Oregon

1. Can you sell charcuterie boards from home in Oregon?

Classic meat-and-cheese boards: NO

Oregon’s Cottage Food Establishment Exemption only allows foods that are not time/temperature controlled for safety (non-TCS). The rule lists the only permissible cottage categories (mostly shelf-stable baked goods, candy, dry mixes, etc.). Oregon Secretary of State+1

Since charcuterie boards include cured meats + cheeses/dairy, and require cold holding, they’re TCS and not cottage-legal.

What about Oregon’s Domestic Kitchen License?

Oregon’s Domestic Kitchen License (bakery or food processor) is more permissive than cottage and can allow some refrigerated foods like pickles/ferments and cream pies if approved, but it still has hard prohibitions:

• No processing milk into dairy products (yogurt/cheese/ice cream) Oregon+1
• No catering from a domestic kitchen Oregon+1
• Meat products are essentially not allowed in home-kitchen lanes (except narrow small-scale poultry situations), so home-made meat boards still aren’t a legal route. Institute for Justice

Translation: In Oregon, you cannot legally sell standard meat-and-cheese boards, grazing boxes, or cups from your home kitchen.

2. What is allowed from home in Oregon (good early-stage lane)

A) Cottage Food Exemption (no ODA license)

Only these non-TCS categories are allowed:

• baked goods
• confectionery (including freeze-dried candy)
• coffee beans, dried tea
• commercial dried spice/seasoning blends
• popcorn
• high-acid jams/jellies, fruit butters
• honey products, syrups
• nut mixes
• repackaged commercial freeze-dried/dehydrated foods
• powdered drink mixes Oregon Secretary of State

Charcuterie-adjacent cottage items you can sell:

• crackers/breadsticks
• spice blends / dry rubs
• candied nuts/snack mixes
• jams, honey, fruit butters
• board “pairing kits” without meat/cheese/refrigerated dips

Key cottage rules:

• Sales cap: $51,200 gross/year (updated 2025). Oregon Secretary of State
• Food handler card required for anyone producing cottage foods. Oregon Secretary of State
• No sales to institutions (restaurants, caterers, schools, hospitals, etc.). Oregon Secretary of State
• Retail store sales allowed only if packaged/labeled and the retailer signs an agreement + uses extra signage. Oregon Secretary of State
• Kitchen rules: separate storage, pets out during prep, no other household activity while producing. Oregon Secretary of State

B) Domestic Kitchen License (ODA-licensed home kitchen)

This route is for home bakeries or home food processors wanting to sell foods beyond the cottage list. ODA inspects and licenses the kitchen. Oregon+1

But remember the big limits for charcuterie:

• No self-made cheese/dairy processing at home Oregon
• No catering from the home kitchen Oregon
• Meat products are basically off-limits in home kitchens Institute for Justice

So this license is useful for charcuterie add-ons (certain pickles/ferments, sauces, refrigerated baked goods), not for meat boards.

3. What you need to sell real charcuterie in Oregon (meat + cheese boards)

Once meat/cheese boards are your product, you’re in the commercial/permitted lane.

You’ll need:

1.   Approved commercial or commissary kitchen

Home kitchens can’t be used for standard meat charcuterie sales. Institute for Justice+1

2.   Correct license type (depends on your model):

o   Retail Food Establishment / Food Processing license (ODA) for pre-made boards sold for pickup/delivery/retail. Oregon Farmers Markets Association+1

o   Food Service/Catering license (county environmental health) if you do grazing tables, staffed service, or on-site assembly. Oregon Farmers Markets Association+1

3.   Meat-specific compliance

If you handle/process meat beyond simple assembly with inspected products, you may need ODA meat program licensing (and you must use USDA/state-inspected meats). Oregon+1

4.   Cold-chain + sanitation SOPs

Oregon Food Code requires cold holding ≤41°F and date-marking, transport controls, etc., which inspectors focus on heavily for boards. Oregon Secretary of State+1

5.   Temporary event permits

If you assemble/serve boards at festivals, wineries, farmers markets with on-site prep, you’ll often need a Temporary Restaurant/Food Service permit from that county. Oregon Farmers Markets Association+1

4. Oregon startup lanes (pick your path)

Lane A — Home-based brand builder (legal now)

Cottage Food Exemption

1.   Stay inside the non-TCS cottage list

2.   Get Oregon food handler card

3.   Label/package properly

4.   Sell direct (retail allowed with agreement)

5.   Keep sales ≤ $51,200/year

Oregon Secretary of State+1

Lane B — Expanded home products (still no meat boards)

Domestic Kitchen License

1.   Apply for ODA domestic kitchen bakery/processor license

2.   Pass inspection

3.   Make approved non-meat items (no dairy processing, no catering)

Oregon+1

Lane C — Full charcuterie boards & grazing tables

Commercial kitchen + food licenses

1.   Secure commissary/commercial kitchen

2.   Get ODA retail/processing license and/or county food service/catering permit

3.   Pass pre-opening inspection

4.   Operate with cold-chain & sanitation SOPs

Oregon Farmers Markets Association+2Oregon+2