Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Laws in Los Angeles County, California
What you can bake, how to register, and when you need a county permit.
On this page
What to remember
- The California Department of Public Health sets the rules and keeps the Approved Cottage Food List, but does not permit or register operations.
- Los Angeles County handles registration and permits through its environmental health department.
- Class A registers online with a self-certification checklist form.
- Class B registers and gets a county permit after an inspection of your home kitchen.
- Products must be non-potentially hazardous and on the approved list.
California splits cottage food work between two offices, and once you see which office does what, the steps get much easier to follow. The same split shows up across the state, and our Cottage Food Laws by State Map explains how to read the rules for any area. This guide stays with Los Angeles County.
Who handles what in California
The California Department of Public Health sets the program rules. It keeps the Approved Cottage Food List, and every cottage food product you sell has to be non-potentially hazardous and on that list. What the state does not do is permit or register cottage food operations.
Your registration or permit comes from the county, through the local environmental health department. In Los Angeles County that is the Department of Public Health. So when you want to know what you are allowed to bake, you read the state list. When you want to be allowed to sell, you go to the county.
Class A and Class B in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County treats the two classes differently. A Class A operator registers with the county and can do it online through the Environmental Health public portal, using a self-certification checklist form. A Class B operator registers and also obtains a permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and that permit is issued only after an inspection verifies your home kitchen meets the requirements. The portal carries a Class B form as well.
Check your bake against the approved list
Every product has to be non-potentially hazardous and on the Approved Cottage Food List maintained by the California Department of Public Health. Start there before you plan a menu.
Choose your class
Class A is registration. Class B is registration plus a county permit that follows an inspection of your home kitchen.
Register online
The Los Angeles County Environmental Health public portal offers online Cottage Food Operation Class A registration with a self-certification checklist form.
Apply for the Class B permit
Use the Class B form in the same portal, and expect an inspection before the permit is issued.
Read the state pages for labeling and the food processor course
Los Angeles County directs Class A cottage food operators to the CDPH website for approved cottage foods, labeling requirements, and the food processor course.
Keeping your home kitchen ready
California Health and Safety Code section 114365 requires that all food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils used for preparing, packaging, or handling cottage food products be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before each use. Build that into your routine rather than saving it for one big clean at the end of the week.
One more local piece to know. California Government Code section 51035 allows a local agency to require a cottage food operation to apply for a permit to use a residence for its operation, which is why the county conversation matters even though the state sets the food rules. If you are comparing counties, our Riverside County guide shows how a neighboring county handles the same split, and Cottage Food Law Requirements by State covers the threads that run through most places.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
Selling from home works best when the rules are settled first and the baking gets your full attention after that. Do the county step early, keep your kitchen practice steady, and the rest of the season is about orders and repeat customers.
Common questions
Do I register with the state or the county?
The county. Cottage food registration and permitting happen at the county level through the local environmental health department, while the program rules and the approved foods list are set statewide by the California Department of Public Health.
Can I sell anything I bake from home in Los Angeles County?
No. Cottage food products must be non-potentially hazardous and must comply with the Approved Cottage Food List maintained by the California Department of Public Health.
What is the difference between Class A and Class B?
A Class A operator registers with the county. A Class B operator registers and also obtains a permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and that permit is issued only after an inspection verifies the home kitchen meets the requirements.
How do I register as a Class A operator?
The Los Angeles County Environmental Health public portal offers online Cottage Food Operation Class A registration with a self-certification checklist form.
Where do I find labeling rules and the food processor course?
Los Angeles County directs Class A cottage food operators to the California Department of Public Health website for approved cottage foods, labeling requirements, and the food processor course.
Sources
- CDPH Cottage Food Operations
- CDPH Cottage Food Operation Requirements
- California Health and Safety Code section 114365
- California Government Code section 51035
- LA County Class B Cottage Food Operators
- LA County Class A Cottage Food Operators
- LA County Environmental Health public portal
- California cottage food laws overview
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the details with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health before you sell.