Cottage Food Laws in San Diego, California

On this page

1. The two classes and who approves you
2. What you can sell, and the labels you submit
3. Keeping your kitchen up to standard

If you bake from your own kitchen in San Diego and sell to neighbors, the rules that matter most are county rules sitting on top of state rules. Read this once before you spend money on packaging, then come back to it when you add a new kind of bake. Bakers a little further north work under the same state list but a different county office, which is why Orange County’s rules read differently in the details.

The two classes and who approves you

San Diego County splits cottage food operations into Class A and Class B, and both are registered or permitted through the Department of Environmental Health and Quality. County approval is only half of it. To become an approved Cottage Food Operator in San Diego County you also need a local city or county business license. One thing that surprises people is what you do not need. A cottage food business in San Diego County is not required to hold a food handler’s license, but starting one does require registration with the County. Budget somewhere in the range of $250 to $450 for the permits involved, and confirm the current fee directly with the county before you send anything in.

What you can sell, and the labels you submit

Foods allowed in California’s cottage food operation program must be non-potentially hazardous and must comply with the Approved Cottage Food List maintained by the California Department of Public Health. That list, not your own judgment about what keeps well, decides what you can sell. When you apply in San Diego County you submit at least one product label for each food category you sell, and the initial fee includes review of up to ten product labels.

Keeping your kitchen up to standard

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 the rhythm of a bake day rather than treating it as a spring clean. A routine you can describe out loud also makes the county side of things far less stressful.

1. 1

   Check every bake against the approved list

   Confirm each product is on California’s Approved Cottage Food List and is non-potentially hazardous before you print a single label.

2. 2

   Write one label per category

   You submit at least one product label for each food category you sell, so group your bakes into categories first.

3. 3

   Apply to the county

   Send your application to San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality for Class A or Class B.

4. 4

   Get your business license

   County approval alone is not enough. You also need a local city or county business license.

5. 5

   Set up your cleaning routine

   Wash, rinse, and sanitize food contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils before each use, as section 114365 requires.

If you sell across a county line, or you just want to see how a neighboring county handles the same state list, Los Angeles County’s rules are a useful comparison. Once the paperwork is behind you and you are ready to take orders, this roundup of home bakery apps covers what other bakers are using.

• Cottage Food Laws in Orange County, California
• Cottage Food Laws in Los Angeles County: What You Can Sell
• Home Bakery App: A Fair Roundup for Home Bakers

Common questions

Do I need a food handler's license to sell bakes in San Diego County?

A cottage food business in San Diego County is not required to hold a food handler's license, but starting one does require registration with the County.

Does the state approve my cottage food business?

The California Department of Public Health does not permit or register Cottage Food Operations. It does maintain the approved list of cottage food products, which decides what you are allowed to make.

How much does it cost to start?

Home bakery permit requirements in San Diego, including the licenses involved, run in the range of $250 to $450. The initial fee also includes review of up to ten product labels. Confirm the current amount with the county before you pay.

How many labels do I need to send in?

At least one product label for each food category you sell. The review that comes with your initial fee covers up to ten labels.

What is the difference between Class A and Class B?

Both are registered or permitted through San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality. Ask the county which class matches how you plan to sell before you fill in the application.

Sources

1. California Department of Public Health: Cottage Food Operations
2. CDPH: Cottage Food Program Requirements
3. San Diego County DEHQ: Cottage Food
4. San Diego County DEHQ: Cottage Food Operator application
5. California Health and Safety Code section 114365
6. Food Handlers Guide: Cottage food laws in San Diego County
7. Permitted Cooks: San Diego cottage food
8. StartPermit: San Diego home bakery permit

This is general information about cottage food rules, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change. Confirm the current requirements with San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality and your city before you sell.