The short answer: Oregon's cottage food exemption requires no permit, no registration, and no fees to start. Here's the full picture — what you do need, what's optional, and the path if you want to grow beyond the exemption.
No. Oregon's cottage food exemption (ORS 616.723, as amended by SB 643) explicitly exempts home food sellers from ODA licensing and routine inspection requirements. There is no permit to apply for, no registration fee, no application form, and no state-issued cottage food license. You complete a $10 food handler course, label your products correctly, keep sales records, and stay under the annual cap — that is the full scope of what's required to operate legally under the basic exemption.
Oregon state law also prohibits local health departments from imposing additional cottage food requirements beyond state law — so you get consistent rules statewide. Your county or city cannot create a separate local cottage food permit on top of the state exemption. However, local business licenses and zoning approvals are separate from cottage food rules and may still apply depending on where you live.
Every requirement for Oregon cottage food sellers, with status, cost, and where to get it.
| Requirement | Status | Cost | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODA Cottage Food Permit / License | Not Required | $0 | Exemption is automatic — no application needed |
| Food Handler Certification | Required | Max $10 (by law) | ODA/OHA-approved online training programs · Complete within 30 days of first sale |
| Kitchen Inspection | Not Required | $0 | Exemption covers routine inspection — ODA may inspect only if public health concern arises |
| ODA Unique Identification Number (UIN) | Optional | $25/year | Request from ODA to use instead of home address on labels · oregon.gov/oda |
| State Business License | Not Required | $0 (state level) | Oregon has no general state-level business license requirement |
| Sales Tax Permit | Not Required | $0 | Oregon has no state sales tax — no permit, no collection, no remittance |
| Business Name Registration (DBA) | If Using Business Name | $50 (2-year) | Oregon Secretary of State · sos.oregon.gov/business · Only required if operating under a name other than your legal name |
| Local Business License | Varies by City/County | Varies | Check with your local city or county government — some require a general business license regardless of business type |
| Local Zoning Approval | Varies by Location | Varies | Check with your local planning department — some residential zones have restrictions on home-based businesses |
| Product Testing (acidified foods) | ODA Discretion | Varies (lab fees) | ODA may require pH/water activity testing for borderline products · Contact OSU Extension Food Science for Process Authority services |
The food handler certification is the single mandatory requirement for Oregon cottage food sellers — and Oregon has made it as low-friction as possible. State law (ORS 624.570) caps the cost at $10 maximum, requires it to be available online, and sets validity at 3 years. Every person who prepares food for your cottage food business must hold a valid certificate.
Training covers basic food safety principles: handwashing, cross-contamination prevention, temperature control, proper storage, and personal hygiene. Even if you feel confident in your kitchen skills, completing the course gives you documented compliance and genuinely useful food safety knowledge.
Keep all food handler certificates on file. ODA may request to review them. If a certificate expires, renew before that person continues preparing food for your business. Contact ODA at 503-986-4720 or Oda.Exemptfoods@ODA.oregon.gov for a list of currently approved training providers.
Oregon's SB 643 added an important privacy protection for home food sellers: you can request a Unique Identification Number (UIN) from ODA to use on your labels in place of your home address. This is completely optional — if you're comfortable listing your address, no UIN is needed.
Cost: $25 per year · Validity: Expires June 30 annually, renewable at $25 · How to get it: Submit the ODA UIN request form with required information and payment. Contact ODA for the current form: Oda.Exemptfoods@ODA.oregon.gov or 503-986-4720.
The UIN is personal to you — it cannot be transferred to another person or business entity. If you change your business structure, you need a new UIN. Using an expired UIN constitutes misbranding under Oregon law.
Understanding both paths helps you make the right choice for your business — and plan your growth path.
Six steps from zero to legal, selling cottage food in Oregon. No applications, no inspections, no fees beyond the $10 food handler course.
Check the What You Can Sell guide and verify each product you plan to sell is shelf-stable. For acidified foods (pickles, hot sauce, salsa), contact ODA at 503-986-4720 before selling to confirm eligibility. If a product is borderline, get a Process Authority review through OSU Extension Food Science before going to market.
Every person who prepares food must complete an ODA/OHA-approved food handler training program. Cost is capped at $10 by Oregon law. Certificate is valid for 3 years. Complete within 30 days of your first sale — ideally before you start production. Contact ODA for the current approved provider list.
Every product must carry the required Oregon disclaimer statement, your business name, phone number, address (or ODA UIN), ingredients, net weight, and allergen declarations. See the full Label Requirements guide for exact wording and all required fields. Use SellFood's Label Creator to generate compliant labels with the disclaimer pre-filled.
Create a simple spreadsheet to track every sale: date, product, quantity, price, and customer/event info. You must keep records for 3 years and produce them to ODA within 5 business days if requested. Your records must show you stayed under the annual $51,200 cap (2025). A running total column is the simplest way to track this.
If you're operating under a business name other than your legal name, file an Assumed Business Name (DBA) with the Oregon Secretary of State at sos.oregon.gov/business. Cost: $50, valid 2 years. Not required if you sell under your own name. Also consider whether you need a local city or county business license — check with your local government.
With your food handler cert in hand, compliant labels on your products, and a record-keeping system ready, you're fully compliant with Oregon's cottage food exemption. Sell at farmers markets, from your home, online (with in-person delivery), at events, and through retail stores. Create your SellFood storefront to reach buyers statewide.
The primary agencies you may need to contact as an Oregon cottage food seller.
Upload your food handler certificate, track renewal dates, and manage your Oregon cottage food compliance documents — all in one place.
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