In the District of Columbia, a small quantity beekeeper may legally sell their honey with reduced requirements, under the D.C. cottage food laws. Apiaries that do not meet these requirements must comply with the regular food producer requirements (see below for details of each).
Detailed Cottage Food Requirements
There are 2 ways for a beekeeper in D.C. to sell their honey, depending upon how much honey they sell and other requirements:
Cottage food rules
You can find the detailed Washington, D.C. cottage food requirements here. If you meet these requirements, this is more simple and less burdensome way to go.
Here are some of the key requirements and restrictions: (not all see D.C. cottage food requirements for all requirements )
- Annual revenue from the sale of cottage food products may not exceed $25,000.
- Application: The owner of a cottage food business must obtain a DC Cottage Food Business Registry Number by submitting a DC Cottage Food Business Registry Application
- Home Occupancy Permit (Home Occupancy Permit dc.gov/quick/1457) from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)
- Proof of calibrated scale(s) required if your honey will be sold by weight (rather than volume) from the Office of Weights and Measures at DCRA
- Certified Food Protection Manager's Certification (CFPM)
(Certified Food Protection Manager's Certification .dc.gov/node/1405511). - May only sell honey at farmer’s markets and public events (as defined by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) in the District of Columbia. Internet sales and mail order sales of cottage food products are prohibited;; however a cottage food business owner may advertise via the internet.
- No sales to retail stores, like restaurants or grocery stores.
- inspections: DC Health is required to conduct a pre-operational inspection of the residential kitchen where cottage food products will be prepared and packaged. The kitchen must be approved by DC Health before a cottage food business can begin operating.
- A cottage food business is not exempt from sales tax collection or any applicable District of Columbia or federal tax laws.
- In 2024, the registration fee for a cottage food business was $50.00 for 2 years
- Labeling: All packaged cottage food products are required to have the required label information on the packaging: see D.C. cottage food requirements
Documents and guidance
- DC Cottage Food Important Information
- DC Checklist
- DC Cottage Food Business Regulations
- DC Frequently Asked Questions
-
DC Cottage Food Business Registry Application
The application must be submitted to DC Health's Processing
Full, regular food producer rules
Alternatively, if you choose to, or do not meet the requirements of a cottage food producer in D.C., you may sell your honey if you
- comply with the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Apiculture Act of 2012 and
- register with the District's Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). You must also register all colonies in the District with DOEE within 30 days of establishing them. Before transporting a colony, portion of a colony, or other apiary appliances across state lines, you must obtain a permit from DOEE.
Beekeeping in the District of Columbia Requirements
The Sustainable Urban Agriculture Apiculture Act, included in the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014, requires beekeepers to
- register all colonies being kept in the District - DC Bee Colony Registration Document
- obtain a permit from DOEE prior to any interstate transport of a colony, portion of a colony, bees on combs, empty used combs, used hives, or any other used apiary appliance.
Additional requirements:
- All colonies must be kept in a hive with removable combs, such as a Langstroth-type hive or a Top Bar hive.
- Adequate space in the hive to prevent overcrowding and swarming.
- The beekeeper is responsible for remediation of bee swarms and nuisance conditions.
- All colonies must be provided with a convenient, adequate, and constant source of water.
- A beekeeper shall not keep more than four hives on a single property unless the property is greater than one-quarter acre (10,890 sq. ft.) or they have permission from the Department. (regs.§1525)
- A hive must be located at least 15 feet from a property line, unless other conditions are met. (reg.§1525)
- The possession of Africanized bees is prohibited!
Additional information can be found at DC Regs.
Resources
Great helpful books and guides
The Backyard Beekeeper - Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden, Setting up and caring for your own colonies,practical and nontoxic ways to care for your bees, Swarm control
The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook: A Guide to Creating, Harvesting, and Cooking with Natural Honeys
Beekeeping For Dummies, very popular
The Backyard Beekeeper’s Honey Handbook by Kim Flottum
- DC beekeeping requirements
contact Natasha Garcia Andersen
Email: natasha.garcia-andersen@dc.gov or
Phone: 202-870-6004. - DC Honey Bee Colony Registration
- DC Transport Permit
- The District’s Cottage Food Regulations, see The Division of Food Regulations)
- National Honey Board
- National and International Beekeeping Associations
- State and Local Beekeeping Associations
- Honey, Beekeeping and Processing Supplies:
- Magazines: Bee Culture and American Bee Journal