Cottage food quick guide · Last reviewed October 2026

Selling homemade food in Oregon

Sales cap: $51,200 (2025), adjusted yearly
Permit or registration: No license for exempt foods; food handler cards
Online & shipping: Online and mail sales in Oregon
Sell through stores: Stores with a separate-display agreement; no restaurants
Refrigerated foods: No; a domestic kitchen license covers more

Allowed from a home kitchen

Sourdough bread · Cookies & brownies · Fruit pie · Strawberry jam · Granola · Spice rubs & seasoning blends · Roasted coffee · Loose-leaf tea blends · Freeze-dried candy · Chocolates & truffles · Toffee, fudge & caramels · Marshmallows · Pure honey

Home kitchen, with a special license or program

Pumpkin pie · Cheesecake · Cake with cream cheese frosting · Pepper jelly · Shelf-stable salsa · Hot sauce · Canned pickles · Sauerkraut & kimchi · Canned tomato sauce · Dried fruit & fruit leather

Needs a commercial kitchen or other license

Meat tamales · Fresh salsa (refrigerated) · Garlic or herb-infused oil^‡ · Home-cooked meals^‡ · Beef jerky^‡ · Cheese & yogurt^‡ · Cold-pressed juice^‡ · Kombucha^‡

Ask the agency first

Cake with buttercream · Macarons · Fruit tamales · Low-sugar or freezer jam · Nut butter · Infused honey · Vanilla extract · Fruit-infused vinegar · Mustard (no egg)

Every product has conditions, such as registration, training, labeling, and sales limits. See the full guide for each one. ‡ General rule; not specifically addressed in this state's guidance.

How to start

Check that the product is on Oregon's exemption list and doesn't need refrigeration.
Everyone who helps make the food needs a food handler card. No license is required; ODA encourages you to contact your local inspector first.
Sell directly to consumers from home, online, by mail, or at events. Stores can carry your products with a written agreement to display them separately; restaurants and caterers can't.
Keep sales records for three years, and label every product.

Key label items

Use the exact required wording shown in the full guide and on the agency's site.

“This product is homemade, is not prepared in an inspected food establishment and must be stored and displayed separately if merchandised by a retailer.”
Name of the food
Ingredients and sub-ingredients in descending order
Net weight or volume in US and metric units
Business name and phone number
Address or ODA unique ID number
The nine major allergens
If pets were present, say so and name the animal