California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Cottage Food Label Requirements in California

What California legally requires on your cottage food label — the required statement, sales cap, registration rules, and what you can (and can't) sell.

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This is not legal advice.

Cottage food laws change frequently and vary by county or local health department. Always confirm current requirements with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or a local food safety professional before printing labels or selling product. View the official source. Last verified: 2026-08.

Required Label Statement

Exact wording California requires

“"Made in a Home Kitchen" (or "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" if you are only recombining commercially produced items)”

Must appear in at least 12-point type on the primary display panel, along with your permit number. The same disclosure is required anywhere you advertise the product online, including social media.

Sales Cap & Registration

Annual Sales Cap

Two tiers, inflation-adjusted every January using the California Consumer Price Index. Class A (direct-to-consumer sales only) is roughly $88,878 for 2026; Class B (direct plus indirect sales through retailers) is roughly $177,756 for 2026. Confirm the exact current-year figures on the CDPH cottage food page before relying on them.

Registration & Permitting

Class A: register with your county environmental health department (no inspection, direct sales only). Class B: obtain a permit from your county environmental health department, which includes a home kitchen inspection, and allows indirect sales through retail stores.

Food Safety Course

A California Food Handler Card (an approved food safety training course) is required for the operator.

What You Can (and Can't) Sell

Allowed

Non-potentially-hazardous foods on California's approved list: baked goods without cream, custard, or meat fillings; jams, jellies, and preserves; dried fruit, nuts, and nut mixes; candies; dry baking mixes, cereals, and granola; vinegar and mustard; roasted coffee and dried tea.

Not Allowed

Anything requiring refrigeration for safety, canned vegetables or low-acid canned goods, meat/poultry/seafood products, and any food not on CDPH's approved cottage food list.

Selling something that needs a full Nutrition Facts panel (like packaged prepared meals) instead of a cottage food disclosure? See our meal prep labeling guide →

Official Source

This page summarizes guidance published by California Department of Public Health – Cottage Food Operations.

Last verified: 2026-08

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does a California cottage food label need to say?

The primary display panel needs "Made in a Home Kitchen" (or "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" for recombined commercial items) in at least 12-point type, plus your CDPH permit number. Class A and Class B operators both need this disclosure, including in online listings.

How much can I sell before I outgrow California's cottage food law?

It depends on your class. Class A (direct sales only) and Class B (direct plus retail sales) each have their own inflation-adjusted annual gross sales cap, recalculated every January. Check CDPH's current published table for the exact number before you get close to the limit.

Do I need my kitchen inspected in California?

Class A operators register with their county and are not routinely inspected. Class B operators must pass a home kitchen inspection by their county environmental health department before getting a permit.

Can I sell my cottage food products in a store in California?

Only as a Class B operator. Class A is limited to direct-to-consumer sales (in person, online orders picked up or shipped within California, etc.).

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