Sierra County, CA Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Cottage food operations in unincorporated Sierra County are regulated under California's Homemade Food Act (AB-1616), codified at Health & Safety Code section 113758, with local administration by the Sierra County Environmental Health Department. The state law creates two tiers: Class A operations, which sell directly to consumers (including in-person and online), and Class B operations, which may also sell indirectly through stores and other outlets. A Class A operation must register with the local enforcement agency and submit a completed, approved self-certification checklist, while a Class B operation requires a permit and an inspection of the home kitchen. Sierra County provides the required local forms, including a Cottage Food Operator Application, a Cottage Food Operations Self-Certification Checklist, and a Cottage Food Zoning Clearance Form, reflecting that the operation must be consistent with the parcel's zoning. Cottage food is limited to the state's approved list of non-potentially-hazardous foods (such as baked goods, jams, and dry mixes), the operation is limited in employees, and annual gross sales are capped at the inflation-adjusted Class A and Class B limits set by the state. The Sierra County Environmental Health Department maintains offices in Loyalton and Downieville to serve all unincorporated communities.