Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Laws in Sacramento: What to Check
A plain guide to the county permit, state food list, fees, and sales caps for Sacramento home bakers.
On this page
What to remember
- Sacramento County EMD permits and registers cottage food operations.
- CDPH maintains the approved cottage food list and does not permit or register operations.
- Fees are listed as $306 for Class A and $528 for Class B as of 2026.
- Sales caps are listed as $75,000 for Class A and $150,000 for Class B.
- Wash, rinse, and sanitize food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils before each use.
The first thing to know is that the California Department of Public Health does not permit or register Cottage Food Operations. It maintains the Approved Cottage Food List. Your county does the permitting and registration. For Sacramento, that is the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department. If you are still sorting out the difference between a permit and a registration, cottage food laws and permits breaks it down. If you have heard a rule from a friend or a forum, how to check cottage food claims on Reddit can help you test it against the real source.
Who handles what in Sacramento County
The statewide rules come from CDPH. Cottage food products must be foods allowed in the CFO program, must be non-potentially hazardous, and must comply with the Approved Cottage Food List. CDPH does not permit or register your operation. Sacramento County EMD does. The Environmental Health Division permits and registers Cottage Food Operations that comply with all the requirements of the California Retail Food Code. California law also allows a local government to require a cottage food operation to apply for a permit to use a residence for its operation. That is why your first call is local, not state.
What you can sell and your sales cap
Your menu has to stay inside the Approved Cottage Food List. The list is maintained by CDPH, and the foods must be non-potentially hazardous. Sacramento County cottage food sales caps are listed as $75,000 for Class A and $150,000 for Class B. Applications are submitted through Sacramento County EMD. If you are planning your menu and your pricing, keep the cap in view from the start. It is easier to choose what you sell when you know the ceiling for your class. That cap is a business number, not just a legal number. It affects how many orders you can take and how you price your bakes. Write it down where you plan your week.
Fees, cleaning, and a safe start
Sacramento County cottage food fees are listed as $306 for a Class A permit and $528 for a Class B permit as of 2026. Budget for the fee before you open your order book. The cleaning rule is not optional. Under California Health and Safety Code section 114365, all food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils used for preparing, packaging, or handling cottage food products must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before each use. That includes the bowls, spatulas, sheet pans, and counters you use for a bake.
Before you sell, confirm your class, your fee, and your sales cap with Sacramento County EMD. Then check every item on your menu against the CDPH Approved Cottage Food List. Keep your cleaning routine simple and repeatable. Wash, rinse, and sanitize before each use, not just at the end of the day. If a rule sounds unclear, go back to the county page or call the Environmental Health Division. Do not rely on a screenshot or a rumor. If you want a calm way to run the business side, Brevl is one flat $20 a month with no cut of your sales, a 14 day free trial, and card payments through your own Stripe or Square account. You can also take Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. It works on a computer and on a phone.
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Common questions
Do I register with the state or with Sacramento County?
Sacramento County EMD permits and registers Cottage Food Operations. CDPH does not permit or register them. CDPH maintains the Approved Cottage Food List and the statewide program rules.
What foods can I sell?
Only foods allowed in the CFO program that are non-potentially hazardous and that comply with the Approved Cottage Food List maintained by CDPH.
How much does a Sacramento County cottage food permit cost?
Sacramento County cottage food fees are listed as $306 for a Class A permit and $528 for a Class B permit as of 2026.
What are the sales caps?
Sacramento County cottage food sales caps are listed as $75,000 for Class A and $150,000 for Class B. Applications are submitted through Sacramento County EMD.
What cleaning rules apply to my kitchen?
All food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils used for preparing, packaging, or handling cottage food products must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before each use under California Health and Safety Code section 114365.
Can a local government require a permit to use my home?
California law allows a local government to require a cottage food operation to apply for a permit to use a residence for its operation. Sacramento County EMD permits and registers Cottage Food Operations that comply with the California Retail Food Code.
Sources
- California Department of Public Health: Cottage Food Operations
- California Department of Public Health: CFO Requirements
- California Government Code section 51035
- California Health and Safety Code section 114365
- Cakery Bakeries: California cottage food laws
- Sacramento County EMD: Cottage Food Operation
- Crosodo: Sacramento County cottage food fees and sales caps
General information, not legal advice. Confirm your class, fees, sales cap, and approved foods with Sacramento County EMD and CDPH before you sell.