California Cottage Food
Generate Compliant California Cottage Food Labels in Minutes
California cottage food permits (Class A and Class B) each have specific labeling rules. We handle the required disclosure language automatically.
Here's What Your Label Will Look Like
Add the products you use, and Quickly Cottage builds the ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds California's required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Net Wt: 8 oz (227g)
Sunflower Home Bakery
Permit #CF-10293
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, CA, Franklin County
Ingredients:
Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Starch, Salt, Soybean Oil; Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla; Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Confectioner's Glaze, Carnauba Wax, FD&C Colors; Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Red 40.
Contains:
Made in a Home Kitchen
What Every California Label Needs
Every cottage food product sold in California needs a label with the following.
- All 9 FDA major allergens present
- Complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight
- Business name
- Business address
- Product name
- Net weight
- City name
- County name
- Permit number
- "Not inspected" disclosure statement
Required Label Disclosure
Made in a Home Kitchen
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically, exactly as required.
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Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
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What You Can Sell in California
The following product types are permitted under California's cottage food law, and every label needs an ingredient list, allergens, and (where required) the state disclosure above.
Baked Goods
Permitted- Cakes and cupcakes
- Cookies and brownies
- Muffins and quick breads
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Fruit pies (cream and custard pies require refrigeration and are not permitted)
- Cake pops and dipped treats
- Donuts and pastries
Candies and Confections
Permitted- Chocolates and fudge
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Toffee and caramel (shelf-stable)
- Cake truffles
Preserved and Dry Goods
Permitted- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- Honey and honeycomb
- Dried herbs and spices
- Roasted nuts and trail mix
- Granola and cereal
- Popcorn and flavored popcorn
- Dried pasta (no egg)
Beverages
Permitted- Coffee (roasted or ground, not brewed)
- Dry tea blends
What You Can't Sell
These product types aren't covered by California's cottage food law and require a commercial kitchen license.
- Meat, poultry, and seafood products
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter)
- Items requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Fruit and vegetable juices
- Canned low-acid vegetables
Where You Can Sell
California permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Online sales
Retail (Class B)
Annual Sales Cap
$75,000 (Class A)
Gross annual revenue across all cottage food sales. Class A is capped at $75,000; Class B is capped at $150,000.
Permit & Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires CFO (Cottage Food Operation) registration/permit from county. Class A and Class B have different requirements.
Notes
California has two permit classes. Class A covers home sales only (up to $75k). Class B allows indirect sales and retail up to $150k. Both require county registration.
Frequently asked questions
What does a California cottage food label need to include?
Every California cottage food label needs the product name, a complete ingredient list in descending order by weight, all 9 FDA major allergens, net weight, your business name, and your business address. California also requires this disclosure: "Made in a Home Kitchen" Quickly Cottage adds all of this automatically.
What is the required disclosure statement for California cottage food?
The required language is: "Made in a Home Kitchen" This must appear on every cottage food label sold under California Homemade Food Act.
What is the annual sales cap for cottage food in California?
California's cottage food annual sales cap is: $75,000 (Class A) gross revenue.
Where can I sell cottage food products made in California?
In California, cottage food producers can sell through: Direct from your home, Farmers markets, Online sales, and Retail (Class B).
Do I need to list sub-ingredients from a packaged mix on my California cottage food label?
Yes. If you use a packaged ingredient like a Betty Crocker cake mix or Ghirardelli chocolate, you must list its sub-ingredients on your label, in the correct order. This is an FDA labeling rule that applies in California and every other state. Quickly Cottage expands these automatically from our branded ingredient database.
Can I use Canva or Word to make my California cottage food label?
You can design the visual layout in Canva or Word, but neither can auto-generate your ingredient list, detect allergens, or add California's required disclosure statement. You'd need to compile all of that manually. Quickly Cottage handles it automatically for California and all 50 states.
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