Cottage food laws in Madera County, CA
How to start in Madera County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under California cottage food rules in Madera 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.). Madera 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 Madera County: Yes. Prefer markets or off-site pickup if residential customer traffic is restricted.
Local permits, tax, and home occupation
Home occupation permit: Conditional. 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 Madera County: No. 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.
Madera County is a county in California (pop. 157,243). 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 Madera County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Madera County: home kitchen restricted; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Pattern county. State baseline governs. California permits handled by county Environmental Health departments. Madera County Environmental Health administers cottage food permits; specific Madera County fee schedule not confirmed. No Madera County-specific cottage food code identified beyond state framework. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Madera County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Madera County.
Download county PDF
Full statute, all counties in California, and official source links.
Download state 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.
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 Madera County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Conditional
- Restrictions
- California two-class system: Class A (direct sales only, ~$86,206 cap, 2025 CPI-adjusted) requires county registration and food safety training (ANSI-accredited, every 3 years). Class B (direct and indirect to retail/restaurants, ~$172,411 cap, 2025 CPI-adjusted) requires county registration plus home kitchen inspection. Madera County Environmental Health handles registration and permits. Only foods on the official state-approved foods list permitted.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No specific state restriction on pets, but pets must not be in food preparation areas per GMP.
- Water supply
- No specific water testing requirement under CA cottage food law.
- Handwashing
- Adequate handwashing required as part of cottage food operation standards.
- Food storage
- Only state-approved non-PHF foods. Products must be in compliant packaging.
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- Class A: no routine inspection. Class B: home kitchen inspection required for permit. Complaint-based enforcement possible.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- Madera County requires a county permit/registration for cottage food operations through Environmental Health. Local zoning preempted statewide for cottage food by Cal. Gov't Code §51035. A home occupation permit under local zoning may still be required for other business activity aspects.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Class A: direct sales only, online and shipping within California. Class B: direct sales plus retail stores and restaurants. Both classes: California only, no interstate sales.
- Max employees in home
- Only one non-family employee permitted statewide.
- Relevant code section
- Madera County Environmental Health Cottage Food regulations; Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
Pattern county. State baseline governs. California permits handled by county Environmental Health departments. Madera County Environmental Health administers cottage food permits; specific Madera County fee schedule not confirmed. No Madera County-specific cottage food code identified beyond state framework.
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 →
Madera County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Madera County, California?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Madera County requires a county permit/registration for cottage food operations through Environmental Health. Local zoning preempted statewide for cottage food by Cal. Gov't Code §51035. A home occupation permit under local zoning may still be required for other business activity aspects. 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 Madera County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: Class A: no routine inspection. Class B: home kitchen inspection required for permit. Complaint-based enforcement possible.. 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 Madera 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 Madera County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Madera County requires a county permit/registration for cottage food operations through Environmental Health. Local zoning preempted statewide for cottage food by Cal. Gov't Code §51035. A home occupation permit under local zoning may still be required for other business activity aspects.
Where to verify Madera County rules
Madera County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Madera County This county | Merced County | Fresno County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Conditional | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No specific state restriction on pets, but pets must not be in food preparation areas per GMP. | Not specified in available sources; general sanitation and clean kitchen required | State baseline applies |
| Inspection required | No | Depends-on-volume | Conditional |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Class A: direct sales only, online and shipping within California. Class B: direct sales plus retail stores and restaurants. Both classes: … | Class A: direct sales only (at home, farmers markets, events). Class B: direct and indirect sales including retail stores and online. Max 1… | Direct/indirect sales within California only. State baseline applies. |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Yes | Varies by city |
| Local business license | Yes | Varies | Varies by city |
| Restrictions | California two-class system: Class A (direct sales only, ~$86,206 cap, 2025 CPI-adjusted) requires county registration and food safety trai… | CDPH-approved food list only; annual Class A registration or Class B permit required from Merced County Environmental Health; food handler … | Fresno County Environmental Health Division administers CFO Class A and Class B registrations/permits. No MEHKO opt-in confirmed for Fresno… |
| Food storage | Only state-approved non-PHF foods. Products must be in compliant packaging. | CDPH-approved non-TCS foods stored in sanitary conditions | State baseline applies |
| Population | 157,243 | 282,290 | 1,008,280 |
Compare neighboring counties
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