Cottage food laws in Multnomah County, OR
Multnomah County is a top-100 county by population in Oregon (pop. 808,098). Under Oregon's Good-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 50000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Depends. Start with Oregon Department of Agriculture (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Multnomah County health and planning requirements via the health department and planning / zoning links on this page. Local notes for Multnomah County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Multnomah County follows Oregon state baseline for cottage food. SB 643 (2023) expanded the allowed product list and raised the cap to $50,000. Portland is the dominant municipality — nearly all of Multnomah County is within Portland city limits. Portland has a business license requirement. City of Portland home occupation rules apply to most operators in this county. The Domestic Kitchen Bakery License is an alternative if wishing to sell to retailers more broadly. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Multnomah County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Multnomah County.
Download county PDF
Full statute, all counties in Oregon, and official source links.
Download state PDFTier: Good
Oregon has a Good-tier cottage food law — solid baseline with moderate restrictions, typically a high sales cap (often $50K+) and standard direct-to-consumer rules. Workable for most home bakers with reasonable scale plans.
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 Multnomah County
State baseline: ORS §616.723 (as amended by SB 643, 2023; cap $50,000)
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Must be produced in operator's residential dwelling. Non-potentially hazardous foods only. Food handler certification under ORS 624.570 required. Annual cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted). Cannot sell to institutions (schools, hospitals, restaurants — only retail stores and direct consumers).
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Pets must not be in food preparation areas during production; their presence elsewhere in the home is permissible
- Water supply
- Potable water required; state baseline
- Handwashing
- Food handler certification required
- Food storage
- Standard food storage; non-PHF foods only
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- Oregon Department of Agriculture may investigate upon complaint.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- City of Portland has home occupation permit requirements. For Portland Bureau of Development Services, contact (503) 823-7300. Multnomah County governs unincorporated areas (very limited — most is Portland proper). Other cities in Multnomah County (Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview) have their own rules.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct-to-consumer at home, online, mail, events; sales to retail stores permitted under specific conditions (SB 643, 2023). Cannot sell to restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. $50,000 annual cap.
- Max employees in home
- unknown
- Relevant code section
- ORS §616.723; City of Portland Title 33 Zoning Code for home occupations
Multnomah County follows Oregon state baseline for cottage food. SB 643 (2023) expanded the allowed product list and raised the cap to $50,000. Portland is the dominant municipality — nearly all of Multnomah County is within Portland city limits. Portland has a business license requirement. City of Portland home occupation rules apply to most operators in this county. The Domestic Kitchen Bakery License is an alternative if wishing to sell to retailers more broadly.
Oregon Revised Statutes §616.723, Food establishments in residential dwellings (as amended by Oregon SB 643, 2023 Regular Session)
Full Oregon state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerpt616.723. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Food" and "food establishment" have the meanings given those terms in ORS 616.695. "Food" does not include any article containing cannabis. (b) "Potentially hazardous" means requiring temperature control due to the capacity to support the rapid and progressive growth of infectious microorganisms or the growth of toxic microorganisms. (c) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the business of selling consumer goods to retail buyers. "Retailer" includes coffee shops and excludes restaurants. (2) ORS 616.695 to 616.755 do not apply to a food establishment if: (a) The food establishment is located in a residential dwelling; (b) The foods prepared at the food establishment for public distribution are packaged and not potentially hazardous, including but not limited to baked goods, confectionary items, coffee beans, teas, popcorn, jams, jellies, honey, syrups, fruit butters, nut mixes, repackaged freeze-dried foods, repackaged dried and dehydrated foods and powdered drink mixes; (c) The food bears on its label a statement and product information as described in subsection (6) of this section informing consumers that the product is not prepared in an inspected food establishment; (d) The annual gross sales of foods prepared at the food establishment do not exceed $50,000, adjusted annually for inflation pursuant to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, West Region (All Items); and (e) Each individual involved in the preparation of food at the food establishment for public distribution has successfully completed a food handler training program and holds a certificate issued under ORS 624.570.
Source: olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB643 →
Multnomah County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Multnomah County, Oregon?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. City of Portland has home occupation permit requirements. For Portland Bureau of Development Services, contact (503) 823-7300. Multnomah County governs unincorporated areas (very limited — most is Portland proper). Other cities in Multnomah County (Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview) have their own rules. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Oregon guide at https://crosodo.com/states/oregon.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Multnomah County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: Oregon Department of Agriculture may investigate upon complaint.. 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 Oregon cottage food law in Multnomah County?
Packaged, non-potentially-hazardous foods made in a residential dwelling are permitted, including baked goods, confectionery items, coffee beans, teas, popcorn, jams, jellies, honey, syrups, fruit butters, nut mixes, repackaged freeze-dried foods, repackaged dried and dehydrated foods, and powdered drink mixes. Cannabis-containing foods are excluded. Direct sales to end users are permitted in any manner — from home, online, through the mail, and at events. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Oregon, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Oregon?
Oregon state law lists cottage food sales at 50000. 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 Multnomah County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. City of Portland has home occupation permit requirements. For Portland Bureau of Development Services, contact (503) 823-7300. Multnomah County governs unincorporated areas (very limited — most is Portland proper). Other cities in Multnomah County (Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview) have their own rules.
Where to verify Multnomah County rules
Multnomah County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Multnomah County This county | Washington County | Clackamas County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Conditional |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Pets must not be in food preparation areas during production; their presence elsewhere in the home is permissible | No specific state cottage food pet restriction specified | Pets may not be in the food preparation area during production. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct-to-consumer at home, online, mail, events; sales to retail stores permitted under specific conditions (SB 643, 2023). Cannot sell to… | Direct-to-consumer sales and indirect (limited retail) under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual cap. Online and mail delivery permitted. City of … | Direct sales from home, online, mail, and at events permitted. May also sell to retailers (with Domestic Kitchen Bakery License ~$50/year a… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Yes | Conditional |
| Local business license | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Restrictions | Must be produced in operator's residential dwelling. Non-potentially hazardous foods only. Food handler certification under ORS 624.570 req… | Oregon allows sales from residential dwelling under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual sales cap. Food handler certification required. Registrati… | Oregon cottage food law (ORS §616.723, amended by SB 643, 2023) allows packaged non-TCS foods from residential dwellings. Annual sales cap … |
| Food storage | Standard food storage; non-PHF foods only | Standard home kitchen storage for approved non-TCS foods | Non-TCS shelf-stable foods only. |
| Population | 808,098 | 599,541 | 420,925 |
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