Cottage Food Operations

Cottage Food Operates are home-based businesses allowed to prepare, package, store, and handle certain low-risk foods in private homes and sell them to the public.

These operations are only allowed to prepare non-potentially hazardous foods in the home they live in. The foods these businesses are authorized to prepare MUST be listed on the California Department of Public Health’s approved cottage foods list. CFOs are only allowed to produce food from this list.

STORAGE

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.

LABELING

All cottage food products must be properly packaged and labeled according to the CDPH’s Labeling Requirements for Cottage Food Products.

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

Initial Review Fee $311 + an annual registration fee of $159

Menu Revision $60 per submittal

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

Initial Review Fee $311 + an annual registration fee of $138

Menu Revision $60 per submittal