How to label cottage food in California (2026 guide)

If you sell baked goods from your home in California, every item you sell has to be labeled correctly. California's cottage food law — Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758 — is a solid, workable law, but the labeling rules are specific, and getting them wrong means you lose the protection the law gives you.

This guide walks through exactly what goes on a California cottage food label, gives you a copy-paste template, and covers the edge cases that trip people up. It mirrors our most popular label walkthrough — how to label cottage food in Texas — adapted to California's rules.

Not legal advice. We're a small apparel brand that cares about home bakers. For anything serious, read the law directly or call California Department of Public Health.

What every label must include

Per California's cottage food labeling rules, every product label must include:

1. The common or usual name of the product (e.g. “Classic Sourdough Loaf” — a brand name alone is not enough).
2. Your business name and home address — or a state-issued ID / registration / permit number in place of your address (most home bakers use the ID to keep their home address off every package).
3. An ingredient list in descending order by weight (major allergens called out).
4. Net weight or volume.
5. Allergen disclosure for any of the 9 federal major allergens present.
6. The state's required disclaimer statement, verbatim (exact wording below).

What California law actually says

California CFOs must label products with: the words 'Made in a Home Kitchen' (or 'Repackaged in a Home Kitchen' when applicable); the name of the CFO; the registration or permit number; the county of the permitted/registered operation; product common name; ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight; net quantity; and major allergen statements. Class A/B rules and local environmental health requirements can add permit numbers and county name on the label — follow your local CFO packet and CDPH guidance.

The 9 federal major allergens you must disclose

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soy
• Sesame (added federally in 2023 — frequently missed)

You don't have to list every ingredient in most states, but you must explicitly name any of these allergens that are present. “May contain” hedging isn't a substitute — if it's in there, name it. Sesame became the 9th federal major allergen in 2023 and is the one most older label templates miss.

The required disclaimer

California requires this statement, word for word, on the label: It must appear in at least 12-point type.

Made in a Home Kitchen

Copy-paste label template

Print it on a sticker, put it on the bag. Adjust the ingredient and allergen lines for each product.

Common labeling mistakes to avoid

1. Forgetting sesame as a major allergen (added federally in 2023 — many older templates list only 8).
2. Using “may contain” when the product actually contains the allergen. Name it if it's present.
3. Leaving off the required disclaimer because you printed small business-card-style labels. The disclaimer is non-negotiable.
4. Handing out unlabeled samples. If you're giving a free taste at a market, the rules still apply.
5. Using a P.O. Box where California requires a physical address (or use your state-issued ID number instead where allowed).

Quick checklist before you print

• Product common name (not just a brand name)
• Business name on label
• Address or state ID number on label
• All 9 major allergens disclosed if present (including sesame)
• Required disclaimer statement, verbatim
• Disclaimer in at least 12-point type
• Ingredients in descending order by weight
• Packaging prevents contamination

Official sources

• California Department of Public Health
• Statute: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
• State extension guidance
• Forrager — California
• Crosodo California state guide

For the full breakdown of California's rules — sales cap, registration, county zoning — see the Crosodo California state guide. If your California county is missing from our directory, tell us and we'll add it next.