Cottage food laws in Douglas County, WA
How to start in Douglas County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under Washington cottage food rules in Douglas 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.). Douglas County cannot expand a food the state bans.
Map channels and local sales rules
State sales cap: No cap. On-site / porch pickup in Douglas County: Conditional. 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 Douglas 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.
Douglas County is a county in Washington (pop. 43,189). 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 Douglas County health and planning requirements via the planning / zoning links on this page. Local notes for Douglas County: home kitchen allowed; inspection required; home occupation permit required. Douglas County WA (seat: Waterville; East Wenatchee is a city within the county) has a detailed home occupation ordinance (Chapter 18A.66, Ord. TLS 23-11-44B) that explicitly lists home cooking and preserving for sale as a permitted home occupation use (DCC 18A.66.040(A)(10)). Home occupation permit required. Floor area limited to 25%/500 sq ft. No outdoor storage. Retail limited to on-premises products. Classes for home cooking/preserving also permitted. WAC 16-149-030(4) requires county zoning compliance before WSDA cottage food permit is issued. State cottage food baseline applies for food rules. TLS 23-11-44B, 2023); WSDA state rules confirmed. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Douglas County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Douglas County.
Download county PDF
Full statute, all counties in Washington, and official source links.
Download state 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.
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 Douglas County
State baseline: RCW §69.22.010–.040; WAC 16-149
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Washington state cottage food law (RCW §69.22.010–.040; WAC 16-149) requires a biennial WSDA cottage food permit ($125 inspection fee + $75 public health review fee + $30 processing fee). All food handlers must hold a food and beverage service worker's permit (Chapter 69.06 RCW). Producers must comply with all applicable county and municipal zoning ordinances prior to permitting (WAC 16-149-030(4)). Douglas County has a detailed home occupation ordinance (Chapter 18A.66) that explicitly permits home cooking and preserving for the purpose of selling the product as an allowed home occupation use.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- WAC 16-149 restricts access to the permitted area during cottage food production. Pets must be excluded from the permitted area during food production and handling.
- Water supply
- No specific water testing requirement under RCW 69.22 beyond standard food safety practices.
- Handwashing
- Handwashing facilities required per WAC 16-149 basic hygiene standards.
- Food storage
- Proper storage per WAC 16-149 basic hygiene requirements; cottage foods must be nonpotentially hazardous.
- Inspection required
- Yes
- Inspection trigger
- Annual basic hygiene inspection by WSDA required for permit renewal. Initial inspection required before operations begin.
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- Douglas County Chapter 18A.66 requires a home occupation permit for most home-based businesses. Home occupation permit is required unless the activity is specifically exempted. Home cooking and preserving for sale is explicitly listed as a permitted home occupation use (DCC 18A.66.040(A)(10)). Standards include: (1) home occupation must be clearly incidental to residential use; (2) limited to 25% of gross floor area of the structure or 500 sq ft, whichever is less; (3) no exterior or window displays or outdoor storage of materials; (4) retail/wholesale sales limited to products created in the home occupation; (5) no restaurant/cafe uses. Exemptions from permit requirement include temporary home boutiques (max 5 days or 10 days/year) and purely administrative home offices. WAC 16-149-030(4) also requires a Washington State master business license.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Conditional
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Washington cottage food: direct sales to consumers only. No internet/mail-order/interstate sales. No retail sales outside Washington. Producers may sell at farmers markets and direct from home. Douglas County home occupation rules: retail/wholesale sales limited to products created in the home occupation. Only the permittee or persons under their direct supervision may handle cottage food products during processing (RCW §69.22.020).
- Max employees in home
- Douglas County home occupation rules: primary residence of the operator required; limited to immediate residents plus one nonresident employee. Only the permittee or persons under direct supervision may handle cottage food products during processing (RCW §69.22.020).
- Relevant code section
- Douglas County Code (East Wenatchee) Chapter 18A.66 (Home Occupations); RCW §69.22.010–.040; WAC 16-149
Douglas County WA (seat: Waterville; East Wenatchee is a city within the county) has a detailed home occupation ordinance (Chapter 18A.66, Ord. TLS 23-11-44B) that explicitly lists home cooking and preserving for sale as a permitted home occupation use (DCC 18A.66.040(A)(10)). Home occupation permit required. Floor area limited to 25%/500 sq ft. No outdoor storage. Retail limited to on-premises products. Classes for home cooking/preserving also permitted. WAC 16-149-030(4) requires county zoning compliance before WSDA cottage food permit is issued. State cottage food baseline applies for food rules. TLS 23-11-44B, 2023); WSDA state rules confirmed.
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 →
Douglas County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Douglas County, Washington?
Home occupation permit: Yes. Douglas County Chapter 18A.66 requires a home occupation permit for most home-based businesses. Home occupation permit is required unless the activity is specifically exempted. Home cooking and preserving for sale is explicitly listed as a permitted home occupation use (DCC 18A.66.040(A)(10)). Standards include: (1) home occupation must be clearly incidental to residential use; (2) limited to 25% of gross floor area of the structure or 500 sq ft, whichever is less; (3) no exterior or window displays or outdoor storage of materials; (4) retail/wholesale sales limited to products created in the home occupation; (5) no restaurant/cafe uses. Exemptions from permit requirement include temporary home boutiques (max 5 days or 10 days/year) and purely administrative home offices. WAC 16-149-030(4) also requires a Washington State master business license. 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 Douglas County?
Inspection: Yes. Trigger: Annual basic hygiene inspection by WSDA required for permit renewal. Initial inspection required before operations begin.. 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. Douglas County Chapter 18A.66 requires a home occupation permit for most home-based businesses. Home occupation permit is required unless the activity is specifically exempted. Home cooking and preserving for sale is explicitly listed as a permitted home occupation use (DCC 18A.66.040(A)(10)). Standards include: (1) home occupation must be clearly incidental to residential use; (2) limited to 25% of gross floor area of the structure or 500 sq ft, whichever is less; (3) no exterior or window displays or outdoor storage of materials; (4) retail/wholesale sales limited to products created in the home occupation; (5) no restaurant/cafe uses. Exemptions from permit requirement include temporary home boutiques (max 5 days or 10 days/year) and purely administrative home offices. WAC 16-149-030(4) also requires a Washington State master business license.
Where to verify Douglas County rules
Douglas County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Douglas County This county | Kittitas County | Okanogan County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | WAC 16-149 restricts access to the permitted area during cottage food production. Pets must be excluded from the permitted area during food… | Persons other than the permittee and those under their direct supervision are prohibited in the kitchen during production per RCW §69.22. P… | 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 | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Washington cottage food: direct sales to consumers only. No internet/mail-order/interstate sales. No retail sales outside Washington. Produ… | Washington state cottage food law permits direct-to-consumer sales at farmers markets, events, and from home. Online sales and mail order o… | 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 | Conditional | Conditional |
| Local business license | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Washington state cottage food law (RCW §69.22.010–.040; WAC 16-149) requires a biennial WSDA cottage food permit ($125 inspection fee + $75… | Washington state law (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for cottage food operation… | Washington state law (RCW §69.22) requires a biennial permit from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for cottage food operation… |
| Food storage | Proper storage per WAC 16-149 basic hygiene requirements; cottage foods must be nonpotentially hazardous. | Standard food storage requirements per Washington food safety rules; products must be non-potentially hazardous. | Standard food storage requirements per Washington food safety rules; products must be non-potentially hazardous. |
| Population | 43,189 | 47,935 | 42,243 |
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