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Home Business in Washington County, AR (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washington County, Arkansas.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Cottage Food Operations

The Arkansas Food Freedom Act lets you make non-hazardous food at your Washington County home and sell it directly to consumers with no license, no health inspection, and no sales cap. Only a product label is required. It is one of the most permissive laws nationally.

Washington County Cottage Food (Food Freedom Act)

Few Restrictions

Ark. Code § 20-57-503(3)

"Homemade food or drink product" means a food or drink product that is processed at the private residence of the producer, including a farm or ranch where the producer resides, that is exempt from state licensure, inspection, certification, and packaging and labeling requirements, and that is non-time/temperature control for safety food.

Home Daycare

Caring for children for pay in a Washington County home requires a license from the Arkansas Department of Human Services. State code makes operating an unlicensed child-care facility unlawful. The county's role is limited to land-use and building compliance.

Washington County Home Daycare Regulations

Some Restrictions

Ark. Code § 20-78-208(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, group, corporation, organization, or association to operate or assist in the operation of a childcare facility which has not been licensed by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services.

Home Business by City in Washington County

1 cities in Washington County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All Washington County ordinances

See every category we cover for Washington County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Washington County Ordinance Hub →