Cottage food law & license in Sacramento County, CA
Steps to your first legal sale
- Which permit you need — local names like HBB, MHO, CFO Class A
- Zoning / home occupation: where you file
- Local health Class A/B path when the county runs itIn the Library Pass
- Fee schedule — published amount only, blank if noneIn the Library Pass
- House pickup vs off-site — what zoning already saysIn the Library Pass
Steps 1–2 are free on this page. The Library Pass is the full apply checklist, every county report, and the dashboard workspace.
Crosodo ladder · not a license
How the ladder works- 0Not selling
- 1Sell from home
- 2Stores & markets
- 3Commercial kitchen
Most bakers start here. CFO Class A. Step 2: CFO Class B.
What do you want to do?
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File with Sacramento County — Crosodo is the checklist beside this site.
Apply via Sacramento County EMD(myhealthdepartment.com)Reviewed · This page stays free · Library Pass unlocks the apply checklist
Can I sell this in Sacramento County?
All products in California →What's in the Sacramento County permit report
How to start in Sacramento County
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under California cottage food rules in Sacramento County. Not legal advice.
CDPH does not register CFOs
CDPH does not permit or register Cottage Food Operations. Class A registration and Class B permits go through the county Environmental Health agency. CDPH only maintains the approved cottage foods list. Class A is direct sales only (up to $75,000 gross a year). Class B is direct plus indirect (up to $150,000).
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.). Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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: Not with CDPH. County Environmental Health registers Class A (direct) and permits Class B (direct plus indirect).. Local inspection in Sacramento County: Conditional. 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.
Test yourself on Sacramento County rules
A free 10-question quiz generated from verified Sacramento County and California data. Pass at 80% for a Crosodo Verified badge.
Crosodo Verified means this person passed Crosodo's county rules quiz. It is not a government license, permit, or food-handler certification.
Take the Crosodo Verified quizSacramento County is a top-50 county by population in California (pop. 1,579,211). 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: County EH — not CDPH. Start with California Department of Public Health (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Sacramento County health and planning requirements via the health department links on this page. Local notes for Sacramento County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Sacramento County EMD requires a Business License to be included with the CFO application. Class A fee: $297 initial and renewal. Class B fee: $513 initial and renewal (includes home inspection). Product changes/additions require a separate $73 request. No MEHKO opt-in confirmed. The application is processed through MyHD portal. Sacramento County processes CFO applications only for locations within the county — operators outside should apply with their own county. Download the free reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento County.
Download county report
Full California License & Permit Guide (189 pages). Statute and every county. Buy it further down only if you sell outside Sacramento County.
California law pageTier: 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 Sacramento County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) administers CFO Class A and Class B registrations/permits. Operators must also comply with any city-specific requirements in the city where the business is located. No MEHKO opt-in confirmed for Sacramento County as of research date — standard CFO program only. CFO applications require a Business License.
- 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
- Conditional
- Inspection trigger
- Class A: no routine inspection; upon complaint only. Class B: inspection included as part of initial permit and annual renewal ($513 includes inspection).
- Home occupation permit
- Varies by city
- Permit details
- Sacramento County EMD notes that the CFO operator is responsible for any city permits, licenses, or registrations where the business is located — these must be submitted with the CFO application. For unincorporated Sacramento County, no separate county home occupation permit identified for CFOs.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct/indirect sales within California only. Permit valid for one location; must apply for new permit if operator moves.
- Max employees in home
- 1 full-time equivalent (state baseline)
- Relevant code section
- Sacramento County EMD CFO program; Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
Sacramento County EMD requires a Business License to be included with the CFO application. Class A fee: $297 initial and renewal. Class B fee: $513 initial and renewal (includes home inspection). Product changes/additions require a separate $73 request. No MEHKO opt-in confirmed. The application is processed through MyHD portal. Sacramento County processes CFO applications only for locations within the county — operators outside should apply with their own county.
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 →
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This page stays free. Sacramento County’s apply checklist, every county guide, and the Verified badge are in the Library Pass.
Get the Library Pass — $15/moSacramento County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Sacramento County, California?
County Environmental Health registers Class A / permits Class B — not CDPH. Local home-occupation permit: Varies by city. Home kitchen: Yes. Confirm with Sacramento County EMD before you sell.
Class A vs Class B cottage food in Sacramento County?
Class A: Direct sales to the consumer — from your home, at temporary events, or at farmers' markets. Selling at events or markets may need its own additional permit. Class B: Direct sales plus indirect sales through a permitted third-party retailer such as a restaurant or market. Includes a home inspection.
What is the cottage food permit fee in Sacramento County?
Class A $306; Class B $528. Figures are 2026 headline amounts from the county fee schedule. Confirm before you pay.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in California?
Caps Class A $75,000 / Class B $150,000. There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits can still limit operations.
Where do I apply for a cottage food permit in Sacramento County?
Apply via Sacramento County EMD (myhealthdepartment.com). Official link: https://myhealthdepartment.com/sacramento. Crosodo is the checklist beside that filing site.
What foods can I sell under California cottage food law in Sacramento 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.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Sacramento County?
Inspection: Conditional. Trigger: Class A: no routine inspection; upon complaint only. Class B: inspection included as part of initial permit and annual renewal ($513 includes inspection).. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
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Sacramento County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Sacramento County This county | Contra Costa County | San Joaquin County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | State baseline applies | State baseline applies | Standard sanitation; no specific county guidance found |
| Inspection required | Conditional | Yes | Conditional |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct/indirect sales within California only. Permit valid for one location; must apply for new permit if operator moves. | 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 and indirec… |
| Home occupation permit | Varies by city | Varies by city | Conditional |
| Local business license | Yes | Varies by city | Varies |
| Restrictions | Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) administers CFO Class A and Class B registrations/permits. Operators must also … | Contra Costa County adopted a MEHKO ordinance (Ordinance 2024-05) approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 20, 2024, effective July 1, … | 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 | State baseline applies | Standard food storage per state approved foods list |
| Population | 1,579,211 | 1,162,648 | 779,445 |
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