California — the rules

Selling Food From Home in California: Cottage Food Rules (2026)

Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in California, under the Cottage Food Operation (Class A / Class B). Sales are capped at $150,000/year. Here is exactly what that means.

California at a glance

Home food sales	Allowed
Program	Cottage Food Operation (Class A / Class B)
Annual sales cap	$150,000
Sales channels	Direct to consumers AND through retail/indirect channels

What foods are covered

Approved non-potentially-hazardous foods list (baked goods without cream/custard, jams meeting standards, granola, candy, dried goods, etc.). Class A: direct sales only, cap $75,000 gross annual sales; Class B: direct plus indirect sales through restaurants and retail stores, cap $150,000 (the recorded salesCapUsd is the Class B tier). Both caps are statutory base amounts adjusted annually for inflation per the California CPI (HSC 113758, AB 1144 of 2021). Separately, MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, HSC 113825) lets opt-in counties permit full home-cooked meals: max 30 meals/day, 90 meals/week, $100,000 gross annual sales CPI-adjusted.

Permits and registration

County health department required: Class A registers with self-certification checklist; Class B needs a permit with initial home kitchen inspection. Operator must complete a CDPH-approved cottage food processor course within 3 months. Fees are set by each county (commonly roughly $100-$300; varies). MEHKO requires a separate county permit and is only available where the county/city has opted in.

Going legal in California: the plate-seller checklist

Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
Build the storefront — a menu page, order-ahead with cutoffs, your own business line. Our free guide covers the whole playbook.

Sources and verification

Verified 2026-07 against: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · www.cdph.ca.gov. Rules change — confirm with the primary source before acting; this guide is information, not legal advice.

Questions people ask

Is it legal to sell food from home in California?

Yes — under Cottage Food Operation (Class A / Class B), with an annual sales cap of $150,000. Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.

How much can you sell under California's cottage food law?

$150,000 per year under the current rules.

Do you need a permit to sell food from home in California?