Cottage Food Operations: Santa Monica vs South Gate
How do cottage food operations rules compare between Santa Monica, CA and South Gate, CA?
South Gate has fewer restrictions than Santa Monica.
Santa Monica, CA
Los Angeles County
Cottage food operations are permitted in Santa Monica under CA HSC §113758 as an exception to home occupation rules. CFOs may have non-resident employees for cottage food per SMMC §9.31.160. State registration or permit required.
View full Santa Monica rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
California's Cottage Food Operations Act (Cal. Health & Safety Code §§113758, 114365–114365.5) lets residents make approved non-potentially-hazardous foods at home and sell them. LA County Department of Public Health issues Class A registrations (direct sales only, $75,000/yr cap) and Class B permits (direct + indirect sales, $150,000/yr cap). South Gate may not prohibit a cottage food operation as a residential use but may apply reasonable home-occupation standards.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Monica | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed | Exception to home occupation rules | - |
| Employees | CFO exception applies | - |
| State Law | CA HSC §113758 | - |
| Code | SMMC §9.31.160 | - |
| State authority | - | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§113758, 114365–114365.5 |
| Class A sales cap | - | $75,000/yr (direct sales only) |
| Class B sales cap | - | $150,000/yr (direct + indirect) |
| Local permit issuer | - | LA County Department of Public Health |
| City business license | - | Required (South Gate Title 5) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Monica FAQ
Can I sell homemade baked goods from my home?
Yes, under cottage food laws in most areas. Santa Monica allows certain shelf-stable foods sold directly to consumers with proper labeling.
Do I need a commercial kitchen?
No, cottage food laws allow production in your home kitchen without commercial inspection, within revenue limits.
South Gate FAQ
Can South Gate ban my cottage food bakery?
No. Cal. Health & Safety Code §114365 treats cottage food operations as a permitted residential use; the city may not prohibit them but may apply general home-occupation standards like signage and traffic limits.
Do I register with the city or the county?
You register or get a Class A/B permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and you also obtain a City of South Gate business license under Title 5.
Can I make tamales or cheesecake under cottage food?
No. Tamales (meat) and cheesecake (dairy custard) are potentially hazardous foods and are not on the CDPH cottage-food approved list. Producing them at home for sale requires a permitted commercial kitchen.
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