Cottage food law & license in Contra Costa County, CA
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Contra Costa County Permits 101 for Contra Costa County, California (74 pages). After you pay, you get lifetime access to premium dashboard features. Unlock the permit planning workspace on your dashboard.
California cottage food — common first products
County zoning cannot expand a state ban. Check the product, then the local rules on this page.
What's in the Contra Costa County permit report
How to start in Contra Costa County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under California cottage food rules in Contra Costa County. Not legal advice.
Confirm your menu under state law
California cottage food rules control what you may make at home (Only foods on the official state-approved foods list may be sold; this includes most non-perishable foods such as baked goods, jams and preserves, candies, chocolates, dried goods, and spices. Class A operations are limited to direct sales (including online and shipping within California); Class B operations may additionally sell through retail stores and restaurants.). Contra Costa County cannot expand a food the state bans.
Map channels and local sales rules
State sales cap: Tiered (see notes). On-site / porch pickup in Contra Costa County: Yes. Prefer markets or off-site pickup if residential customer traffic is restricted.
Local permits, tax, and home occupation
Home occupation permit: Varies by city. Many places still need a general business license or tax certificate even when the state has no cottage food “permit.” Check planning, the clerk, and any HOA or lease before advertising your address.
Training, registration, inspection
State registration: Yes. Local inspection in Contra Costa County: Yes. Finish food handler training early — markets often ask for a copy.
Labels that match the state
Print labels with California disclaimer and allergen rules before market day. Use the free California label page for the one-pager checklist and mockup.
Insurance and first sales
Farmers markets often require a certificate of insurance. Soft-launch with pre-orders, keep a sales log, and re-verify rules if you change products or venues.
What usually goes on the package
- Product name (common or usual name of the food)
- Business or producer name
- Producer address (or address alternative your state allows)
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Major allergen disclosures (e.g. wheat, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
- Net weight or quantity
- Home-kitchen disclaimer: “Made in a Home Kitchen”
Planning checklist only. Confirm with state and local agencies before you sell.
Contra Costa County is a top-50 county by population in California (pop. 1,162,648). Under California's Good-tier cottage food law (sales cap: Tiered (see notes)), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Yes. Start with California Department of Public Health (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Contra Costa County health and planning requirements via the health department links on this page. Local notes for Contra Costa County: home kitchen allowed; inspection required; home occupation permit not required. Contra Costa County is a MEHKO opt-in county — the ordinance applies countywide (both incorporated and unincorporated areas), making it broader than some other CA MEHKO adoptions. The MEHKO is capped at 30 meals/day, 90 meals/week, and $100,000 gross annual sales. MEHKO permit year runs March 1 through February 28/29; renewable annually; not transferable. All persons at the MEHKO must get Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within 30 days of joining the operation. CCH annual inspection required. Download the free reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Contra Costa County cottage food reports
Home cottage-food permit stack — zoning, health, license, and what the state does not require.
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Contra Costa County.
Download county report
Full California License & Permit Guide (189 pages). Statute, all counties, and official source links.
Tier: 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.
California cottage food 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 Contra Costa County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Contra Costa County adopted a MEHKO ordinance (Ordinance 2024-05) approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 20, 2024, effective July 1, 2024 — initially as a two-year pilot, subsequently codified as Article 413-3.20 of the County Ordinance Code. Contra Costa Health (CCH) Environmental Health Division is the permitting authority for both CFOs and MEHKOs throughout the county (both incorporated and unincorporated areas). Only one MEHKO may operate per residence.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- State baseline applies
- Water supply
- State baseline applies
- Handwashing
- State baseline applies
- Food storage
- State baseline applies
- Inspection required
- Yes
- Inspection trigger
- MEHKO: initial inspection before permit issuance; annual inspections (or more frequently for cause). CFO Class B: initial inspection; annual inspection. CFO Class A: no routine inspection; upon-complaint only.
- Home occupation permit
- Varies by city
- Permit details
- State preemption (Gov. Code §51035) bars local zoning restrictions on CFOs. Cities within Contra Costa County may require home occupation permits for other aspects of the business. MEHKO operators must comply with all operational requirements in Ordinance 2024-05 and CCH regulations.
- Local business license
- Varies by city
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- MEHKO: meals for dine-in, take-out, and delivery; MEHKO may also serve as a commissary for permitted food carts. CFO: direct/indirect sales within California only. Delivery must comply with Cal. Health & Safety Code §114367.5. MEHKO permit must not be used as outdoor advertising.
- Max employees in home
- MEHKO: all participating persons must obtain Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within 30 days of joining. State baseline (1 FTE) for CFO.
- Relevant code section
- Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Article 413-3.20 (MEHKO, eff. July 1, 2024); Cal. Health & Safety Code §§114367–114367.6
Contra Costa County is a MEHKO opt-in county — the ordinance applies countywide (both incorporated and unincorporated areas), making it broader than some other CA MEHKO adoptions. The MEHKO is capped at 30 meals/day, 90 meals/week, and $100,000 gross annual sales. MEHKO permit year runs March 1 through February 28/29; renewable annually; not transferable. All persons at the MEHKO must get Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within 30 days of joining the operation. CCH annual inspection required.
California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, amended AB 1144/AB 831)
Full California License & Permit Guide →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 →
Contra Costa County Permit Guide $26
This page stays free — the Contra Costa County statute, zoning notes, and official links. Permit Guide 101 is the paid packet (74 pages): the home cottage-food permit stack (zoning, health, and business license), the checklist, and the dashboard workspace. That packet is not on this free page.
Contra Costa County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Contra Costa County, California?
Home occupation permit: Varies by city. State preemption (Gov. Code §51035) bars local zoning restrictions on CFOs. Cities within Contra Costa County may require home occupation permits for other aspects of the business. MEHKO operators must comply with all operational requirements in Ordinance 2024-05 and CCH regulations. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the California guide at https://crosodo.com/states/california.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Contra Costa County?
Inspection: Yes. Trigger: MEHKO: initial inspection before permit issuance; annual inspections (or more frequently for cause). CFO Class B: initial inspection; annual inspection. CFO Class A: no routine inspection; upon-complaint only.. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
What foods can I sell under California cottage food law in Contra Costa County?
Only foods on the official state-approved foods list may be sold; this includes most non-perishable foods such as baked goods, jams and preserves, candies, chocolates, dried goods, and spices. Class A operations are limited to direct sales (including online and shipping within California); Class B operations may additionally sell through retail stores and restaurants. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by California, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in California?
California state law lists cottage food sales at Tiered (see notes). There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits or zoning can still limit operations.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Contra Costa County?
Home occupation permit: Varies by city. State preemption (Gov. Code §51035) bars local zoning restrictions on CFOs. Cities within Contra Costa County may require home occupation permits for other aspects of the business. MEHKO operators must comply with all operational requirements in Ordinance 2024-05 and CCH regulations.
The free county page is the short version. This is the full California License & Permit Guide (189 pages) — statute, every county we have researched, and official source URLs. Stripe checkout. Cover letter, paid receipt, and the guide (PDF) licensed to your address.
Unlimited Pass. Your journey to getting permitted for cottage food sales. Premium dashboard tools, unlimited state and county reports, and the 50-state label report. Lifetime access. Includes the full California License & Permit Guide (189 pages).
Where to verify Contra Costa County rules
Contra Costa County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Contra Costa County This county | San Francisco County | San Joaquin County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | State baseline applies | Standard sanitation; not specifically addressed | Standard sanitation; no specific county guidance found |
| Inspection required | Yes | Conditional | Conditional |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | MEHKO: meals for dine-in, take-out, and delivery; MEHKO may also serve as a commissary for permitted food carts. CFO: direct/indirect sales… | Class A: direct sales only (in person, phone, internet; mail/third-party delivery permitted within California). Class B: direct plus indire… | Class A: direct sales only (in person, phone, internet; mail/third-party delivery permitted within California). Class B: direct and indirec… |
| Home occupation permit | Varies by city | Yes | Conditional |
| Local business license | Varies by city | Yes | Varies |
| Restrictions | Contra Costa County adopted a MEHKO ordinance (Ordinance 2024-05) approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 20, 2024, effective July 1, … | San Francisco is a consolidated city-county. CFO permits are administered by the SF Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Class A (direct sa… | San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department administers CFO permits. Class A: $186 fee, direct sales only, up to current state cap (… |
| Food storage | State baseline applies | Standard food storage per state approved foods list | Standard food storage per state approved foods list |
| Population | 1,162,648 | 851,036 | 779,445 |
Contra Costa County baker discussion
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