Cottage Food Laws in California (2026): Complete Guide for Home Bakers

If you bake from home in California, you have more options than most people realize. The rules are more structured than Texas — California requires registration, uses an approved food list, and splits bakers into two classes — but the ceiling is generous, and the state does allow in-state shipping, which most states do not.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: what you can sell, where, how much you can earn, and what is completely off the table.

Official source: California Department of Public Health — Cottage Food Operations

the big picture: class A vs. class B

California divides cottage food operations into two tiers. Which one you choose depends entirely on how you plan to sell.

Both classes require registration with your local county environmental health department. California does not register cottage food operations at the state level — it is handled county by county.

Source: CDPH Cottage Food Operations Requirements

revenue caps

California caps how much you can earn per year, and those caps adjust for inflation annually based on the California Consumer Price Index.

The base amounts set by AB 1144 were $75,000 for Class A and $150,000 for Class B. As of 2025, the inflation-adjusted figures are approximately:

• Class A: around $86,000 to $90,000
• Class B: around $172,000 to $180,000

The exact current-year figures are updated by CDPH. Check with your county or the CDPH cottage food page for the number that applies to your registration year.

If you exceed your cap, you are no longer operating as a cottage food operation and must transition to a licensed commercial kitchen.

what you can sell

California uses an approved food list maintained by CDPH. Unlike Texas, you cannot sell anything that is not specifically on that list. The rule of thumb is simple: if it needs refrigeration to stay safe, it is not allowed.

Here is what is currently on the approved list:

• Baked goods without cream, custard, or meat fillings — cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, bread, biscuits, churros, pastries, tortillas, brownies, scones
• Buttercream frosting, fondant, and gum paste — allowed if they do not contain eggs, cream, or cream cheese
• Candy — brittle, toffee, fudge, caramels, chocolate-covered items
• Chocolate-covered nonperishable foods — nuts, dried fruit, pretzels
• Dried fruit and dried herbs
• Dried pasta
• Fruit butters, jams, jellies, and preserves — must comply with federal standards (21 CFR Part 150)
• Granola, trail mix, and cereal
• Honey and sweet sorghum syrup
• Nut butters and roasted or pasteurized nuts
• Popcorn and popcorn balls
• Vinegar and mustard
• Roasted coffee and tea
• Waffle cones and pizzelles
• Powdered drink mixes (from manufactured ingredients; cannot be labeled "protein" drinks)

The full official list lives at the CDPH Approved Cottage Foods PDF. Check it before launching a new product, since CDPH can add or remove items with 30 days' notice.

Source: CDPH Approved Cottage Foods List

what you cannot sell

California only allows shelf-stable, non-potentially hazardous foods. That rules out:

• Anything requiring refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream pies, meringue pies, pastries with cream fillings, anything with fresh dairy that can spoil at room temperature
• Cream cheese frosting — not allowed because it requires refrigeration
• Buttercream with eggs, cream, or cream cheese — the version without those ingredients is fine; the version with them is not
• Salsas, chutneys, and acidified foods — these require controlled processing that goes beyond cottage food
• Low-acid canned goods — vegetables, beans, meats in jars
• Meat, seafood, or products containing them
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Fermented drinks like kombucha
• Any food not on the CDPH approved list

Basically: if you would put it in the fridge before selling it, it does not qualify.

alternatives for common restricted items

where you can sell

Class A:

• From your home, by appointment or direct pickup
• At certified farmers markets
• At community events, bake sales, pop-ups, fairs, and festivals
• Through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription
• Online, with in-state delivery

Class B: Everything Class A allows, plus:

• Wholesale to local grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and gift shops
• Any retail location within California

Neither class can sell to buyers outside of California.

Source: Forrager — California Cottage Food Law

porch stands and farm stands

Yes, selling from your home property is allowed under Class A. A porch stand or front-yard table counts as selling from your residence. No additional permit is required for this beyond your cottage food registration.

Check your HOA rules if you live in a managed community. The cottage food law does not override HOA agreements.

online sales and shipping — california is one of the few states that allows this

This is a genuine advantage California bakers have over most of the country. Both Class A and Class B operations can take orders online and ship products within California via USPS, UPS, or FedEx.

So California cottage bakers can run a real online shipping business — as long as every buyer is in-state.

Source: AB 1144 — Forrager

wholesale

Class A: No wholesale. Direct to consumer only.

Class B: Wholesale is allowed statewide. You can sell to grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, and retailers anywhere in California. Your permit from one county covers the whole state — you do not need a separate permit for each county you sell in.

To get a Class B permit, you must pass a home kitchen inspection. Your county environmental health department handles this. Inspection fees vary by county, typically ranging from $200 to $500 or more. Call your county environmental health office to find out what they charge and what they look for.

registration and permits

Both classes require registration with your local county environmental health department. CDPH does not handle this directly — it is your county.

• Class A: Registration plus a self-certification checklist. No home inspection. Fees vary by county, generally $50 to $250.
• Class B: Permit plus a home kitchen inspection. Required before you can start selling wholesale. Fees generally $200 to $500+.

To find your county's environmental health department: search "[your county] California environmental health department cottage food."

A business license from your city may also be required, separate from your cottage food registration. Check with your city clerk's office.

food safety training

All cottage food operators must complete an approved food processor training course within three months of registering. The training must be renewed every three years. The course cannot exceed four hours and must be accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute).

labeling requirements

Every product you sell must have a label. Here is what must be on it:

• Your name and address (physical address — a P.O. box is typically not acceptable)
• Your county registration or permit number
• The product name
• Ingredients in descending order by weight
• Net weight or volume in both US and metric units
• Allergen information
• This statement: "Made in a home kitchen. Not inspected by the (name of your county) Department of Environmental Health."

If you make any nutritional claims (like "low sugar" or "high protein"), you must include a full Nutrition Facts panel.

California cottage food inspectors do check labels at farmers markets. This is not a technicality — it is enforced.

Source: CDPH Cottage Food Operations

employees

California allows one full-time equivalent non-family employee in addition to yourself. Family and household members do not count toward this limit. If your business grows beyond one employee, you are no longer operating as a cottage food operation.

no infants, children, or pets in the kitchen

quick reference: california cottage food at a glance

a note on county variation

California is a big state with 58 counties, and counties have real latitude in how they implement cottage food rules. Fees, inspection processes, and what paperwork they require at registration can vary significantly between Los Angeles County and a smaller rural county. The state law is the floor — counties can add requirements on top. Always confirm with your specific county environmental health department before you start selling.

now that you know the rules, let's talk about pricing

California gives you real options: a generous revenue cap, in-state shipping, wholesale access at Class B. The structure is more involved than some states, but the opportunity is there.

The part nobody warns you about is this: knowing what you are allowed to sell does not tell you what to charge for it. And most cottage bakers underprice badly — not because they are not working hard, but because they have never added up all the real costs. Ingredients, yes. But also packaging, labels, the county permit fee, the time spent baking, decorating, photographing, responding to messages, and cleaning up.

When you count everything, a lot of bakers find they are making $3 to $5 an hour. Sometimes less.

This post reflects California cottage food law as updated by AB 1144 (effective January 1, 2022) with inflation-adjusted caps current through 2025. Laws and CDPH approved food lists can change — always verify at the CDPH Cottage Food Operations page and with your local county environmental health department. This is not legal advice.