Alameda County cottage food law.
Alameda County is among the top 50 most populous countys in California (pop. 1,663,823). California has a Good-tier law with a solid baseline (often $50K+ cap). Alameda County bakers should check both state registration and local health department permitting. County research shows: home kitchen allowed, inspection not required, home occupation permit required. Alameda County is a MEHKO opt-in county. MEHKO permit fee: $696 (initial). ACDEH holds free monthly information sessions (first Wednesday, 9-10am). City of Berkeley operates its own separate EH program and is excluded from ACDEH jurisdiction. CFO applicants must obtain city planning approval before ACDEH registration. MEHKO governed by Alameda County Ordinance 6.68. Use the links below to check current requirements before you bake.
Alameda County cottage food reports
Full statute, all counties in California, and authoritative source URLs.
State PDF
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Alameda County.
County PDFTier: Good
California has a Good-tier cottage food law — solid baseline with moderate restrictions, typically a high sales cap (often $50K+) and standard direct-to-consumer rules. Workable for most home bakers with reasonable scale plans.
View state law →Health department
Many states delegate cottage food registration and inspection to the county health department. Contact theirs for the local process.
Home occupation rules
The county or city zoning code governs whether you can run a home-based food business — customer visits, signage, employees, floor area.
Home kitchen, inspection, and zoning rules for Alameda County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) administers both CFO Class A/B registrations/permits and the MEHKO program. CFO applicants must obtain approval from both ACDEH and the City Planning Department. MEHKO permit application fee is $696; initial inspection required before permit issuance. Note: City of Berkeley has its own environmental health department and administers its own CFO/MEHKO program.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No animals inside kitchen/dining areas during MEHKO operations (MEHKO SOP requirement). State baseline applies for CFOs.
- Water supply
- Private well users must submit water testing results with CFO application. Municipal water: state baseline applies.
- Handwashing
- State baseline applies
- Food storage
- State baseline applies
- Inspection required
- Conditional
- Inspection trigger
- CFO Class A: no routine inspection; upon complaint only. CFO Class B: annual inspection. MEHKO: initial inspection required before permit issuance; routine inspections scheduled thereafter.
- Home occupation permit
- Yes
- Permit details
- CFO operators must obtain approval from the City Planning Department before ACDEH registration. Requirements vary by city. For unincorporated Alameda County, contact the county planning department. City of Berkeley has its own program and is excluded from ACDEH jurisdiction.
- Local business license
- Varies by city
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- CFO: direct/indirect sales within California only. MEHKO: on-site dining, pickup, delivery by operator/staff. MEHKO food must be prepared and delivered same day. State preemption bars local restriction of CFOs.
- Max employees in home
- 1 full-time equivalent for CFO (state baseline); MEHKO: 1 non-family employee (county ordinance per MEHKO SOP — max 40 hr/week)
- Relevant code section
- Alameda County Ordinance 6.68 (MEHKO); Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758 (CFO)
Alameda County is a MEHKO opt-in county. MEHKO permit fee: $696 (initial). ACDEH holds free monthly information sessions (first Wednesday, 9-10am). City of Berkeley operates its own separate EH program and is excluded from ACDEH jurisdiction. CFO applicants must obtain city planning approval before ACDEH registration. MEHKO governed by Alameda County Ordinance 6.68.
California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, amended AB 1144/AB 831)
Full California state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerpt(a) "Cottage food operation" means an enterprise that has no more than the amount in gross annual sales that is specified in this subdivision, is operated by a cottage food operator, and has no more than one full-time equivalent cottage food employee, not including a family member or household member of the cottage food operator, within the registered or permitted area of a private home where the cottage food operator resides and where cottage food products are prepared or packaged for direct, indirect, or direct and indirect sale to consumers pursuant to this part. A "Class A" cottage food operation shall not have more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in verifiable gross annual sales. A "Class B" cottage food operation shall not have more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in verifiable gross annual sales. The gross annual sales for a "Class A" or "Class B" cottage food operation shall be annually adjusted for inflation based on the California Consumer Price Index. (1) A "Class A" cottage food operation, which is a cottage food operation that may engage only in direct sales of cottage food products from the cottage food operation or other direct sales venues. (2) A "Class B" cottage food operation, which is a cottage food operation that may engage in both direct sales and indirect sales of cottage food products from the cottage food operation, from direct sales venues, from offsite events, or from a third-party retail food facility. (3) "Cottage food products" means nonpotentially hazardous foods, including foods that are described in Section 114365.5 and that are prepared for sale in the kitchen of a cottage food operation. (4) "Direct sale" means a transaction within the state between a cottage food operation and a consumer, in which the consumer purchases the cottage food product directly from the cottage food operation. Direct sales include, but are not limited to, transactions at holiday bazaars or other temporary events, such as bake sales or food swaps, transactions at farm stands, certified farmers' markets, or through community-supported agriculture subscriptions.
Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=113758 →
Alameda County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Alameda County, California?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) administers both CFO Class A/B registrations/permits and the MEHKO program. CFO applicants must obtain approval from both ACDEH and the City Planning Department. MEHKO permit application fee is $696; initial inspection required before permit issuance. Note: City of Berkeley has its own environmental health department and administers its own CFO/MEHKO program.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Alameda County?
Inspection: Conditional. Trigger: CFO Class A: no routine inspection; upon complaint only. CFO Class B: annual inspection. MEHKO: initial inspection required before permit issuance; routine inspections scheduled thereafter..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Alameda County?
Home occupation permit: Yes. CFO operators must obtain approval from the City Planning Department before ACDEH registration. Requirements vary by city. For unincorporated Alameda County, contact the county planning department. City of Berkeley has its own program and is excluded from ACDEH jurisdiction.
What is the California cottage food sales cap?
California state law caps cottage food sales at Tiered (see notes). County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Alameda County rules
Alameda County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Alameda County This county | Santa Clara County | Contra Costa County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No animals inside kitchen/dining areas during MEHKO operations (MEHKO SOP requirement). State baseline applies for CFOs. | State baseline applies | State baseline applies |
| Inspection required | Conditional | Conditional | Yes |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | CFO: direct/indirect sales within California only. MEHKO: on-site dining, pickup, delivery by operator/staff. MEHKO food must be prepared a… | Direct/indirect sales within California only (state baseline). MEHKO permits on-site dining, pickup, and delivery. MEHKO: food must be prep… | MEHKO: meals for dine-in, take-out, and delivery; MEHKO may also serve as a commissary for permitted food carts. CFO: direct/indirect sales… |
| Home occupation permit | Yes | Varies by city | Varies by city |
| Local business license | Varies by city | Varies by city | Varies by city |
| Restrictions | Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) administers both CFO Class A/B registrations/permits and the MEHKO program. CFO a… | Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) administers both CFO Class A/B registrations/permits and the MEHKO program, whi… | Contra Costa County adopted a MEHKO ordinance (Ordinance 2024-05) approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 20, 2024, effective July 1, … |
| Food storage | State baseline applies | State baseline applies | State baseline applies |
| Population | 1,663,823 | 1,916,831 | 1,162,648 |
Compare neighboring counties
Alameda County baker discussion
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Other California counties
Cottage food law and municipal zoning interact in non-obvious ways. Before investing in equipment or marketing, talk to California's department of agriculture, your local health department, and your county or city's planning office. Crosodo is a clothing brand for cottage bakers, not a law firm.
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