Oregon Cottage Food Law (2026): Sales Limit, Foods, Labels and Where to Sell

Last verified: October 27, 2026 · Written by the UrbanAgLaw.org Editorial Team

Golden berry pie next to fresh blackberries, raspberries and blueberries

Quick answer: Oregon’s cottage food exemption lets you make low-risk foods in a home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers without a license or an inspection. Oregon State University Extension lists a sales limit of $51,200 a year (the 2025 figure, adjusted every year). Everyone who helps make the food needs a food handler card, every product needs a “homemade, not prepared in an inspected food establishment” label, and you must keep sales records for three years.

At a glance

License or permit: None. No inspection is required, but you must meet the exemption’s food safety, labeling, sales and record-keeping standards
Annual sales limit: $51,200 in 2025, adjusted every year (check the current figure with the Oregon Department of Agriculture)
Allowed foods: Foods that do not need temperature control for safety, such as baked goods, jams and jellies, confectionery, popcorn, nut mixes and roasted coffee beans
Where you can sell: From home, online, by mail, at events, and to retailers that meet the conditions; only foods made and sold in Oregon
Not allowed: Sales to licensed restaurants, caterers and institutional food service
Training required: A valid food handler card for everyone who takes part in production

Who the Oregon cottage food exemption covers

The exemption was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2023, according to Oregon State University Extension. It covers people who make foods that are not potentially hazardous in a home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers. It is separate from the Farm Direct Marketing Law, which covers a different group of products. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) can still require you to get a license if your products are not eligible, if your records are not available, or if you interfere with an inspection. ODA may also ask for lab testing to confirm that a food does not need time or temperature control.

What you can sell

Is it covered by the Oregon cottage food exemption?
Food	Allowed?
Bread, rolls, cakes, pies, doughnuts, pastries, cookies, biscuits and crackers	Yes
Jams, jellies and fruit butters	Yes only fruit with a natural pH of 4.6 or lower
Syrups	Conditions Brix of 65 degrees or more, confirmed with a refractometer or hydrometer, and no visible particles
Honey products	Conditions only added ingredients processed by a licensed food establishment
Confectionery, including freeze-dried confections	Yes
Popcorn, nut mixes and roasted coffee beans	Yes seasonings from licensed commercial sources
Repackaged commercial dried foods, drink mixes, dried tea, spices and seasoning blends	Yes
Anything needing refrigeration, such as cream, custard, meringue or cream cheese fillings and icings	No
Products with meat, fish or shellfish	No
Products containing marijuana	No
Fruits with a pH above 4.6, such as figs, melons and persimmons	No
Candied fresh fruit, including caramel apples	No
Any food you dry, dehydrate or freeze-dry at home	No

This is a summary. Vegetable or cheese focaccia and spreads with low-acid vegetables are also excluded. If you are unsure about a product, ask your local ODA food safety inspector before you start production.

Sales limits and records

OSU Extension gives the annual sales cap as $51,200 for 2025 and says it is adjusted each year. Check the current number with ODA. Older guides mention a $20,000 limit, which comes from the earlier home bakery exemption and is out of date.

You must keep records for three years and give them to ODA within five business days of a request:

your annual gross sales;
each sale, with the product, quantity, price and date;
for event sales, the event address and the organizer’s contact information;
for online sales, each buyer’s address and contact information;
for sales to a retailer, the retailer’s address and contact information.

Oregon cottage food label requirements

The principal display panel of each product must show:

the statement “This product is homemade, is not prepared in an inspected food establishment,” followed by a notice that a retailer must store and display it separately from inspected foods;
the name of the food;
the ingredients and subingredients in descending order by weight or volume;
the net weight or volume in both U.S. and metric units;
your business name and phone number;
your address, or an ODA Unique Identification Number.

The nine major allergens (milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame) must be named in parentheses after the ingredient or in a “contains” statement, with the species named for fish, shellfish and tree nuts. If pets live in the home, the label must say so and name the type of animal. Nutrition information is generally not required, but any nutrient or health claim must follow federal rules.

Required statementThis product is homemade, is not prepared in an inspected food establishment.
followed by the notice for retailers about separate storage and display; confirm the full wording with ODA

Name of the foodMixed Berry Hand Pie

IngredientsWheat flour, butter (milk), blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, sugar, eggs, salt. Contains: wheat, milk, eggs

Net weightNet wt. 6 oz (170 g)

Business and addressExample Home Bakery, phone 555-0100
123 Sample Street, Anytown, OR 00000

Pets in the homeThis food was made in a home with a dog.
only if pets live in the home

Example label with the parts OSU Extension lists. The product, the pet line and the business details are made up.

Where you can sell

Directly to consumers: from your home, online, by mail and at events.
To retailers: allowed if the product is properly labeled, the retailer stores and displays it separately and signs it as homemade, and you document the agreement.
Not allowed: licensed restaurants, caterers, and institutional food service such as hospitals, schools, day cares, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
Only in Oregon: the exemption applies to foods produced and sold in Oregon.

Training and insurance

Everyone who takes part in production needs a valid food handler card. Insurance is not mentioned in the exemption, but product liability coverage is worth considering. See our guide to liability, risk and insurance.

Local rules and HOAs

Your city or county may have zoning or home business rules, and private rules apply too, so check your HOA covenants and lease. For general background, see our planning and zoning guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell food from home in Oregon?

Yes, if you make only eligible foods, follow the labeling and record-keeping rules and stay under the annual sales limit.

Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Oregon?

No. The exemption needs no license and no inspection, but ODA can require a license if your products or records do not meet the rules.

What is the Oregon cottage food sales limit?

OSU Extension lists $51,200 for 2025 and says the cap is adjusted every year.

Can I sell cottage food online or by mail in Oregon?

Yes, as long as the food is made and sold in Oregon. Keep each buyer’s address and contact information in your records.

Can I sell to a store or a restaurant?

You may sell to a retailer if it separates and signs your products as homemade and you document the agreement. Licensed restaurants, caterers and institutions are not allowed.

Can I sell roasted coffee, honey or syrup?

Roasted coffee beans are allowed. Honey and syrup have conditions: honey products may use only added ingredients from a licensed establishment, and syrups must reach a Brix of 65 degrees and have no visible particles.

Note on conflicting sources

Older guides describe a $20,000 sales cap and a home bakery license route that are no longer current. We follow OSU Extension’s March 2026 publication. We could not open the Oregon Administrative Rules or the ODA cottage food page directly, so confirm the current sales cap, the exact label wording and the food list with ODA.

Official sources

Oregon State University Extension, EM 9192: Oregon’s Cottage Food Exemption (March 2026)
Oregon Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Food Allergies (FASTER Act, sesame)

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources above or contact ODA before you start selling.