Homemade Foods
California Health & Safety Code (Cal Code) allows you to prepare certain non-perishable foods in your home and sell to the public with a cottage food operation (CFO) registration or permit.
Zoning and Planning Requirements
While you may be operating a cottage food facility from your private residence, you may be required to meet certain zoning and planning criteria, such as parking, noise, traffic control, density, or other standards. Please contact your
local building department for specific zoning requirements.
Do I Need a Cottage Food Registration or Permit?
Cottage Food Operation Registration - Class A
If you plan to sell your food in-person directly to consumers (aka "direct sales") from your home or at community events, bake sales, farm stands, farmers markets, or other locations, you need a cottage food operation registration.
Cottage Food Operation Permit - Class B
If, in addition to direct sales, you plan to also sell your food indirectly from local shops (wholesale), restaurants or other third-party locations, you need a cottage food operation permit.
These are the steps to take to obtain your cottage food operation permit or registration.
To sell cottage food products at community events you must obtain a temporary food facility permit.
Labeling and Packaging
Labeling
Cottage food products are required to be labeled in accordance with specific state and federal labeling regulations.
Complete federal labeling requirements may be found in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Title 21.
Labels shall include:
- Home kitchen identification
- Common or descriptive name
- CFO identification
- Registration or permit number
- Ingredients
- Net quantity
- Allergens
- English language
- Nutrient content claim
- Health claim
- Nutrition fact panel
Label Example

Labeling requirements are the same for Class A and Class B; the identifier listed is either "Registration #" for Class A or "Permit #" for Class B.
Nutrition Fact Panel Example

Packaging
Any packaging materials that come into contact with the cottage food product by touching the product or penetrating the packaging must be food-grade (safe for food contact) and not contaminate the food.
Labels must be affixed to the packaging.
Packaging Example
Packaging consists of 6 1/2" x 5 1/2" clear, fold top plastic twist ties. Two chocolate chip cookies will be placed in each bag and the bag will be sealed closed. A computer-generated self-stick label will be placed on each bag.
Apply for a Cottage Food Registration
Class A
Download the application packet (PDF: 1,597 Kb)
Current Fee Schedule
Copies of labels for each cottage food product you are proposing to manufacture must be included with your application.
Apply for a Cottage Food Permit
Class B
Download the application packet (PDF: 1,017 KB)
Current Fee Schedule
Copies of labels for each cottage food product you are proposing to manufacture must be included with your application.
How to Get a Cannery License
California law requires that a canner of certain acidified foods and/or thermally processed low-acid canned foods (LACF) must obtain a Cannery License, issued by the California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch (FDB), prior to initiating processing operations.
How to Get a Processed Food Registration
California Health and Safety Code Section 110460 requires businesses that manufacture, repack, label, or warehouse processed food products in this State to register with the Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch.
Contact Information
Address
Office Location
625 5th Street
38.441823, -122.7137698
Current Fee Schedule

Fees for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for all Environmental Health programs

Report a Complaint, Hazard or Nuisance
The California Retail Food Code
CalCode
CalCode establishes uniform statewide health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities.
Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Reports

The California Dept. of Public Health monitors the water along the California coast to provide information on the safety of eating shellfish.
