Cottage food rules
California Cottage Food Law: Approved Foods List
A plain way to check the California list before you bake for sale.
On this page
What to remember
- CDPH maintains the Approved Cottage Foods List and can add or delete food categories.
- The list covers nonpotentially hazardous foods that may be made in a private home kitchen.
- Changes to the official list become effective 30 days after posting.
- Your item must be listed and prepared, packaged, and labeled under the California Health and Safety Code.
If you are planning your first sale, start with the list, then read Cottage Food Law for Baked Goods so you know what to check for cakes, cookies, and breads. The list is the first gate. It tells you whether your bake fits a category that a cottage food operation is allowed to produce.
What the California list covers
The list sets out approved cottage food categories and their ethnic variations. It is not a recipe book, and it is not a sign that every version of a bake is allowed. CDPH has established a list of currently approved food products that may qualify to be manufactured or repackaged by cottage food operations. A cottage food product is defined as a nonpotentially hazardous food, including foods described in Section 114365.5, that is prepared for sale in the kitchen of a cottage food operation.
How to check your bake against the list
Open the official list
Start with the CDPH Cottage Food Operations page or the CDPH Approved Cottage Foods List. Use the current version, not a screenshot from a group.
Match the category
Find the category that fits your bake, including any ethnic variation that is listed. The list of approved categories and ethnic variations sets out what cottage food operations are allowed to produce.
Confirm the food type
Cottage food products are nonpotentially hazardous foods prepared for sale in the kitchen of a cottage food operation. If your bake does not fit that definition, the cottage food list is not the right path.
Check the rules that come with the list
All food products sold by cottage food operators must be listed on the CDPH CFO Approved Food List and prepared, packaged, and labeled according to the California Health and Safety Code.
Check again before you add an item
CDPH may add or delete food categories, and changes become effective 30 days after posting. Check the list again before you put a new bake on your menu.
When your bake is not on the list
If your bake is not on the CDPH Approved Food List, do not sell it as a cottage food product. All food products sold by cottage food operators must be listed on the CDPH CFO Approved Food List and prepared, packaged, and labeled according to the California Health and Safety Code. For the application side, see California Cottage Food Law: Where to Apply. If frosting is the part you are unsure about, read Cottage Food Law Approved Frosting.
Keep a copy of the current list where you bake, and note the category you rely on for each item you sell. That way, when the list changes, you can check your bakes without guessing.
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A cottage food operation can prepare and package certain nonpotentially hazardous foods in a private home kitchen. The list tells you what is approved. Your job is to check it before you bake for sale, then check it again when you add a new item.
Common questions
Who keeps the California approved cottage food list?
The California Department of Public Health maintains the Approved Cottage Foods List. CDPH may add or delete food categories.
How fast do list changes take effect?
Changes to the official list become effective 30 days after posting. Check the current CDPH list before you sell a new item.
Can I sell a bake that is not on the list?
No. All food products sold by cottage food operators must be listed on the CDPH CFO Approved Food List and prepared, packaged, and labeled according to the California Health and Safety Code.
Does the list cover frosting?
The list sets out approved cottage food categories and their ethnic variations. For frosting, check the category that fits your bake and read our guide to cottage food law approved frosting.
Where do I find the official list?
Start with the CDPH Cottage Food Operations page or the CDPH Approved Cottage Foods List. Use the current version.
Sources
This is general information for home bakers, not legal advice. Confirm the current CDPH list before you sell.