Washington, D.C. Cottage Food Laws

The District's program has widened considerably since 2019. Register with DC Health and check its current requirements before you start.

Important information: Cottage food laws vary by state and may change. This guide is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your state's official regulatory agency before selling homemade food.

Checked against official Washington, D.C. sources on November 2, 2026: permit, sales cap and where you can sell. Anything not marked as checked is our summary — check with the DC Department of Health.

Fast facts

Permit
Cottage food registration required (checked)
Annual sales cap
No limit (checked)
Online sales
Limited (summary)
Shipping
Not allowed (summary)

What makes Washington, D.C. different

  • Register with DC Health before you start selling
  • The annual revenue cap was removed in 2019 (D.C. Law 23-61)
  • Sales can be direct, retail and online within the District, and since June 10, 2025 wholesale to licensed food establishments

Where you can sell in Washington, D.C.

  • Direct to consumer
  • Retail
  • Online (within D.C.)
  • Wholesale to licensed food establishments
  • Farmers markets
  • Public events

What you can and can't make

These lists describe what most cottage food laws allow and prohibit. They aren't Washington, D.C.'s official product list: check the DC Department of Health for the foods Washington, D.C. actually allows.

Generally allowed

  • Breads, rolls, biscuits and buns
  • Cakes, cupcakes and brownies (without cream-cheese or custard fillings)
  • Cookies, bars and biscotti
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candy, brittle, fudge and chocolate-covered items
  • Dry mixes, granola, popcorn and roasted nuts
  • Jams, jellies and preserves made from high-acid fruit

Generally prohibited

  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese frostings or fillings
  • Custard, meringue, pudding and Bavarian-cream pies
  • Anything containing meat, poultry or seafood
  • Fresh-dairy items, ice cream and buttercream that requires refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, salsas and other low-acid canned goods
  • Garlic-in-oil, pickled goods and fermented foods (in most states)
  • Kombucha, juices and other beverages requiring a process authority

Washington, D.C. labeling requirements

Most states require the elements below. Washington, D.C.'s exact list may differ, so confirm it with the DC Department of Health.

  1. The name and physical address of your home kitchen business
  2. The common name of the product
  3. A full ingredient list in descending order by weight
  4. Allergen declaration for the major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
  5. Net weight or volume
  6. A cottage food disclosure such as "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine state inspection"

Official source for Washington, D.C.

The DC Department of Health administers cottage food rules in Washington, D.C.. Their page is the authoritative, current version of everything summarized here.

Visit the DC Department of Health

Sources we checked on November 2, 2026:

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Cottage food laws in other states