Sell Homemade Food in District of Columbia — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in District of Columbia — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.
No limit
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
Yes
Permit Required
Cottage Food Business Registration — $50
moderately regulated
Regulation Level
District of Columbia is considered moderately regulated for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in District of Columbia is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
DC Health (Department of Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration explains everything you need to know about the DC Cottage Food Act of 2013 (D.C. Law 20-63), as amended by Cottage Food Expansion Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0192) and Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0269).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
District of Columbia requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Apply for your cottage food business registration ($50)
Send your application to DC Health (Department of Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration. Most states approve within 2–4 weeks.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what District of Columbia requires below.
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Take orders, accept payments, manage shipping, and message customers — all from one dashboard for $4.99/month.
Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in District of Columbia
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
fermented foods
Rules can change — quickly check with DC Health (Department of Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration before you start, just to be safe.
District of Columbia Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in District of Columbia under the DC Cottage Food Act of 2013 (D.C. Law 20-63), as amended by Cottage Food Expansion Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0192) and Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0269)
Cottage Food Business Registration Required
Cost: $50. Apply through your state agriculture department.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
District of Columbia allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what District of Columbia wants on it — copy this list.
Producer's name
Cottage food business identification (registration) number
Product name
Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight
Net weight or volume
Allergen disclosure (FALCPA-compliant)
"Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to District of Columbia food safety inspection" disclaimer
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
District of Columbia requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From District of Columbia
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from District of Columbia. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
Ship within District of Columbia only
You can sell cottage foods online and through retail (except restaurants/grocery stores) within the District of Columbia. Sales and shipping are limited to customers inside DC.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in District of Columbia
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in District of Columbia
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in District of Columbia
Farmers Markets
Allowed in District of Columbia
Wholesale to Stores
Allowed in District of Columbia
Start Your Home Food Business in District of Columbia
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in District of Columbia
District of Columbia allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in District of Columbia
Taste of DC
Pennsylvania Avenue food festival featuring DC's best restaurants and food artisans.
Visit WebsiteDC VegFest
Plant-based food festival on the National Mall with local vendors and food makers.
Capital Food Fight
Annual culinary competition and food festival benefiting DC Central Kitchen.
Home Food Business Types in District of Columbia
Start any of these home food businesses under the DC Cottage Food Act of 2013 (D.C. Law 20-63), as amended by Cottage Food Expansion Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0192) and Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0269)
Start Your District of Columbia Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the DC Cottage Food Act of 2013 (D.C. Law 20-63), as amended by Cottage Food Expansion Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0192) and Health Care Reporting Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0269) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond District of Columbia? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.