Why this matters
What California actually allows — and what it doesn't.
AB 1616 (2012) created cottage food law; AB 1144 (2021) raised caps to $75k/$150k with inflation adjustment; AB 626 (2018) authorized MEHKO operations; AB 660 (2024) standardizes date labels effective July 1, 2026.
Cottage Food—Two-Tier System:
Class A (Direct Sales):
2025 cap: $86,206 (inflation-adjusted from $75k base)
Annual revenue cap
$86,206 a year.
Annual gross cap
$86,206
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
Made in a Home Kitchen
— AB 1616 (2012), AB 1144 (2021), AB 626 (2018), AB 660 (2024); Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758, §114365 et seq.
Sales channels
Where you can sell in California — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
YesYesInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
California requires registration before you sell.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in California? Yes — California wants you to register before selling. Here is what that path involves.
- Registration
Required
Type: permit
- Registration cost
$100
- Timeline
About 30 days
- Labeling standard
AB660 Strict
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Available
Via permit number
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Cut Produce
- Canned Goods
- Acidified Foods
- Fermented Foods
- Garlic In Oil
- Cannabis Cbd
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in California.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against California's cottage food rules. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Register with your state agency
California requires cottage food operators to register before selling. Registration cost is $100. Expect about 30 days for processing.
California registration portalLabel every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
California allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
California cottage food — your questions answered.
What is the new law for selling food from home in California?
California's biggest recent change is MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations) under AB 626, which lets approved counties permit home cooks to sell prepared, temperature-controlled meals — hot food and full entrees — beyond the shelf-stable Cottage Food Operation program. AB 660 also standardizes date labels starting July 1, 2026. If you want to sell cooked plates rather than baked goods, see the MEHKO guide.
What do I need to do to sell food from home in California?
For shelf-stable baked goods and similar items, you register a Cottage Food Operation with your county — Class A (self-certified) or Class B (inspected) — with permit fees around $100. The CFO cap is about $86,000 a year. For prepared meals you would use MEHKO where your county allows it.
What is the difference between a Class A and Class B cottage food permit in California?
Class A is for direct sales only — farmers markets, home, online orders, in-state shipping — with a 2025 cap of $86,206, county registration, and no home inspection. Class B adds indirect and wholesale sales to restaurants and stores, raises the cap to $172,411, and requires a permit plus a mandatory home kitchen inspection. Both classes may use third-party delivery.
What has to be on a California cottage food label?
Both classes must carry the disclaimer "Made in a Home Kitchen" in 12-point type on the principal display panel, along with your name, city, and zip, the permit number and issuing agency, the ingredients, net quantity in both English and metric units, your county, and the Big 9 allergens — which in California includes sesame.
Can I sell food in front of my house in California?
You can sell your registered cottage foods directly to customers, including from home, and take online orders and in-state shipping. Local zoning still applies, so a curbside stand may have city rules, but selling your CFO products directly is allowed. Third-party delivery is also permitted in California.
California cottage food laws: what is the short version?
California requires permit before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $100. The annual gross sales cap is $86,206. California allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers. California also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path requires a separate permit.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in California?
Yes. California requires permit before selling cottage food. The listed cost is $100. Check the official state source before selling because local zoning, food safety training, or label rules may still apply.
What foods can I sell from home in California?
California's basic cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. California also has a path for prepared or time/temperature-control foods, and that path requires a separate permit. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.