Welcome to Cottage Food Operations

STORAGE

LABELING 

Rooms within the same home as the home kitchen are to be used only for storage of sealed packaged food, ingredients, clean utensils, and clean equipment.

SELLING

How cottage food products are sold determines the class of CFO and the application process vendors will need to follow.

CLASS A

A “Class A” CFO can only sell cottage foods directly to the consumer and is required to register with Fresno County Environmental Health Division by completing and submitting:

• The California Homemade Food Act AB 1616 (Gatto) Registration Permitting Formwith the following attached:
  • Zone Clearance from your jurisdiction
  • Sample label
  • Food descriptions list
  • Floor plans
  • Food handler card (if you have it)
  • Water sampling results if you're on a well
  • Self-Certification Compliance

Once this office approves these forms, they will also need to complete an Environmental Health Application and pay the applicable fees.

Direct sales can be made:

• From your home
• At community events, bake sales, church events
• At farm stands and certified farmers’ markets
• Through community-supported agriculture subscription
• Via phone, internet, or any other digital method
• A direct sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or using any other third-party
  delivery service

Direct sales under B, C, and D above may require additional permits.

COST
One-time review fee of $311, and an annual permit fee of $159. If already permitted, the cost to add new food items is $60.

CLASS B

A “Class B” CFO can sell cottage foods directly to the consumer, as with Class A, and may also sell indirectly to consumers within Fresno County. A “Class B” CFO is required to register with Fresno County Environmental Health Division by completing and submitting:

• The California Homemade Food Act AB 1616 (Gatto) Registration Permitting Form with the following attached:
  • Zone Clearance from your jurisdiction
  • Sample label
  • Food descriptions list
  • Floor plans
  • Food handler card (if you have it)
  • Water sampling results if you're on a well
  • Cottage Food Operational Statement

Once this office approves these forms, you will also need to complete an Environmental Health Application and pay the applicable fees. 

Then the office will need to inspect your CFO business at your private home, and if everything meets code requirements, a permit will be issued.

In addition to direct sales listed under Class A, indirect sales can be made to:

• Permitted restaurant*
• Permitted grocery/food market retail*
• Permitted mobile food facility (i.e., food trucks)*

* No CFO food products may be used as ingredients in another retailer’s food they produce for their business.

COST
One-time review fee of $311, and an annual permit fee of $138. If already permitted, the cost to add new food items is $60.