Knowledgebase
cottage food exemption #909324
Asked July 10, 2025, 6:31 PM EDT
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Eugene,
The Cottage Food Exemption can be a bit daunting given the different requirements for record keeping, labeling, sanitation, and the categories of allowable products. The best source of information at this moment is still the ODA fact sheets, which you can find online here: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/food-safety/fs-licensing/Pages/without-license.aspx
The first step for you should be determining if your product is allowable under the law. Your baked goods and fruit jams could both be eligible for this license exemption, but you need to keep a few things in mind:
Baked goods are only allowable if they do not require refrigeration--so no cream pies or things of that nature. You also cannot include any meat ingredients whatsoever.
With fruit jams, you can only make your jams with fruits that are naturally acidic (pH below 4.6). Fortunately, that includes most berries and tree fruits you find in Oregon, but it excludes melons, many tropical fruits, figs, Asian pears, and white-fleshed peaches. You can find out more about the pH of common fruits in our guide to Canning Fruits.
Once you have determined your product's eligibility, your next steps would be to develop a label that meets ODA requirements and to make sure your kitchen meets the sanitation standards in the law. You have to keep your home cooking activities completely separate from your commercial activities, including separate areas for storing and refrigerating ingredients.
Lastly, you'll want to develop a plan for sales. Most cottage foods are sold directly to the end consumer, but the law does now allow for some sales to retailers if the cottage food products are kept separate in the store and have signage indicating they are not produced in inspected facilities. You must keep records of all your sales and keep your total sales to $50,000 or less.
I know that's a lot of information to take in, and there are very important details not listed in this short summary that are included in the ODA fact sheets. Please feel free to respond to this thread with more questions if you have them.
Lastly, keep in mind that ODA inspectors are available to answer questions about cottage foods. They are charged with regulation in this field, but they are also usually very happy to help someone who is developing a product come up with a good, safe, and legal way to market it. You can find your local food safety inspector's contact information here: https://mylicense.oda.state.or.us/ords/f?p=250:15
I hope this helps you in your product development!
Jared