Cottage Food Laws
Cottage Food Laws in California
Learn the cottage food laws in California — annual sales limits, license and permit requirements, allowed sales channels, and where you can legally sell homemade food.
At a Glance
Where You Can Sell
California cottage food vendors are permitted to sell through the following channels:
Class B permit only — Class A is direct-to-consumer exclusively. Class B allows indirect sales to restaurants, grocery stores, cafes, and other retail food facilities. Critical geographic restriction: indirect sales may only be made within your home county, unless the destination county has specifically authorized incoming cottage food products from other counties. Class B requires a county health department permit and a kitchen inspection ($150–$300+/year).
Online Sales & Shipping
Both Class A and Class B permit holders may sell online and use third-party delivery services (USPS, UPS, DoorDash, etc.) within California. All sales and deliveries must remain within California — interstate shipping is not allowed.
License & Permit Requirements
Permit type: Class A (direct sales) or Class B (indirect sales)
Annual Sales Limits
Cottage food sales in California cannot exceed this amount in a calendar year.
Acidified & Fermented Foods
Acidified foods include pickles, hot sauces, salsas, fermented vegetables, and other products with a pH at or below 4.6. These are regulated separately in most states.
Business & Production Rules
Household members + one non-household employee — you may hire one person who does not live in the home to assist with production (California rule).
California's cottage food law requires you to operate as a sole proprietor — LLCs and other business entities are not permitted under this law.
Important Notes
California cottage food operations (CFOs) register with your county local health department — not the state. Class A permit: direct-to-consumer sales only, $75,000 annual sales limit, no kitchen inspection required. Class B permit: allows indirect sales through farmers markets, stores, and restaurants; requires a kitchen inspection by the county. All CFOs must complete an approved food safety course within three months of registering. Products must appear on CDPH's Approved Cottage Food List (maintained at cdph.ca.gov). Class A operators may take online orders but must deliver locally in person — shipping is not permitted. Class B operators have no explicit sales cap in the same way, but must meet additional inspection requirements. Contact your county environmental health department to register — requirements vary slightly by county.
Official Sources
Always verify cottage food laws directly with your state agency — laws change, and we want you selling with confidence.
Information last updated: June 15, 2026. Cottage food laws change frequently — always confirm with your state.
Ready to Launch Your Food Business
Three steps from your kitchen to launching your business
No storefront, no app to build, and no extra platforms to manage. Bea handles the heavy lifting — you handle the homemade. Behind the scenes you'll have all of the tools to promote, manage, and operate your business.
Step 1
Open your shop
Sign up in under two minutes. Add your story, images, branding, photos, social media channels, pickup & delivery availability. Select your layout & selling model. We'll set up your professional website complete with an e-mail & text opt in form in less than 5 minutes.
Step 2
List what you make
Bea helps you add your products. Need options for flavors? Want to sell digital products like recipe books? Bea suggests pricing, helps you write descriptions, and tags everything for local search. She'll even help you setup custom orders.
Step 3
Start selling
Share your website. Neighbors find you, place orders, and pick up at farmers markets or your porch. Prefer to use drops? No problem, schedule your drops straight from your dashboard. Track your sales, pricing, inventory, and manage custom orders all from your dashboard.
REady When You Are.
It’s free to get started
We know you'll love it here. If you already have a cottage food business, or ready to start one, come on over to Butter & Sage Market. We're connecting neighbors with their local food makers.
