Sacramento County cottage food law.
Sacramento County is among the top 50 most populous countys in California (pop. 1,579,211). California has a Good-tier law with a solid baseline (often $50K+ cap). Sacramento County bakers should check both state registration and local health department permitting. County research shows: 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. Use the links below to check current requirements before you bake.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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 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 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 →
Sacramento County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Sacramento County, California?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. 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.
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)..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Sacramento County?
Home occupation permit: Varies by city. 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.
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 Sacramento County rules
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 |
Compare neighboring counties
Sacramento 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.
Local bakers discuss zoning, permits, top sellers, sourdough, farmers markets, and more in the Crosodo forum.