Union City permits home food businesses only when they qualify as a 'cottage food operation' under the California Homemade Food Act. Municipal Code Section 18.32.020.G prohibits any food use that does not meet the state cottage food definition; cottage food permits come from Alameda County environmental health.
Cottage food is the one food category allowed as a Union City home occupation. The city's Home Occupation provisions, summarizing Municipal Code 18.32.020.G, prohibit 'any food use that does not meet the definition of cottage food under the California Homemade Food Act.' The Act (Health and Safety Code 113758) lets residents make approved low-risk, non-perishable foods such as breads, jams, and dried goods at home, with Class A or Class B registration or permits from the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health. The operation must still meet the city's home-occupation limits. Higher-volume cooking under a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) is regulated by the county and, by state law, cannot be subjected to a city zoning permit.
Selling home-prepared food that is not registered/permitted cottage food, or food outside the cottage food definition, violates Section 18.32.020.G and state food law. City zoning non-compliance is an infraction under Chapter 1.16; food-safety violations are enforced by Alameda County.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
union-city-ca
Union City does not restrict backyard composting, and its Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (UCMC 18.112) requires compost in permitted landscape installat...
union-city-ca
Union City has no ordinance banning artificial turf on private property, and California Civil Code 4735 voids HOA rules prohibiting synthetic grass. For perm...
union-city-ca
Union City's Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (UCMC Chapter 18.112) implements California's MWELO. New landscapes of 500+ sq ft and rehab projects of 2,50...
union-city-ca
Union City does not prohibit residential rainwater capture. California's Rainwater Capture Act allows rooftop collection without a water right, and the City'...
union-city-ca
Union City's water purveyor is the Alameda County Water District (ACWD), serving the Tri-City area. ACWD enforces permanent water-waste prohibitions year-rou...
union-city-ca
All weeds on streets, sidewalks, and private property in Union City are declared a public nuisance under UCMC Chapter 7.08. The Fire Chief gives a ten-day no...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle cottage food operations.
See how Union City's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.