Fontana, CA Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

California legalized home-based food production through the 2012 California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616) and expanded it with Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations under AB 626 and AB 1240. Fontana residents use these laws in two ways. First, traditional Cottage Food Operations: producing only approved low-risk, non-potentially-hazardous foods from the California Department of Public Health approved list (baked goods without cream filling, jams, jellies, dried pasta, granola, roasted coffee, popcorn, candy, and similar items). CFOs require registration with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Services - Class A (direct sales to consumers only) needs simple registration; Class B (wholesale to retailers) requires inspection. Gross annual sales are capped by state law (currently 75,000 dollars, with inflation adjustments). Kitchens must not be used for personal cooking while producing CFO foods, pets cannot be in the kitchen during production, and all products require approved labels with the producer name, CFO number, address, ingredients, and an allergen statement. Second, AB 1240 (2021) authorizes counties to opt in to Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, which allow hot meal prep and sales up to 90 meals per week and 100,000 dollars annually. San Bernardino County has opted in, so Fontana MEHKO operators can permit through County Environmental Health. Cottage food and MEHKO operations still require a Fontana Business License and, in most cases, a Home Occupation Permit.