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Can I sell food from home in California?
California cottage food law at a glance
| Home food sales allowed | yes California Homemade Food Act - Cottage Food Operations (Class A / Class B) |
|---|---|
| Law | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 113758, 114365, 114365.2, 114365.5, 114365.6 |
| Sales cap | Class A $86,206 / Class B $172,411 verifiable gross annual sales (CDPH CPI-adjusted figures effective Jan 1, 2025; statutory base $75,000 / $150,000, adjusted yearly). 2026 adjusted figures not confirmed on an official page. |
| Permit or registration | registration. Class A: registration with the county/city local enforcement agency plus self-certification checklist; no initial or routine inspection (complaint-based only). Class B: permit with initial inspection and up to one routine inspection per year. Renewed annually; fees set by each county. Food processor course approved by CDPH required within 3 months of registration and every 3 years. Max one full-time-equivalent non-family employee. |
| Sell in person | yes |
| Take online orders | yes |
| Ship within the state | yes |
| Ship to other states | no |
| Sell to shops and cafes | limited |
| Where you can sell, details | Class A: direct sales only (home, bake sales, farm stands, certified farmers markets, CSA, phone/internet orders). Class B: direct plus indirect sales through permitted third-party retail food facilities (shops, restaurants). Both classes may deliver in person, by mail, or by third-party delivery service, but all transactions must be within California. |
yes = allowed; limited = allowed with conditions; no = not allowed; unverified = we could not confirm it from an official source.
What foods can you sell from home in California?
Allowed: Only non-potentially hazardous foods on the CDPH Approved Cottage Foods list, e.g., baked goods without cream/custard/meat fillings, candy, dried fruit, dried pasta, dry baking mixes, fruit pies, granola/trail mix, honey, jams/jellies meeting federal standards, nut butters, popcorn, vinegar/mustard, roasted coffee, dried tea, waffle cones.
Not allowed: Potentially hazardous (TCS) foods; anything not on the approved list (the State Public Health Officer can add/remove items with notice).
Label requirements in California
Required statement: Made in a Home Kitchen exact wording from an official source
Other label items: The words "Made in a Home Kitchen" (or "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" for a repackaged product, with a description of any purchased whole ready-to-eat product not used as an ingredient) in 12-point type on the primary display panel (H&SC 114365.2(e)(1)). Also: common or descriptive name of the product; name of the cottage food operation; registration or permit number and the name of the issuing county; ingredients in descending order by weight (if 2+ ingredients); compliance with federal labeling (allergens, net quantity). Ads and websites must show county, permit/registration number, and the home-kitchen statement.
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Caps were raised to $75,000/$150,000 with annual CPI adjustment and in-state mail/third-party delivery allowed starting Jan 1, 2022 (2021 legislation, AB 1144 per CDPH fact sheet). CDPH CPI table: 2023 $80,475/$160,950; 2024 $83,614/$167,227; 2025 $86,206/$172,411. A third-party guide claims 2026 figures of $88,878/$177,756 (unverified). sales_cap_usd shows the Class B 2025 figure. Local zoning/business licenses may apply. Round 2 (2026-10-24): still unverified. cdph.ca.gov fails the TLS certificate check from our tools, no 2026 table was found on a county mirror, and some county pages still show the $75,000 / $150,000 base. Ask your county environmental health office for the current figure. Buyer test (2026-10-25): the statement field held the placement rule as well as the wording, so labels printed the rule. It now holds only the words, and the 12-point and repackaged rules are in the other label items (per the public.law copy of 114365.2(e)(1)).
Sources
- CDPH - Cottage Food Operation Adjusted Gross Annual Sales Limit (2025, hosted by Imperial County PHD) official
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 113758 (public.law mirror) secondary
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 114365 (public.law mirror) secondary
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 114365.2 (public.law mirror) secondary
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 114365.5 (public.law mirror) secondary
- CDPH Cottage Food Operations program page official
Last checked: 2026-10-25 · confidence: medium (high = key facts confirmed on an official page; medium = partly confirmed or secondary sources agree; low = a single secondary or outdated source). Summaries are our own wording, not the text of the law.
This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm with your state agency and local health department, using the official sources below, before you sell.