Cottage Food Laws by State
California Cottage Food Laws
California has a tiered cottage food law with two classes of operation. Class A allows sales directly from your home with no permit, while Class B requires county registration and allows indirect sales at farmers markets and other venues. The $75,000 annual cap is among the highest in the country.
Annual cap
$75,000 (Class A)
Permit required
Yes
Venues
4
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the California cottage food law.
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 Cannot Sell
These product types are not covered by the California 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
Available to both Class A and Class B operators.
Farmers markets
Class B registration required for farmers market sales.
Community events
Class B registration required.
Online with local delivery
Online orders allowed with direct delivery or pickup. Class B required for indirect sales channels.
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 and Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires CFO (Cottage Food Operation) registration/permit from county. Class A and Class B have different requirements.
What a Compliant California Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the 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
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in California must have a label that includes the following.
| Required field |
|---|
| 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
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in California.
Made in a Home Kitchen
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your California label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
California Cottage Food — Common Questions
It depends on where you sell. Class A (home sales only) requires no permit. Class B, which allows you to sell at farmers markets and other venues, requires county registration.
Yes. Online sales are permitted as long as you deliver directly to the customer or they pick up from your home. You must have Class B registration for third-party venue sales.
Yes, but only with a Class B county registration. Class A sellers are limited to direct home sales.
Class A allows you to sell only from your home directly to consumers with no registration required. Class B requires county registration but allows you to sell at farmers markets, community events, and other indirect venues.
Law reference: California Homemade Food Act (California Health & Safety Code, Section 114365) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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