Tillamook County cottage food law.
Tillamook County is a county in Oregon (pop. 27,345). Oregon has a Good-tier law with a solid baseline (often $50K+ cap). Tillamook County bakers should check both state registration and local health department permitting. County research shows: home kitchen allowed, inspection not required, home occupation permit not required. Tillamook County is on the northern Oregon coast, known for its dairy and cheese production. Oregon cottage food law (ORS 616.723, as amended by SB 643, 2023) is the operative framework. Food handler certification required. No county-specific cottage food rules identified. Active Community Development Department suggests home occupation permits are taken seriously. Use the links below to check current requirements before you bake.
Tillamook County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Tillamook County.
County 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 Tillamook County
State baseline: ORS §616.723
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Residential dwelling allowed. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods permitted. Annual sales cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted; $51,200 in 2025). Cannabis-containing foods excluded. May not sell to institutions (caterers, schools, day care, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, restaurants). Pets not allowed in food preparation area during production.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Pets not allowed in food preparation area during food production per ORS 616.723 / ODA rules. Label must note presence of pets in home if applicable.
- Water supply
- Potable water supply required.
- Handwashing
- Food handler certification required (ORS 624.570); proper handwashing is part of food handler training.
- Food storage
- Non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable foods must be stored appropriately. Separate storage for cottage food ingredients, packaging, and labels from household foods required.
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection required. ODA may respond to complaints.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- Tillamook County has an active Community Development Department. The Tillamook County Zoning Ordinance includes home occupation provisions for unincorporated areas. City of Tillamook has its own zoning. Coastal agricultural county with significant dairy and tourism economy. Producers should verify home occupation standards with Tillamook County Community Development.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Conditional
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct sales to end users permitted from home, online, through the mail, and at events. Sales to retailers permitted under specific conditions with required placard. Cannot sell to institutions.
- Max employees in home
- Home occupation rules may limit non-resident employees; check county ordinance.
- Relevant code section
- ORS §616.723; Tillamook County Zoning Ordinance
Tillamook County is on the northern Oregon coast, known for its dairy and cheese production. Oregon cottage food law (ORS 616.723, as amended by SB 643, 2023) is the operative framework. Food handler certification required. No county-specific cottage food rules identified. Active Community Development Department suggests home occupation permits are taken seriously.
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 →
Tillamook County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Tillamook County, Oregon?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Residential dwelling allowed. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods permitted. Annual sales cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted; $51,200 in 2025). Cannabis-containing foods excluded. May not sell to institutions (caterers, schools, day care, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, restaurants). Pets not allowed in food preparation area during production.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Tillamook County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection required. ODA may respond to complaints..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Tillamook County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Tillamook County has an active Community Development Department. The Tillamook County Zoning Ordinance includes home occupation provisions for unincorporated areas. City of Tillamook has its own zoning. Coastal agricultural county with significant dairy and tourism economy. Producers should verify home occupation standards with Tillamook County Community Development.
What is the Oregon cottage food sales cap?
Oregon state law caps cottage food sales at 50000. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Tillamook County rules
Compare neighboring counties
Other Oregon counties
Tillamook County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Tillamook County This county | Clatsop County | Columbia County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Pets not allowed in food preparation area during food production per ORS 616.723 / ODA rules. Label must note presence of pets in home if a… | Pets not allowed in food preparation area during food production per ORS 616.723 / ODA rules. Label must note presence of pets in home if a… | Pets may not be in food preparation area; presence elsewhere in dwelling is no longer grounds for disqualification (per SB 643). |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Conditional | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct sales to end users permitted from home, online, through the mail, and at events. Sales to retailers permitted under specific conditi… | Direct sales to end users permitted from home, online, through the mail, and at events. Sales to retailers permitted under specific conditi… | Direct to consumer (home, online, mail, events). Sales to retailers permitted with Domestic Kitchen Bakery License. No sales to institution… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Residential dwelling allowed. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods permitted. Annual sales cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted; $51,200 in 2025). Can… | Residential dwelling allowed. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods permitted. Annual sales cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted; $51,200 in 2025). Can… | Non-potentially hazardous foods from residential dwelling. Annual cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted since SB 643, 2023). Food handler certification… |
| Food storage | Non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable foods must be stored appropriately. Separate storage for cottage food ingredients, packaging, and la… | Non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable foods must be stored appropriately. Separate storage for cottage food ingredients, packaging, and la… | Non-potentially hazardous foods only. Cannabis-containing foods excluded. No sales to institutions (caterers, schools, day care, hospitals,… |
| Population | 27,036 | 40,224 | 52,865 |
Cottage food law and municipal zoning interact in non-obvious ways. Before investing in equipment or marketing, talk to Oregon's department of agriculture, your local health department, and your county or city's planning office. Crosodo is a clothing brand for cottage bakers, not a law firm.