Cottage Food Laws by State
Washington D.C. Cottage Food Laws
Washington D.C. requires a $50 registration (2-year), CFPM certification, DC CFPM card, Home Occupancy Permit, and pre-operational kitchen inspection. There is no annual revenue cap.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
Yes
Venues
3
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Washington D.C. cottage food law.
Baked Goods
Permitted- Cakes and cupcakes
- Cookies and brownies
- Muffins and quick breads
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Fruit pies (cream and custard pies require refrigeration and are not permitted)
- Cake pops and dipped treats
- Donuts and pastries
Candies and Confections
Permitted- Chocolates and fudge
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Toffee and caramel (shelf-stable)
- Cake truffles
Preserved and Dry Goods
Permitted- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- Honey and honeycomb
- Dried herbs and spices
- Roasted nuts and trail mix
- Granola and cereal
- Popcorn and flavored popcorn
- Dried pasta (no egg)
Beverages
Permitted- Coffee (roasted or ground, not brewed)
- Dry tea blends
What You Cannot Sell
These product types are not covered by the Washington D.C. cottage food law and require a commercial kitchen license.
- Meat, poultry, and seafood products
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter)
- Items requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Fruit and vegetable juices
- Canned low-acid vegetables
Where You Can Sell
Washington D.C. permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Community events
Direct consumer sales at community events are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap. Multiple permits and certifications required.
Permit and Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires $50 registration (2-year term), Certified Food Protection Manager certification, DC CFPM card, Home Occupancy Permit, and pre-operational kitchen inspection.
What a Compliant Washington D.C. Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Produced: August 23, 2026
Sunflower Home Bakery
Permit #CF-10293
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, DC
Ingredients:
Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Starch, Salt, Soybean Oil; Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla; Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Confectioner's Glaze, Carnauba Wax, FD&C Colors; Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Red 40.
Contains:
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to the District of Columbia's food safety regulations.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Washington D.C. must have a label that includes the following.
| Required field |
|---|
| All 9 FDA major allergens present |
| Complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight |
| Business name |
| Business address |
| Product name |
| Date of production |
| Permit number |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Washington D.C..
Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to the District of Columbia's food safety regulations.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Washington D.C. label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Washington D.C. Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Washington D.C. does not require any permit or license for cottage food producers.
The annual cap in D.C. is $25,000 in gross revenue.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted venue for D.C. cottage food sellers. The District has several active farmers markets throughout the year.
You can take orders online, but all sales must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Law reference: District of Columbia Cottage Food Law (D.C. Code, Section 7-742.01) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
Generate your Washington D.C. labels in minutes
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