$75,000/year (Class A); $150,000/year (Class B)
Baked goods (no cream/custard filling) Breads, cookies, cakes Candy and confections Jams, jellies, fruit butters Dried fruit and nuts Granola and cereals Popcorn Roasted coffee and dry tea Honey Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, cut produce, anything requiring refrigeration, and low-acid canned foods.
Class A: direct to consumer at farmers markets, roadside stands, and from home. Class B: also wholesale to retail stores, restaurants, and cafes.
Name and address of the operation, permit number, ingredient list, allergen statement, and the phrase 'Made in a Home Kitchen'.
Class A or Class B permit from your county environmental health department. Class B requires an inspection.
Printable permit guides Download a ready-to-print guide for California — take it to your inspector, keep it on file, or share it.
State law summary A formatted PDF of this state's cottage food rules. Permit readiness checklist Tick off everything you need before you apply. Permit application guide A step-by-step walkthrough with fields to fill in. In-depth guide A step-by-step permit pathway, sales-channel breakdown, and labeling checklist for California.
In-depth guide for California Unlock a step-by-step permit pathway, sales-channel breakdown, and labeling checklist with Premium.
New to selling? Read our labeling and food safety guide before your first sale. Compare with another state See how this state's cottage food rules stack up against any other.
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Reference only. Laws change — always confirm with your state's agriculture or health department.
