Cottage Food Permit Checker
Find your class, your 2026 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). For 2026, the CPI-adjusted annual gross sales cap is about $88,878 for Class A and about $177,756 for Class B. Both caps rise every January 1.
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
Your sales channel determines your class — selling only directly to consumers (home pickup, farmers markets, farm stands, or direct online orders with pickup/local delivery) keeps you in Class A; selling through any third party, including a retail store, restaurant, or online marketplace that ships statewide, requires Class B.
Each class has its own CPI-adjusted annual gross sales cap, recalculated by CDPH every January 1 — for 2026 that's about $88,878 for Class A and about $177,756 for Class B (both started as flat $75,000/$150,000 caps and have grown with inflation since).
Class A registration is generally self-certification with your county — no home inspection required. Class B requires an initial home kitchen inspection by your county's environmental health department and is subject to more oversight.
If your gross sales are projected to exceed your class's cap, you'll need to either move up to Class B (if you were in Class A) or transition out of the cottage food program entirely into 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, farmers markets, or other direct, in-person or online-with-pickup sales. A Class B operation may also sell indirectly, through third parties like retail stores, restaurants, or grocery stores. Class B has more oversight, including a required home inspection.
What is the 2026 cottage food sales cap in California?
For 2026, the CPI-adjusted cap is approximately $88,878 in annual gross sales for Class A and approximately $177,756 for Class B. CDPH adjusts both caps every January 1 using the California Consumer Price Index.
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're no longer eligible to operate as a cottage food business under that class — you'd need to either move up a class (Class A to Class B) or transition to a licensed commercial kitchen and 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. Cottage food product lists, labeling rules, and county-specific fees vary — confirm requirements with your county environmental health department before selling.