Multnomah County, OR Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Oregon's 'Domestic Kitchen' exemption under ORS 616.706 (enforced by Oregon Department of Agriculture Food Safety Program) allows individuals to produce and sell certain non-potentially hazardous foods from their home kitchen without a commercial food processor license. Allowed products are narrowly defined: baked goods that do not require refrigeration (cookies, breads, pastries — NOT cream-filled or cheesecake), jams/jellies/preserves made from high-acid fruits, fruit butters, honey, dried herbs, and candy. Sales are capped at $50,000 gross annually (raised from $20,000 by HB 2586 in 2021). Products must be sold directly to the end consumer — no wholesale, no retail through third parties, no internet shipping outside Oregon. Labels must include producer name/address, product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, allergens (Big 9 per FALCPA), net weight, and the statement 'This product is homemade and is not prepared in an inspected food establishment.' Farm Direct Marketing under ORS 616.695 allows farm-produced value-added foods (pickles, salsa) with additional acidity and water-activity requirements. Multnomah County Environmental Health is the local contact but does not inspect domestic kitchen operations. Home occupation zoning still applies — in Portland PCC 33.203 limits home businesses to no more than 1 non-resident employee and no customer traffic beyond delivery; in unincorporated Multnomah County MCC 39.7505 has similar limits.