Sacramento Cottage Food Laws & Compliance Checklist

California Cottage Food Exemption Products & Requirements

California's Domestic Kitchen Operation (DKO) law allows certain non-potentially hazardous foods to be made in a home kitchen without a commercial license. Approved products include jams, jellies, dried herbs, granola, roasted coffee, popcorn, and certain baked goods—but NOT foods requiring refrigeration, canning, or special processing. You must obtain a permit from Sacramento County Environmental Health, use proper labeling with your name and address, and include allergen disclosures. Excluded products like canned goods, meat products, dairy items, and foods requiring temperature control must be made in a licensed commercial kitchen. Check the California Department of Public Health's current approved product list before starting production.

Sacramento Local Permits, Labels & Documentation

Sacramento County requires a Domestic Kitchen Operation permit ($250–$500 one-time fee) before you legally operate. You must display a DKO certificate in your home kitchen and maintain batch records showing production dates, ingredients, and recipients. Labels must include your name, address, phone number, product name, ingredients, allergen statements (in 14-point font minimum), and the statement 'Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensing or inspection.' Direct sales only are permitted—you cannot sell through retail stores, farmers markets, or online delivery services without additional commercial licensing. Sacramento County Environmental Health conducts initial and annual inspections of your home facility.

Common Violations & Inspection Red Flags to Avoid

Sacramento inspectors look for non-compliant products (like homemade hot sauce or nut butters), missing or incomplete labels, undocumented production dates, and cross-contamination risks from household use. Do not store personal food items in the same refrigerator as your production ingredients, and keep detailed cleaning logs. Violations include operating without a permit, selling prohibited products, and exceeding annual sales limits (typically $50,000). Repeated violations result in cease-and-desist orders and fines of $250–$1,000. Keep your Panko Alerts notifications enabled to track any FDA or state recalls affecting your approved ingredient suppliers and to stay current with regulatory changes.

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