{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-742.02","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 7-742.02","heading":"Cottage food businesses.","body":"(a)\nThis section shall not:\n(1)\nApply to a food establishment that is required to have a license under Department regulations; or\n(2)\nExempt a cottage food business from any applicable District or federal tax laws.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nA cottage food business shall register with the Cottage Food Business Registry within the Department before beginning operation.\n(2)\nThe Department may perform an inspection of the cottage food business before that business may sell its cottage food products.\n(3)\nThe Department shall issue a cottage food business identification number and certificate to each registered cottage food business. Upon receipt of a cottage food business identification number and certificate, the cottage food business shall be authorized to produce, package, and sell the temperature control for safety food products on the approved food products list issued by the Department, set forth in section 103.5 of Title 25-K of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (25-K DCMR 103.5). The cottage food business shall not produce, package, or sell any food products that are not allowed by the Department nor use any processes and activities that are not allowed by the Department.\n(4)\nThe Department shall have the authority to enter the premises of a cottage food business registered with the CFBR to conduct a pre-operational inspection and to investigate complaints pertaining to the sale or preparation of cottage food products pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.\n\n(c)\nThe owner of a cottage food business may sell only cottage food products that are:\n(1)\nStored on the premises of the cottage food business; and\n(2)\nPrepackaged with a label that contains the following information:\n(A)\nThe cottage food business identification number;\n(B)\nThe name of the cottage food product;\n(C)\nThe ingredients of the cottage food product in descending order of the amount of each ingredient by weight;\n(D)\nThe net weight or net volume of the cottage food product;\n(E)\nAllergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements;\n(F)\nIf any nutritional claim is made, nutritional information as specified by federal labeling requirements; and\n(G)\nThe following statement printed in 10-point or larger type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background of the label: “Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to the District of Columbia's food safety regulations.\n\n(d)\n(1)\nThe Department may investigate any complaint alleging that a cottage food business has violated this section.\n(2)\nOn receipt of a complaint, a representative of the Department, at a reasonable time, may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food business to determine compliance with this section.\n(3)\nThe owner of a cottage food business may not:\n(A)\nRefuse to grant access to a representative who requests to enter and inspect the premises of the cottage food business under paragraph (2) of this subsection; or\n(B)\nInterfere with any inspection under paragraph (2) of this subsection.\n(4)\nAn investigation of a cottage food business conducted under this subsection may include sampling of a cottage food product to determine if the cottage food product is misbranded or adulterated.\n\n(e)\nThe Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter. The proposed regulations shall be submitted to the Council for a 60-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed regulations, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 60-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.","path":["Title 7. Human Health Care and Safety.","Chapter 7A. Functions of the Department of Health.","Subchapter III. Cottage Foods."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-742.02","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"714ffb42aef5decfd6e0b36254533629c68b0af3eadd640297d6f4db475c0faa","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-742.01","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-742.03"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}