Cottage Food Permit Checker
Find your class, your CPI-adjusted sales cap, and the permit type your home food business needs.
California's Homemade Food Act sets two tiers: Class A (direct-to-consumer sales only) and Class B (also sells through retail/third parties). The latest CDPH-published annual gross sales caps (effective January 1, 2025) are $86,206 for Class A and $172,411 for Class B. Both are adjusted for inflation.
Answer two questions about your business to see which class applies, your current cap, and the permit type you need.
Cottage Food Permit Checker
Your Cottage Food Result
How this is calculated
How you sell determines your class. If you sell only directly to consumers (home pickup, farmers markets, farm stands, or direct online orders with pickup or local delivery), you are Class A. If you sell through any third party, such as a retail store, a restaurant or an online marketplace that ships statewide, you need Class B.
Each class has an annual gross sales cap that is adjusted for the California CPI. The latest figures published by CDPH, effective January 1, 2025, are $86,206 for Class A and $172,411 for Class B. The caps started at $75,000 and $150,000 and have risen with inflation.
Class A registration is generally a self-certification with your county, with no home inspection. Class B requires an initial home kitchen inspection by your county's environmental health department and has more oversight.
If you expect gross sales above your class's cap, a Class A operation can move up to Class B. A Class B operation has to leave the cottage food program and move to a licensed commercial kitchen with a standard retail food facility permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Class A and Class B cottage food operations?
A Class A cottage food operation sells only directly to consumers: at your home, at farmers markets, or through other in-person sales or online orders with pickup. A Class B operation may also sell through third parties such as retail stores, restaurants and grocery stores. Class B has more oversight, including a required home inspection.
What is the cottage food sales cap in California?
The latest CDPH-published caps (effective January 1, 2025) are $86,206 in gross annual sales for Class A and $172,411 for Class B. The law sets $75,000 and $150,000 and adjusts both for the California Consumer Price Index each year.
Does a Class B cottage food operation need a home inspection?
Yes. Class B operations require an initial inspection of the home kitchen by the local county environmental health department, plus registration renewal. Class A generally only requires a self-certification checklist, not an inspection.
What happens if I go over the cottage food sales cap?
Once your gross sales exceed the cap for your class, you can no longer operate under that class. A Class A operation can move up to Class B. Above the Class B cap, you need a licensed commercial kitchen and a standard retail food facility permit.
Where do I apply for a cottage food permit?
Cottage food registration/permitting is handled by your county's environmental health department, not the state directly. Contact your county to get the correct local application and any county-specific fees.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and is not affiliated with CDPH or any county health department. Approved product lists, labeling rules and county fees vary. Confirm requirements with your county environmental health department before selling.