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Cottage food laws

California Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in California? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food Operation (Class A / Class B)
Annual sales cap
$75,000 (Class A) / $150,000 (Class B) statutory base, CPI-adjusted (~$86,206 / ~$172,411 in 2025)
Where you can sell
Direct/in-person (Class A)Farmers marketsHome pickupIndirect/wholesale to retail in-state (Class B)
Registration / to start
Class A: registration; Class B: permit + inspection through county environmental health; food-processor training required
Allowed foods
Non-TCS foods on CDPH approved list: baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, dried foods, granola, nut mixes
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods, foods not on the CDPH list
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding the CPI-adjusted cap, selling TCS foods, or broader wholesale requires a licensed/commercial kitchen
Administered by
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) / county environmental health · Cal. Health & Safety Code § 113758

Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH) / county environmental health. Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Two tiers: Class A (direct only) vs Class B (direct + indirect/wholesale). Caps rise annually with California CPI. Separate MEHKO (home restaurant) law exists in adopting counties.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see California food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in California?
Yes. California has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Operation (Class A / Class B)) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $75,000 (Class A) / $150,000 (Class B) statutory base, CPI-adjusted (~$86,206 / ~$172,411 in 2025). You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) / county environmental health.
What foods can I sell under California's cottage food law?
Non-TCS foods on CDPH approved list: baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, dried foods, granola, nut mixes Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods, foods not on the CDPH list
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in California?
Exceeding the CPI-adjusted cap, selling TCS foods, or broader wholesale requires a licensed/commercial kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in California?
Class A: registration; Class B: permit + inspection through county environmental health; food-processor training required
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