No. Raw milk sales remain prohibited in Washington, D.C. under the D.C. Department of Health’s 2023 Food Code, which aligns with the FDA’s stance banning interstate raw milk sales. Intrastate sales face similar restrictions, though herd-share agreements operate in a legal gray area.
Key Regulations for Raw Milk in Washington D.C.
- Prohibition on Sales: D.C. Code § 7-230.01 explicitly bans the sale of unpasteurized milk for human consumption, with no retail or farmstand exceptions.
- Herd-Share Loophole: While direct-to-consumer sales are illegal, “cow-share” programs—where consumers lease animals for private milk distribution—operate without explicit enforcement but lack legal clarity.
- Inspection & Enforcement: The D.C. Department of Health conducts routine inspections of dairy farms supplying raw milk, issuing cease-and-desist orders for violations under the 2023 Food Code updates.
Local dairy producers have lobbied unsuccessfully for legislative changes, citing neighboring Maryland’s limited raw milk allowances. The FDA’s 2026 proposed rule on raw milk interstate commerce may indirectly influence D.C.’s stance, but no immediate regulatory shifts are projected. Consumers seeking raw milk must rely on herd-share models or travel to states with permissive laws.