Cottage food laws in Shasta County, CA
Shasta County, California — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Shasta County is a county in California (pop. 181,852). 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 Shasta County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Shasta County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. California has a two-tier system (Class A/Class B) with county-level permit processing. Sales caps are CPI-adjusted annually (~$86,206 for Class A, ~$172,411 for Class B as of 2025). Shasta County is a smaller rural county; Class B inspection may be less common than in larger counties. MEHKO program (home meal service) operates separately and cannot run simultaneously with CFO. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Shasta 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 Shasta 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 Shasta County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Class A: direct sales only, ~$86,206 annual cap (CPI-adjusted 2025). Class B: direct and indirect sales, ~$172,411 annual cap, requires home kitchen inspection. Must register with local county environmental health department. Food safety training (ANSI-accredited, every 3 years) required. Only state-approved foods list permitted.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Pets not allowed in food prep areas; assessed during Class B inspection.
- Water supply
- Potable water supply; inspected during Class B registration.
- Handwashing
- Adequate handwashing facilities required; assessed during Class B inspection.
- Food storage
- Non-potentially hazardous foods stored in clean, sanitary conditions.
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- Class A: no initial inspection. Class B: inspection required before registration. Complaint-based inspections possible for both.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- California Gov. Code §51035 preempts local zoning restrictions on cottage food operations. Shasta County Environmental Health handles Class A and Class B CFO registrations. Local zoning cannot restrict qualifying cottage food operations. Shasta County permit fees and specific registration process managed by Shasta County Environmental Health Department.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Class A: direct sales only within California (including online with in-state shipping). Class B: direct and indirect sales (retail stores, restaurants) within California. No interstate sales.
- Max employees in home
- Only one non-family employee permitted.
- Relevant code section
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758; Shasta County Environmental Health cottage food registration
California has a two-tier system (Class A/Class B) with county-level permit processing. Sales caps are CPI-adjusted annually (~$86,206 for Class A, ~$172,411 for Class B as of 2025). Shasta County is a smaller rural county; Class B inspection may be less common than in larger counties. MEHKO program (home meal service) operates separately and cannot run simultaneously with CFO.
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 →
Shasta County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Shasta County, California?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Class A: direct sales only, ~$86,206 annual cap (CPI-adjusted 2025). Class B: direct and indirect sales, ~$172,411 annual cap, requires home kitchen inspection. Must register with local county environmental health department. Food safety training (ANSI-accredited, every 3 years) required. Only state-approved foods list permitted.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Shasta County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: Class A: no initial inspection. Class B: inspection required before registration. Complaint-based inspections possible for both..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Shasta County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. California Gov. Code §51035 preempts local zoning restrictions on cottage food operations. Shasta County Environmental Health handles Class A and Class B CFO registrations. Local zoning cannot restrict qualifying cottage food operations. Shasta County permit fees and specific registration process managed by Shasta County Environmental Health Department.
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 Shasta County rules
Shasta County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Shasta County This county | Tehama County | Lassen County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | True |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | False |
| Pets allowed | Pets not allowed in food prep areas; assessed during Class B inspection. | Pets should be excluded during food preparation per food safety training and good manufacturing practice | No specific county rule; CDPH guidance recommends pets excluded from food prep area during production |
| Inspection required | No | No | Class A: complaint-based only; Class B: annual inspection by county Environmental Health |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | True |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | No commercial signage per typical CA home occupation rules; state law preempts restrictions on cottage food sales |
| Delivery / pickup | Class A: direct sales only within California (including online with in-state shipping). Class B: direct and indirect sales (retail stores, … | Class A: direct sales only including online and shipping within California. Class B: direct and indirect including retail stores and restau… | Direct sales and delivery within California only; no interstate sales per state law |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Conditional | True |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | County unincorporated areas generally do not require a county business license; City of Susanville may require city business license |
| Restrictions | Class A: direct sales only, ~$86,206 annual cap (CPI-adjusted 2025). Class B: direct and indirect sales, ~$172,411 annual cap, requires hom… | Class A (direct sales only): up to ~$86,206/year; Class B (direct and indirect): up to ~$172,411/year with home inspection required. Food s… | — |
| Food storage | Non-potentially hazardous foods stored in clean, sanitary conditions. | Non-PHF shelf-stable foods only; approved foods list required | Standard food safety storage per CDPH approved foods list; all products must be non-potentially hazardous |
| Population | 181,852 | 65,484 | 31,873 |
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