Cottage food label requirements in California
Cottage Food Operations (California Homemade Food Act), Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 113758, 114365, 114365.2, 114088. Regulated by California Department of Public Health (registration/permits issued by county environmental health). Checked against state sources on .
Not fully verified. We could not confirm every detail for California on a primary state source when we checked. Treat these items as unconfirmed and check them with California Department of Public Health (registration/permits issued by county environmental health) before you print: annualCapUSD, statuteCitation, requiredElements.
The statement your label needs
Made in a Home Kitchen
Type size and placement: 12-point type on the cottage food product's primary (principal) display panel; "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" where applicable
What is different in California
- Two tiers: Class A registration vs Class B permit with inspection
- Sales fulfilled in person, by mail, or third-party delivery, within California only
- Advertising (incl. websites/social media) must show county, permit number and Made in a Home Kitchen
- One full-time employee allowed
- Unpackaged cottage food served must be identified as homemade
- Permit
- Depends on your county, town or tier. Class A (direct sales only): county registration, no routine inspection. Class B (direct and indirect sales): county permit with annual inspection. Food safety class within 90 days, renewed every 3 years. Fees set by county (e.g. Orange County FY25-26: $225 initial, $128 Class A / $384 Class B renewal).
- Sales cap
- $88,878 a year. Statutory base $75,000 Class A / $150,000 Class B, adjusted annually by California CPI; CDPH 2026 figures reported as $88,878 Class A / $177,756 Class B.
- Where you can sell
- Class A: direct to consumers within California (in person, phone, internet). Class B: direct plus indirect sales through permitted third-party retailers/restaurants.
- Online orders
- Yes
- Ship in state
- Yes
- Ship out of state
- No
- Sell to shops / cafés
- Limited
- Allowed foods
- Non-potentially hazardous foods on the CDPH Approved Cottage Foods list (baked goods without cream/custard/meat fillings, candy, jams, dried fruit, etc.).
What a California cottage food label must show
- "Made in a Home Kitchen" or "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" (12-point, primary display panel)
- Common or adequately descriptive name of the food
- Name of the cottage food operation
- Registration or permit number and county of the issuing local enforcement agency
- Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight (if two or more)
- Net quantity and other federal labeling requirements (incl. allergens)
Federal rules still apply on top: ingredients in descending order by weight (21 CFR 101.4), the nine major allergens declared by name (FALCPA and the FASTER Act), and net quantity in ounces and grams (21 CFR 101.7). California allows cottage food orders online or by phone. Shipping within the state is allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Make a California label now
The California statement is already on it. Type your ingredients, tick the allergens and print on Avery sheets or a thermal roll. To have the ingredient order and allergens worked out from a costed recipe, use the workbench.
Still missing: business name and address.
Print at 100% scale with no margins. Check the result against California’s rules above before selling.
True size. California statement at 12 pt minimum.
California cottage food questions
What statement has to be on a California cottage food label?
California requires: “Made in a Home Kitchen” (12-point type on the cottage food product's primary (principal) display panel; "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" where applicable).
Do I need a permit to sell baked goods from home in California?
Depends on your county, town or tier. Class A (direct sales only): county registration, no routine inspection. Class B (direct and indirect sales): county permit with annual inspection. Food safety class within 90 days, renewed every 3 years. Fees set by county (e.g. Orange County FY25-26: $225 initial, $128 Class A / $384 Class B renewal).
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in California?
Yes: $88,878 in gross sales a year. Statutory base $75,000 Class A / $150,000 Class B, adjusted annually by California CPI; CDPH 2026 figures reported as $88,878 Class A / $177,756 Class B.
Can I sell cottage food online or ship it in California?
California allows cottage food orders online or by phone. Shipping within the state is allowed, and products may not cross state lines.
Sources
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 113758 (definitions, sales limits) (statute)
- Cal. Health & Safety Code § 114365.2 (labeling) (statute)
- OC Health Care Agency: Cottage Food Operations (agency)
- CDPH: Cottage Food Operation Adjusted Gross Annual Sales Limit 2026 (agency)
- California Department of Public Health (registration/permits issued by county environmental health) (agency)
Checked October 17, 2026. This is a checklist built from the sources above, not legal advice. Rules change; your county or the agency has the final word. Spotted something out of date? The about page explains how we check.
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