Why this matters
The only US framework for selling hot food from home.
MEHKO — Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation — is the only regulated framework in the United States that lets a home cook legally sell prepared, temperature-controlled meals directly from their residence. Cottage food laws in every state cover shelf-stable items like baked goods, jams, and candies. MEHKO covers the opposite category: hot food, refrigerated meals, and fully prepared dishes.
Two laws define it. AB 626 (2018) created the framework. SB 972 (2024) expanded it statewide but kept opt-in at the county level. If your county has opted in, you can run a permitted home kitchen operation that sells up to 60 meals a week under formal health-department oversight.
Most of California has not opted in. The counties below are the notable exceptions, and the list is growing.
Meal limits
60 meals a week, up to $100,000 a year.
Weekly meal cap
60 meals
30 meals per day, 90 meals per week — whichever triggers first.
Annual revenue cap
$100,000
Gross annual sales ceiling for MEHKO operations.
Key requirements
What you need before the permit is issued.
- **Permit required.** Filed with your local county environmental health department. - **Initial kitchen inspection.** A health department inspector visits your home before permit issuance. - **Food Protection Manager certification.** ANSI-accredited certification required; typically valid five years. - **Meal limits.** 30 meals per day, 90 meals per week, up to $100,000 gross annual sales — whichever comes first. - **No mail order, no shipping.** Sales are pickup or delivery within the county of operation only. - **No wholesale.** Direct to consumer only; no selling through stores or restaurants.
Geography
Only opted-in counties allow MEHKO.
As of early 2026, the opted-in counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Imperial, Lake, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, and Stanislaus. Sonoma, Los Angeles (partial), and others have programs in various stages of approval. Confirm with your county before investing time in the application — requirements and fees vary.
How to start
Five steps to your first legal MEHKO sale.
Confirm your county has opted into MEHKO
Most California counties have not opted in. Check the state retail food page or your county environmental health department before investing time in the application.
California Department of Public HealthComplete ANSI food protection manager certification
Typically $100–$150 and takes a day. The certification is valid for five years and is mandatory before your permit is issued.
File your MEHKO permit application
Filed with your county environmental health department. Fees typically run $500–$1,000 annually, varying by county.
Pass the initial home kitchen inspection
A health department inspector visits your home to verify equipment, sanitation, and food safety practices before the permit is issued.
Launch
Once permitted, you can advertise online, take orders through your own channels, and fulfill via pickup or county-limited delivery. Shipping and out-of-county sales are not allowed.
Frequently asked
California MEHKO — common questions.
Is MEHKO the same as California cottage food?
No. Cottage food covers shelf-stable items (baked goods, jams, candies, dry mixes). MEHKO covers prepared meals — hot food, refrigerated dishes, full entrees. Different statutes, different permit process, different meal limits, different allowed foods.
Can I do both MEHKO and cottage food at the same time?
Yes. They are separate programs with separate registration paths. Many home cooks run a cottage food operation for shelf-stable items alongside a MEHKO permit for prepared meals.
Can MEHKO meals be shipped?
No. MEHKO sales are strictly pickup or delivery within the county of operation. Shipping, mail order, and out-of-county delivery are not permitted.
Does MEHKO count toward the $86,000 cottage food cap?
No. MEHKO has its own $100,000 annual cap, separate from California's cottage food artisan cap. The caps are independent.