Cottage food laws in Washington County, OR
Washington County is a county in Oregon (pop. 599,541). 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 Washington County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Washington County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit required. Clear requirements: CDC Section 430-63.1, max 600 sq ft or 25% floor area, residents only, max 5 customers/day, max 1 delivery/day, no exterior storage, one 2 sq ft sign allowed. City of Hillsboro (county seat) additionally requires Home Occupation Permit plus General Business License per Oregon state business directory. ORS §616.723 is the operative state cottage food statute (not §616.706 as sometimes cited). based on direct retrieval of official Washington County planning document. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Washington County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Washington 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 Washington County
State baseline: ORS §616.723
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Oregon allows sales from residential dwelling under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual sales cap. Food handler certification required. Registration required depending on sales channel and volume.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No specific state cottage food pet restriction specified
- Water supply
- No specific water testing requirement in state cottage food law
- Handwashing
- Implied by food handler certification requirement
- Food storage
- Standard home kitchen storage for approved non-TCS foods
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection required under Oregon cottage food law
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- Washington County, OR requires a Type I Home Occupation permit for businesses operated from a residential home. Application filed with Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (155 N First Ave., Suite 350, Hillsboro OR 97124; 503-846-8761). Standards in CDC Section 430-63.1: up to 600 sq ft or 25% of floor area; no onsite employees; max 5 customers/day; max 1 delivery/pickup per day (excl. USPS); no exterior storage; no excessive noise/odors/glare; one sign up to 2 sq ft (requires building permit); may be exempt if no on-site customers and not in EFC/EFU/AF-20 district. City of Hillsboro separately requires a Home Occupation Permit plus a General Business License (apply at 150 E Main St, Hillsboro OR 97123; 503-681-6408).
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Conditional
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct-to-consumer sales and indirect (limited retail) under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual cap. Online and mail delivery permitted. City of Hillsboro requires General Business License in addition to Home Occupation Permit.
- Max employees in home
- Washington County Type I Home Occupation: only permanent residents of home may be employed in the home occupation
- Relevant code section
- Washington County Community Development Code Section 430-63.1 (Home Occupation Type I). State: ORS §616.723.
Clear requirements: CDC Section 430-63.1, max 600 sq ft or 25% floor area, residents only, max 5 customers/day, max 1 delivery/day, no exterior storage, one 2 sq ft sign allowed. City of Hillsboro (county seat) additionally requires Home Occupation Permit plus General Business License per Oregon state business directory. ORS §616.723 is the operative state cottage food statute (not §616.706 as sometimes cited). based on direct retrieval of official Washington County planning document.
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 →
Washington County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Washington County, Oregon?
Home occupation permit: Yes. Washington County, OR requires a Type I Home Occupation permit for businesses operated from a residential home. Application filed with Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (155 N First Ave., Suite 350, Hillsboro OR 97124; 503-846-8761). Standards in CDC Section 430-63.1: up to 600 sq ft or 25% of floor area; no onsite employees; max 5 customers/day; max 1 delivery/pickup per day (excl. USPS); no exterior storage; no excessive noise/odors/glare; one sign up to 2 sq ft (requires building permit); may be exempt if no on-site customers and not in EFC/EFU/AF-20 district. City of Hillsboro separately requires a Home Occupation Permit plus a General Business License (apply at 150 E Main St, Hillsboro OR 97123; 503-681-6408). 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 Washington County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection required under Oregon cottage food law. 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 Washington 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 Washington County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. Washington County, OR requires a Type I Home Occupation permit for businesses operated from a residential home. Application filed with Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (155 N First Ave., Suite 350, Hillsboro OR 97124; 503-846-8761). Standards in CDC Section 430-63.1: up to 600 sq ft or 25% of floor area; no onsite employees; max 5 customers/day; max 1 delivery/pickup per day (excl. USPS); no exterior storage; no excessive noise/odors/glare; one sign up to 2 sq ft (requires building permit); may be exempt if no on-site customers and not in EFC/EFU/AF-20 district. City of Hillsboro separately requires a Home Occupation Permit plus a General Business License (apply at 150 E Main St, Hillsboro OR 97123; 503-681-6408).
Where to verify Washington County rules
Washington County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Washington County This county | Multnomah County | Clackamas County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Conditional |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No specific state cottage food pet restriction specified | Pets must not be in food preparation areas during production; their presence elsewhere in the home is permissible | Pets may not be in the food preparation area during production. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Conditional | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct-to-consumer sales and indirect (limited retail) under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual cap. Online and mail delivery permitted. City of … | Direct-to-consumer at home, online, mail, events; sales to retail stores permitted under specific conditions (SB 643, 2023). Cannot sell to… | 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 | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| Local business license | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Restrictions | Oregon allows sales from residential dwelling under ORS §616.723. $50,000 annual sales cap. Food handler certification required. Registrati… | Must be produced in operator's residential dwelling. Non-potentially hazardous foods only. Food handler certification under ORS 624.570 req… | 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 home kitchen storage for approved non-TCS foods | Standard food storage; non-PHF foods only | Non-TCS shelf-stable foods only. |
| Population | 599,541 | 808,098 | 420,925 |
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