business license), the checklist, and the dashboard workspace. That packet is not on this free page.
Washoe County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Washoe County, Nevada?
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. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Nevada guide at https://crosodo.com/states/nevada.
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.. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
What foods can I sell under Nevada cottage food law in Washoe County?
Non-potentially-hazardous foods prepared in the kitchen of the operator's primary private home (or approved nonprofit kitchen) may be sold directly to consumers in person. Under the pre-2025 law, allowed items included baked goods, candy, jams, dried foods, and other non-TCS foods. AB352 (2025) expands the definition to include certain acidified foods and raises the sales cap to $100,000; the new law also allows phone and internet sales with in-person or mail/delivery service fulfillment. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Nevada, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Nevada?
Nevada state law lists cottage food sales at 35000. There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits or zoning can still limit operations.
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.
The free county page is the short version. This is the full Nevada License & Permit Guide (52 pages) — statute, every county we have researched, and official source URLs. Stripe checkout. Cover letter, paid receipt, and the guide (PDF) licensed to your address.
Unlimited Pass. Your journey to getting permitted for cottage food sales. Premium dashboard tools, unlimited state and county reports, and the 50-state label report. Lifetime access. Includes the full Nevada License & Permit Guide (52 pages).
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 |
Washoe County baker discussion
53 public threads from bakers talking about Washoe County — permits, zoning, markets, and what's selling. Read along or sign in to post.
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