Vegetables & Fruits
How will your product be sold to consumers?
- Selling Direct to Consumer
- Selling On-Farm
- Selling at Farmers Market
- Selling Retail
- Licensing & Registration
Pierce County
Agritourism activities are allowed if principal use is agriculture. Other permits may be required including a home occupation or cottage industry permit. See 18A.33.260A and 18A.37.110Pierce County
Agritourism activities are allowed if principal use is agriculture. Other permits may be required including a home occupation or cottage industry permit. See 18A.33.260A and 18A.37.110Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Food Handler Permit required if sampling or selling foods that require temperature control.
Possible creation of a Group B water system if public is being served. If wastewater is being generated and needing on-site sewage disposal, approval from the Health Department is required.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Vendor permit if sampling or temperature control needed for safety.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Retail establishment will hold the TPCHD permit
Wa State Department of Licensing
Licenses needed may include: general business, pesticide application, commercial driver, etc
Washington State Department of Agriculture
To commercially store foods, including meat, a Food Storage Warehouse License is required.
How does your product impact the land?
Pierce County
When expanding or starting a new farm operation, review parcel for any zoning restrictions, Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) considerations, and requirements for permitting farm structures. Each parcel may have specific requirements.
Pierce County
If planning on building a new structure and/or remodel an existing structure, contact the Building Department for specific requirements. Some agriculture structures are exempt from building requirements:
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
If planning on building a new structure and/or remodel an existing structure, contact the Health Department for specific requirements related to on-site sewage dosposal and domestic water supply.
Pierce County
If digging a new well, a site plan for the well is required through PPW Building Dept.
Tacoma-Pierce Health Department
Well permits required for exempt (under 5,000 gallons/day/residential) and non-exempt wells:
Department of Ecology
Water rights (if requiring over 5,000 gallons or irrigating more than one half of same acre)
Pierce County
Review and/or permits may be required dependent upon parcel restrictions and scale of operation. See Pierce County Code: 18A.33.260E and 18A.33.280C
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Dependant on activity type.Washington State Department of Agriculture
There are inspection requirements for a select list of fruits and vegetables. However, there are exceptions for smaller quantities as well as produce sold at farmers market. Check out the WSDA guide for what products require inspection and in what circumstances.
USDA
FSMA
These regulation roadmaps are strictly a guide intended to give producers an idea of the regulations and permits they may need. They do not include all necessary steps that may apply to your farm product. Producers are ultimately responsible for conducting their own research and obtaining the correct permits.