Cottage food laws in Tehama County, CA
Tehama County, California — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Tehama County is a county in California (pop. 65,484). 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 Tehama County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Tehama County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. California two-tier CFO system (Class A/B) applies statewide. Tehama County is a rural north-central CA county. Local environmental health department administers permits. State preempts local zoning restrictions for CFOs. Only one non-family employee permitted. No Tehama County-specific overrides identified beyond standard CA framework. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Tehama 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 Tehama 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 Tehama County
State baseline: Cal. Health & Safety Code §113758
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- 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 safety training required every 3 years (ANSI-accredited). Local environmental health department handles permits and fees. State preempts local zoning restrictions (GOV §51035).
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Pets should be excluded during food preparation per food safety training and good manufacturing practice
- Water supply
- Potable water required; Tehama County Environmental Health may require well water testing for private wells
- Handwashing
- Handwashing sink required; part of Class B kitchen inspection
- Food storage
- Non-PHF shelf-stable foods only; approved foods list required
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- Class A: no inspection required. Class B: initial home kitchen inspection required. Both: complaint-based ongoing.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- Tehama County Environmental Health Department handles cottage food registration. Local zoning preempted statewide for CFOs (GOV §51035). Tehama County may have additional local business license requirements. Contact Tehama County Environmental Health at (530) 527-8220.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Class A: direct sales only including online and shipping within California. Class B: direct and indirect including retail stores and restaurants within California. Interstate sales prohibited.
- Max employees in home
- Only one non-family employee permitted
- Relevant code section
- Tehama County Environmental Health Department administers cottage food registration
California two-tier CFO system (Class A/B) applies statewide. Tehama County is a rural north-central CA county. Local environmental health department administers permits. State preempts local zoning restrictions for CFOs. Only one non-family employee permitted. No Tehama County-specific overrides identified beyond standard CA 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 →
Tehama County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Tehama County, California?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: 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 safety training required every 3 years (ANSI-accredited). Local environmental health department handles permits and fees. State preempts local zoning restrictions (GOV §51035).
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Tehama County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: Class A: no inspection required. Class B: initial home kitchen inspection required. Both: complaint-based ongoing..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Tehama County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Tehama County Environmental Health Department handles cottage food registration. Local zoning preempted statewide for CFOs (GOV §51035). Tehama County may have additional local business license requirements. Contact Tehama County Environmental Health at (530) 527-8220.
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 Tehama County rules
Tehama County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Tehama County This county | Mendocino County | Shasta County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Pets should be excluded during food preparation per food safety training and good manufacturing practice | No specific state prohibition for cottage food; good manufacturing practices recommend keeping pets out of food preparation areas. | Pets not allowed in food prep areas; assessed during Class B inspection. |
| Inspection required | No | Yes | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Class A: direct sales only including online and shipping within California. Class B: direct and indirect including retail stores and restau… | Class A: direct sales only (home, farmers markets, events, online within California). Class B: also allows retail stores and restaurants. N… | Class A: direct sales only within California (including online with in-state shipping). Class B: direct and indirect sales (retail stores, … |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | No | Conditional |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | 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… | California two-tier cottage food system: Class A (direct sales only, ~$86,206/year cap as of 2025) and Class B (direct and indirect sales, … | Class A: direct sales only, ~$86,206 annual cap (CPI-adjusted 2025). Class B: direct and indirect sales, ~$172,411 annual cap, requires hom… |
| Food storage | Non-PHF shelf-stable foods only; approved foods list required | Only CDPH-approved non-PHF shelf-stable foods; must prevent contamination. | Non-potentially hazardous foods stored in clean, sanitary conditions. |
| Population | 65,484 | 91,145 | 181,852 |
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