Union County cottage food law.
Union County is a county in Oregon (pop. 26,286). Oregon has a Good-tier law with a solid baseline (often $50K+ cap). Union 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. Union County is in northeastern Oregon. 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. Use the links below to check current requirements before you bake.
Union County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Union 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 Union 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
- Union County has a Planning Department. Home occupations in unincorporated Union County subject to Union County Zoning Ordinance. City of La Grande (home to Eastern Oregon University) has its own zoning. Producers in unincorporated areas should check with Union County Planning.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- 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
- Not specified at county level; state law applies to producer operating from dwelling.
- Relevant code section
- ORS §616.723; Union County Zoning Ordinance
Union County is in northeastern Oregon. 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.
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 →
Union County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Union 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 Union County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection required. ODA may respond to complaints..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Union County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Union County has a Planning Department. Home occupations in unincorporated Union County subject to Union County Zoning Ordinance. City of La Grande (home to Eastern Oregon University) has its own zoning. Producers in unincorporated areas should check with Union County Planning.
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 Union County rules
Compare neighboring counties
Other Oregon counties
Union County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Union County This county | Baker County | Grant 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 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… |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | 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 sales to end users permitted from home, online, through the mail, and at events. Sales to retailers permitted under specific conditi… |
| 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… | Residential dwelling allowed. Only non-potentially-hazardous foods permitted. Annual sales cap $50,000 (CPI-adjusted; $51,200 in 2025). Can… |
| 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 shelf-stable foods must be stored appropriately. Separate storage for cottage food ingredients, packaging, and la… |
| Population | 26,835 | 16,346 | 7,483 |
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.