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

Cottage food (homemade, lower-risk foods made in a home kitchen) is regulated under California's Homemade Food Act, codified at Health & Safety Code 113758 and added by AB-1616 (2012, since amended). The law establishes two classes. A Class A cottage food operation may engage only in direct sales (in person, online, shipping) and must register with the local enforcement agency and submit a self-certification checklist before operating; it cannot exceed $75,000 in gross annual sales. A Class B operation may make both direct and indirect sales (to stores, restaurants, and similar that resell the product), must receive an initial home-kitchen inspection plus periodic inspections (up to once per year), and cannot exceed $150,000 in gross annual sales. In Tulare County, the local enforcement agency is Tulare County Environmental Health, which administers cottage food registration (Class A) and permitting/inspection (Class B). Because cottage food is a state-defined home food activity, the County's role is to process the registration/permit and conduct any required inspection rather than to impose separate zoning approval, though the operation must still be a true home kitchen and meet the state product and labeling restrictions. Operators should apply through Tulare County Environmental Health and follow the state checklist for approved foods, labeling, and quantity limits.