Cottage food law & license in Chelan County, WA
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Chelan County Permits 101 for Chelan County, Washington (67 pages). After you pay, you get lifetime access to premium dashboard features. Unlock the permit planning workspace on your dashboard.
Washington 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 Chelan County permit report
How to start in Chelan County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under Washington cottage food rules in Chelan County. Not legal advice.
Confirm your menu under state law
Washington cottage food rules control what you may make at home (Nonpotentially-hazardous baked goods; baked candies and stovetop candies; jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters (as defined in 21 C.F.R. §150); and other nonpotentially hazardous foods identified by the director by rule. No THC ingredients (0.3% or greater) permitted. No dollar sales cap is specified in the statute.). Chelan County cannot expand a food the state bans.
Map channels and local sales rules
State sales cap: No cap. On-site / porch pickup in Chelan 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 Chelan County: Yes. Finish food handler training early — markets often ask for a copy.
Labels that match the state
Print labels with Washington disclaimer and allergen rules before market day. Use the free Washington 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 home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria.”
Planning checklist only. Confirm with state and local agencies before you sell.
Chelan County is a county in Washington (pop. 79,076). Under Washington's Good-tier cottage food law (sales cap: None), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Yes. Start with Washington State Department of Agriculture (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Chelan County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Chelan County: home kitchen allowed; inspection required; home occupation permit required. Washington State (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit with inspection fees ($230 total) and annual inspections. Food handler permit under RCW 69.06 required. No Chelan County-specific overrides found. This is one of the more burdensome state programs nationally (IJ grade of D). Direct sales only; no online or mail order. Download the free reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Chelan 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 Chelan County.
Download county report
Full Washington License & Permit Guide (136 pages). Statute, all counties, and official source links.
Tier: Good
Washington 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.
Washington 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 Chelan County
State baseline: RCW §69.22.010-.040
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Nonpotentially-hazardous baked goods, baked and stovetop candies, jams/jellies/preserves/fruit butters, and other nonpotentially hazardous foods identified by rule. No THC ingredients. Only permittee or persons under direct supervision may handle cottage food products or be in the kitchen during processing.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No persons other than permittee or directly supervised persons allowed in kitchen during processing. This effectively excludes pets from preparation area.
- Water supply
- Potable water required.
- Handwashing
- Food and beverage service worker's permit required under chapter 69.06 RCW for all food handlers.
- Food storage
- Non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable products must be stored appropriately.
- Inspection required
- Yes
- Inspection trigger
- Annual basic hygiene inspections required. Biennial permit with inspection ($125 fee plus $75 public health review + $30 processing fee). Applicant must sign document granting director right of entry during normal business hours.
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- State-level biennial cottage food permit required from Washington State Department of Agriculture ($125 inspection fee + $75 public health review + $30 processing fee). Chelan County may additionally require local zoning compliance for home-based businesses. No Chelan County-specific cottage food ordinance found.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct sales to end consumers only. No internet, mail order, or retail sales outside the state. Cannot sell to restaurants or grocery stores.
- Max employees in home
- Only permittee or persons under direct supervision of permittee may handle cottage food products or be in the kitchen during processing.
- Relevant code section
- RCW §69.22.010-.040; No Chelan County-specific code section found.
Washington State (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit with inspection fees ($230 total) and annual inspections. Food handler permit under RCW 69.06 required. No Chelan County-specific overrides found. This is one of the more burdensome state programs nationally (IJ grade of D). Direct sales only; no online or mail order.
Revised Code of Washington, Title 69 Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Poisons, Chapter 69.22 Cottage Food Operations
Full Washington License & Permit Guide →Verbatim excerptRCW 69.22.010 Definitions. (1) "Cottage food operation" means a person who produces cottage food products only in the home kitchen of that person's primary domestic residence in Washington and only for sale directly to the consumer. (2) "Cottage food products" means nonpotentially hazardous baked goods; baked candies and candies made on a stovetop; jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters as defined in 21 C.F.R. Sec. 150 as it existed on July 22, 2011; and other nonpotentially hazardous foods identified by the director in rule. No ingredient containing a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of 0.3 percent or greater may be included as an ingredient in any cottage food product. RCW 69.22.020(3) A cottage food operation must place on the label of any food it produces or packages, at a minimum, the following information: (a) The name and permit number issued under RCW 69.22.030 of the business of the cottage food operation; (b) The name of the cottage food product; (c) The ingredients of the cottage food product, in descending order of predominance by weight; (d) The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product; (e) Allergen labeling as specified by the director in rule; (f) If any nutritional claim is made, appropriate labeling as specified by the director in rule; (g) The following statement printed in at least the equivalent of eleven-point font size in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria." (4) Cottage food products may only be sold directly to the consumer and may not be sold by internet, mail order, or for retail sale outside the state. RCW 69.22.030(1) All cottage food operations must be permitted every two years by the department on forms developed by the department. All permits and permit renewals must be made on forms developed by the director and be accompanied by an inspection fee as provided in RCW 69.22.040, a $75 public health review fee, and a $30 processing fee.
Source: app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.22.010 →
Chelan County Permit Guide $26
This page stays free — the Chelan County statute, zoning notes, and official links. Permit Guide 101 is the paid packet (67 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.
Chelan County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Chelan County, Washington?
Home occupation permit: Yes. State-level biennial cottage food permit required from Washington State Department of Agriculture ($125 inspection fee + $75 public health review + $30 processing fee). Chelan County may additionally require local zoning compliance for home-based businesses. No Chelan County-specific cottage food ordinance found. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Washington guide at https://crosodo.com/states/washington.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Chelan County?
Inspection: Yes. Trigger: Annual basic hygiene inspections required. Biennial permit with inspection ($125 fee plus $75 public health review + $30 processing fee). Applicant must sign document granting director right of entry during normal business hours.. 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 Washington cottage food law in Chelan County?
Nonpotentially-hazardous baked goods; baked candies and stovetop candies; jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters (as defined in 21 C.F.R. §150); and other nonpotentially hazardous foods identified by the director by rule. No THC ingredients (0.3% or greater) permitted. No dollar sales cap is specified in the statute. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Washington, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Washington?
Washington state law lists cottage food sales at None. 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 Chelan County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. State-level biennial cottage food permit required from Washington State Department of Agriculture ($125 inspection fee + $75 public health review + $30 processing fee). Chelan County may additionally require local zoning compliance for home-based businesses. No Chelan County-specific cottage food ordinance found.
The free county page is the short version. This is the full Washington License & Permit Guide (136 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 Washington License & Permit Guide (136 pages).
Where to verify Chelan County rules
Chelan County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Chelan County This county | Kittitas County | Douglas County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No persons other than permittee or directly supervised persons allowed in kitchen during processing. This effectively excludes pets from pr… | Persons other than the permittee and those under their direct supervision are prohibited in the kitchen during production per RCW §69.22. P… | WAC 16-149 restricts access to the permitted area during cottage food production. Pets must be excluded from the permitted area during food… |
| Inspection required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct sales to end consumers only. No internet, mail order, or retail sales outside the state. Cannot sell to restaurants or grocery store… | Washington state cottage food law permits direct-to-consumer sales at farmers markets, events, and from home. Online sales and mail order o… | Washington cottage food: direct sales to consumers only. No internet/mail-order/interstate sales. No retail sales outside Washington. Produ… |
| Home occupation permit | Yes | Conditional | Yes |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Yes |
| Restrictions | Nonpotentially-hazardous baked goods, baked and stovetop candies, jams/jellies/preserves/fruit butters, and other nonpotentially hazardous … | Washington state law (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for cottage food operation… | Washington state cottage food law (RCW §69.22.010–.040; WAC 16-149) requires a biennial WSDA cottage food permit ($125 inspection fee + $75… |
| Food storage | Non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable products must be stored appropriately. | Standard food storage requirements per Washington food safety rules; products must be non-potentially hazardous. | Proper storage per WAC 16-149 basic hygiene requirements; cottage foods must be nonpotentially hazardous. |
| Population | 79,076 | 47,935 | 43,189 |
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