Home coffee business
Can you sell coffee from home in California?
Two programs stack in California. The statewide Cottage Food Operation (CFO) covers packaged, shelf stable items, roasted beans and baked goods. In counties that have adopted MEHKO (AB 626), you can also get a permitted, inspected home kitchen permit to make and serve real drinks, lattes included. That MEHKO permit is the one clean way to serve dairy coffee from a home kitchen anywhere in the U.S.
Governing law: MEHKO (AB 626) + California Cottage Food Operation
How home coffee sales work in California
- Governing program
- Cottage Food Operation (Class A/B) + MEHKO where adopted
- Who administers it
- CA Dept. of Public Health, Cottage Food Operations
- What you need
- A CFO needs county registration or a permit. A MEHKO needs a county permit and a home kitchen inspection.
- Annual sales cap
- CFO Class A $86,206 / Class B $172,411 (2025, CPI indexed). MEHKO ≈ $100k/yr, 30 meals/day, 90/week.
- Where you can sell
- CFO Class A direct; Class B direct + California retail. MEHKO direct to consumers.
- Food safety
- Food handler card; MEHKO adds a health inspection
What you can sell from home
Made to order drinks, dairy included, are legal only in MEHKO adopted counties. Everywhere else in California it's packaged beans & baked goods (CFO) only.
Facts reviewed July 28, 2026. Cottage food and food freedom laws change often and interact with local zoning and HOA rules. Confirm the current program, cap, and links before you sell.
What you can do
- In a MEHKO county: get a permit to make and serve made to order coffee, lattes, and food from home
- Statewide CFO: sell roasted beans, bags, and baked goods
- Class B CFO: also sell through California retail shops
What you can't do
- Run a MEHKO where your county hasn't adopted it (most still haven't)
- Exceed MEHKO caps (30 meals/day, 90/week, $100k/yr)
- Skip the health permit and inspection a MEHKO requires
Read the official rules
CA Dept. of Public Health, Cottage Food Operations →Link last verified 2026-07-28.
General guidance only, not legal advice. Cottage food and food freedom laws change often and interact with local zoning and HOA rules. Confirm with your state agency and local zoning office before you sell.