Pierce County, WA Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Washington WSDA
- Legal basis
- RCW 69.22 / WAC 16-149
- Sales cap
- $35,000 per year
- Also required
- Valid food worker card
Summary
Selling homemade non-hazardous foods from a Pierce County home requires a Washington Cottage Food Operation permit from the state Department of Agriculture (WSDA) under RCW 69.22 and Chapter 16-149 WAC, with a $35,000 annual gross sales cap.
If gross sales during a calendar year exceed the maximum annual gross sales allowance of $35,000, the cottage food operator must cease operations for the remainder of that permit period or meet all the requirements and obtain a food processing plant license or cease operations for that calendar year.
Full Breakdown
In Pierce County, home food businesses are licensed at the state level. Chapter 16-149 WAC implements RCW 69.22 and requires that all cottage food operations be permitted every two years by WSDA. A cottage food operation is a person who produces cottage food products - non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, and preserves - only in the home kitchen of their primary Washington residence and only for direct sale to the consumer. Before permitting, WSDA reviews recipes and labels and inspects the home kitchen, and the operator must hold a valid food worker card. Gross sales are capped at $35,000 per calendar year. The home kitchen must still comply with Pierce County home-occupation zoning under PCC 18A.37.110.
Violations & Fines
Selling cottage foods without a WSDA permit, or exceeding the allowed product list or the $35,000 annual sales cap, violates RCW 69.22 and Chapter 16-149 WAC and can lead WSDA to deny, suspend, or revoke the permit and pursue enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell homemade baked goods in Pierce County?
How much can a cottage food business sell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
Compare Pierce County to another location·View the Washington home business overview
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