California's Homemade Food Act (HSC 113758) lets residents make approved non-perishable foods at home. In Sonoma County, Class A operations self-register and Class B operations get an inspected permit, both through the County Department of Health Services Environmental Health.
Cottage food operations (CFOs) in California are authorized by the California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616), codified at Health & Safety Code 113758, which allows preparation of certain approved non-perishable ('cottage') foods in a home kitchen for sale to the public. In Sonoma County, the County Department of Health Services Environmental Health division administers CFOs. Class A is a registration: the operator self-certifies and may sell cottage foods directly to consumers from home and at community events, bake sales, farm stands, and farmers markets. Class B is a permit: the operator must obtain an annual permit and pass a home-kitchen inspection, and may make both direct and indirect (wholesale) sales through local shops, restaurants, and other third-party locations. Under state law, a CFO may employ the equivalent of one full-time non-family employee, and the operator and employees must complete an approved food-safety training course (renewed at least every three years). State annual gross-sales limits apply and are adjusted over time (commonly cited figures are roughly $86,000 for Class A and about $172,000 for Class B). Applicants submit product labels with the application. Because the home occupation provisions of Zoning Code Section 26-88-121 prohibit on-site food processing or catering, a CFO is authorized as a state-regulated home food activity through Environmental Health registration/permitting rather than as a standard zoning home occupation.
Selling cottage foods without the required Class A registration or Class B permit from Sonoma County Environmental Health is a violation of state food law and County health regulations. Selling non-approved (potentially hazardous) foods, exceeding the sales cap, or failing to complete food-safety training can lead to enforcement, including suspension or revocation of the registration or permit.
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