Cottage Food Operations: Costa Mesa vs Midway City
How do cottage food operations rules compare between Costa Mesa, CA and Midway City, CA?
Costa Mesa and Midway City have similar restriction levels.
Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County
Cottage food operations in unincorporated Orange County register with the OC Health Care Agency under the California Homemade Food Act. Class A (direct sales, $75,000 annual limit) requires registration with no inspection; Class B (wholesale, $150,000 limit) requires a permit with a yearly inspection.
View full Costa Mesa rules →Midway City, CA
Orange County
Cottage food operations in unincorporated Orange County register with the OC Health Care Agency under the California Homemade Food Act. Class A (direct sales, $75,000 annual limit) requires registration with no inspection; Class B (wholesale, $150,000 limit) requires a permit with a yearly inspection.
View full Midway City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Costa Mesa | Midway City |
|---|---|---|
| Registering agency | OC Health Care Agency, Environmental Health | OC Health Care Agency, Environmental Health |
| State law | California Homemade Food Act / AB 1616 (HSC 113758 et seq.) | California Homemade Food Act / AB 1616 (HSC 113758 et seq.) |
| Class A | Direct sales; registration, no inspection; $75,000 annual limit | Direct sales; registration, no inspection; $75,000 annual limit |
| Class B | Wholesale; permit + yearly inspection; $150,000 annual limit | Wholesale; permit + yearly inspection; $150,000 annual limit |
| Employees | Maximum of one full-time CFO employee | Maximum of one full-time CFO employee |
| Fees (2025-26) | Initial review $221; Class A renewal $125; Class B renewal $376 | Initial review $221; Class A renewal $125; Class B renewal $376 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Costa Mesa FAQ
How do I start a cottage food business in unincorporated Orange County?
Register with the OC Health Care Agency Environmental Health. Choose Class A (direct sales, registration only, no inspection, $75,000 limit) or Class B (wholesale, permit plus yearly inspection, $150,000 limit). You must use approved shelf-stable foods, label them correctly, and limit preparation to your home kitchen.
Can I sell my cottage foods directly from my home in Orange County?
Class A allows direct sales to consumers, but the County Zoning Code (Sec. 7-9-104(c)(1)) provides that a cottage food operation run as a home occupation must follow all State rules and shall not sell prepared foods on-site. Cottage foods must be the approved non-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable items, not prepared meals.
Midway City FAQ
How do I start a cottage food business in unincorporated Orange County?
Register with the OC Health Care Agency Environmental Health. Choose Class A (direct sales, registration only, no inspection, $75,000 limit) or Class B (wholesale, permit plus yearly inspection, $150,000 limit). You must use approved shelf-stable foods, label them correctly, and limit preparation to your home kitchen.
Can I sell my cottage foods directly from my home in Orange County?
Class A allows direct sales to consumers, but the County Zoning Code (Sec. 7-9-104(c)(1)) provides that a cottage food operation run as a home occupation must follow all State rules and shall not sell prepared foods on-site. Cottage foods must be the approved non-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable items, not prepared meals.
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