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

Under H&S section 114365 et seq., California allows Class A cottage food operations (direct sales only) to register and Class B operations (direct plus indirect sales through retailers) to obtain a permit through the county environmental health department. Riverside County Department of Environmental Health administers CFO registration and inspection for Murrieta residents. Permitted foods are limited to the state's approved list of non-potentially hazardous items such as baked goods without cream, jams and preserves, dried pasta, granola, candies, and certain dehydrated products. Gross annual sales are capped by statute (adjusted by the California Department of Public Health; currently 150,000 dollars for combined Class A/B sales). Labeling must include the CFO registration number, address, and allergen disclosures. AB 626 authorized Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MHKOs) that serve meals cooked to order, but Riverside County has not opted into the MHKO program as of current records; residents should verify with county environmental health. Murrieta cannot deny a properly registered CFO through zoning, though standard home occupation limits on external evidence, signage, and traffic still apply. HOAs generally cannot ban CFOs per Civil Code section 4749.5 (with limited exceptions).