Palm Springs, CA Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governed Health
- Governed by CA Health & Safety Code §114365
- Class Registration
- Class A registration (direct sale) vs. Class B permit (indirect retail)
- Annual Gross
- Annual gross cap $150,000 (CPI adjusted)
- Riverside County
- Riverside County DEH is the local permitting authority
- Mehko (Hot
- MEHKO (hot meals) requires county opt-in under AB 626
Summary
California Cottage Food Operations (CFO) under Health & Safety Code §114365 are permitted in Palm Springs homes with Riverside County Department of Environmental Health registration or permit. Class A (direct sales, up to $150,000 gross) requires registration; Class B (indirect retail) requires a permit and inspection. Local zoning defers to the state law.
(a) (1) (A) A "Class A" cottage food operation shall not be open for business unless it is registered with the local enforcement agency and has submitted a completed, self-certification checklist approved by the local enforcement agency. The self-certification checklist shall verify that the cottage food operation conforms to this chapter, including the following requirements:
(i) No cottage food preparation, packaging, or handling may occur in the home kitchen concurrent with any other domestic activities, such as family meal preparation, dishwashing, clothes washing or ironing, kitchen cleaning, or guest entertainment.
(ii) No infants, small children, or pets may be in the home kitchen during the preparation, packaging, or handling of cottage food products.
(iii) Kitchen equipment and utensils used to produce cottage food products shall be clean and maintained in a good state of repair.
(iv) All food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils used for the preparation, packaging, or handling of cottage food products shall be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before each use.
(v) All food preparation and food and equipment storage areas shall be maintained free of rodents and insects.
(vi) Smoking shall be prohibited in the portion of a private home used for the preparation, packaging, storage, or handling of cottage food products and related ingredients or equipment, or both, while cottage food products are being prepared, packaged, stored, or handled.
(2) (A) A "Class B" cottage food operation shall not be open for business unless it obtains a permit from the local enforcement agency in a manner approved by the local enforcement agency to engage in the direct and indirect sale of cottage food products.
Full Breakdown
California's Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, amended by AB 1144 in 2021) legalizes home production of specific low-risk foods - baked goods without cream fillings, jams, jellies, granola, dried pasta, roasted coffee, candies, dry mixes, honey, and similar shelf-stable items on the state's approved list. Operators register (Class A, direct-to-consumer sales only) or obtain a permit (Class B, selling through third parties like retailers) with Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. Annual gross sales are capped at $150,000 inflation-adjusted. All CFO food must be labeled with operator name, address, registration number, ingredients, allergens, and a state-required disclosure that it was made in a home kitchen.
Food handlers in the home must complete a food-processor training within three months. Palm Springs does not impose local zoning barriers to registered CFOs - they operate as a state-preempted home use. A separate state MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation) program exists under AB 626 for hot meals, but Riverside County must opt in; check current county status before starting a MEHKO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my homemade cookies at the Palm Springs Farmers Market?
Can I sell hot tamales from my kitchen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
California rules heatmap·Compare Palm Springs to another location·View the California home business overview
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Cottage Food Operations in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle cottage food operations.