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Contra Costa County, CA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Certification deadline
30 days after joining the operation
Certification name
Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification
Operator exam
required before permit issues
Homes per residence
one MEHKO permit only
Enforcing agency
Contra Costa County Health Officer
State authority
Health & Safety Code §§ 114367-114367.6

Summary

Anyone who works in a permitted Contra Costa County microenterprise home kitchen operation must earn a county food handler certification within 30 days of joining. The rule sits inside the county's MEHKO ordinance, which licenses small home-based food businesses under state law.

City-specific rules exist: Brentwood, and Antioch have their own food handler certification rules that differ from Contra Costa County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

A MEHKO operator shall successfully pass an approved and accredited food safety certification examination, in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 113947.1, and submit proof of certification, with the application for a microenterprise home kitchen operation permit. ... Any person participating in a microenterprise home kitchen operation shall obtain a Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within thirty days after joining the microenterprise home kitchen operation, as specified in Health and Safety Code section 113948.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).

Full Breakdown

6, lets a home resident sell food directly to consumers from a private kitchen once permitted by the county health officer (Sec. 2002). 1, and submit proof of certification" with the application (Sec. 2006(c)). 2008(a) extends the certification duty to everyone who works in the kitchen: any person participating in a MEHKO must obtain a Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within thirty days after joining, as specified in Health and Safety Code section 113948. The same section requires food kept in a detached accessory building or garage to sit inside an approved, closable refrigerator or freezer, bars sleeping quarters or a second unit from being used for storage, limits a residence to one MEHKO permit, and requires the permit be displayed inside the operation rather than used as outdoor advertising (Sec. 2008(b)-(d)). 3, and inspection fees are set by the Board of Supervisors (Sec. 2010).

Violations & Fines

Operating a MEHKO, or letting an uncertified person handle food in one, without meeting the Section 413-3.2008 certification and storage rules exposes the permit to modification, suspension, or revocation under the California Retail Food Code provisions the ordinance incorporates (Sec. 413-3.2006(g)), and the health officer can order corrective reinspections before the permit is reinstated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs the food handler certification in a Contra Costa home kitchen business?
Section 413-3.2008(a) requires every person who participates in a permitted microenterprise home kitchen operation, not just the permit holder, to obtain a Contra Costa County Food Handler Certification within thirty days of joining the operation, consistent with Health and Safety Code section 113948.
Is the operator's exam the same as the food handler certification?
No. Section 413-3.2006(c) requires the MEHKO operator alone to pass a separate accredited food safety certification exam before the county issues the permit, while Section 413-3.2008(a) requires the county food handler certification for every participant, including the operator, within 30 days of joining.
Where can a MEHKO store its food?
Section 413-3.2008(b) allows food storage only within the permitted kitchen area under Health and Safety Code Article 5 rules, and any detached accessory building or garage may only store food inside an approved, closable refrigerator or freezer; sleeping quarters or a second unit can never be used.
Can I run more than one home kitchen business from my house?
No. Section 413-3.2008(c) limits each residence to a single microenterprise home kitchen operation, and Section 413-3.2008(d) requires the permit be posted inside the home during all operating hours rather than displayed outside to advertise the business.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Contra Costa County

All Contra Costa County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California public health rules overview

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