Cottage food laws in Clark County, WA
Clark County, Washington — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Clark County is a county in Washington (pop. 504,091). 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 Clark County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Clark County: home kitchen allowed; inspection required; home occupation permit required. Confirms HOP required per VMC 20.860; one-time fee; contact Planning at 360-487-7803; also requires City Business License. WSDA state page confirms local zoning compliance required and Master Business License plus Food Worker's Card needed. Clark County (including Vancouver) is the county seat. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Clark County cottage food reports
Full statute, all counties in Washington, and authoritative source URLs.
State PDF
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Clark County.
County PDFTier: 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.
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 Clark County
State baseline: RCW §69.22.010–.040
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Non-potentially hazardous foods only. $355 permit fee (2-year). Kitchen inspection by WSDA required before permit issued. $35,000 annual gross sales cap. Food Worker's Card from local county health department required. Master Business License required. Connected to approved water source.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Kitchen must pass WSDA inspection of all permitted areas
- Water supply
- Kitchen must be connected to an approved water source; verified during WSDA inspection
- Handwashing
- Required as part of WSDA kitchen inspection compliance
- Food storage
- All permitted areas including storage areas inspected by WSDA
- Inspection required
- Yes
- Inspection trigger
- WSDA inspection required prior to permitting; additional inspections upon permit expiration or complaint/suspected violation
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- City of Vancouver, WA requires a Home Occupation Permit for businesses operated from a residence per VMC 20.860. Applied via Community Development Department. One-time permit fee. Contact Planning staff at 360-487-7803 to verify if exempt. Also requires City of Vancouver Business License or valid exemption. WSDA confirms local city/county government must be contacted for compliance with zoning ordinances. Clark County unincorporated areas: check Clark County Department of Community Development for home occupation requirements.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct sales within Washington. $35,000 annual gross cap. No wholesale to stores or restaurants. Online sales permitted. Delivery to consumers permitted.
- Max employees in home
- Not specified in state cottage food law
- Relevant code section
- City of Vancouver VMC 20.860 (Home Occupation Requirements). RCW §69.22.010–.040 (Cottage Food Operations); WAC 16-149.
Confirms HOP required per VMC 20.860; one-time fee; contact Planning at 360-487-7803; also requires City Business License. WSDA state page confirms local zoning compliance required and Master Business License plus Food Worker's Card needed. Clark County (including Vancouver) is the county seat.
Revised Code of Washington, Title 69 Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Poisons, Chapter 69.22 Cottage Food Operations
Full Washington state report (with PDF download) →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 →
Clark County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Clark County, Washington?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Non-potentially hazardous foods only. $355 permit fee (2-year). Kitchen inspection by WSDA required before permit issued. $35,000 annual gross sales cap. Food Worker's Card from local county health department required. Master Business License required. Connected to approved water source.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Clark County?
Inspection: Yes. Trigger: WSDA inspection required prior to permitting; additional inspections upon permit expiration or complaint/suspected violation.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Clark County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. City of Vancouver, WA requires a Home Occupation Permit for businesses operated from a residence per VMC 20.860. Applied via Community Development Department. One-time permit fee. Contact Planning staff at 360-487-7803 to verify if exempt. Also requires City of Vancouver Business License or valid exemption. WSDA confirms local city/county government must be contacted for compliance with zoning ordinances. Clark County unincorporated areas: check Clark County Department of Community Development for home occupation requirements.
What is the Washington cottage food sales cap?
Washington state law caps cottage food sales at None. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Clark County rules
Clark County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Clark County This county | Cowlitz County | Skamania County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Kitchen must pass WSDA inspection of all permitted areas | No other persons may handle cottage food products or be in kitchen during processing except permittee or those under direct supervision (RC… | Persons other than the permittee and those under their direct supervision are prohibited in the kitchen during production per RCW §69.22. P… |
| Inspection required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct sales within Washington. $35,000 annual gross cap. No wholesale to stores or restaurants. Online sales permitted. Delivery to consum… | Washington allows direct sales only within the state. No internet, mail order, or retail outside WA. Only permittee or those under direct s… | Washington state cottage food law permits direct-to-consumer sales at farmers markets, events, and from home. Online sales and mail order o… |
| Home occupation permit | Yes | Varies | Conditional |
| Local business license | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Non-potentially hazardous foods only. $355 permit fee (2-year). Kitchen inspection by WSDA required before permit issued. $35,000 annual gr… | Washington requires a biennial cottage food operation permit with annual inspection. All food handlers must have food and beverage service … | Washington state law (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for cottage food operation… |
| Food storage | All permitted areas including storage areas inspected by WSDA | Non-PHF products only. No TCS foods, no THC ingredients (0.3% or greater). Products cannot be sold via internet, mail order, or retail outs… | Standard food storage requirements per Washington food safety rules; products must be non-potentially hazardous. |
| Population | 504,091 | 110,621 | 11,620 |
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