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CARegistration / Permit RequiredDirect + Wholesale Permitted

California Cottage Food Label Requirements

Governing Law: California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616 / CDPH Cottage Food Operations) · California Department of Public Health (CDPH) & County Environmental Health

Everything required to package and label shelf-stable home-produced foods in California — including the exact mandatory disclaimer, descending ingredient order, Top 9 FASTER Act allergen declaration, and optional 21 CFR 101.9 Nutrition Facts compliance.

Launch Studio Pre-Filled for CaliforniaInspect Free K-100 Print Sample (PDF)

Annual Gross Sales Cap

$75,000/yr (Class A Direct) · $150,000/yr (Class B Direct + Retail)

Permit & Training Status

Yes — County Environmental Health Class A Registration or Class B Permit (with annual kitchen inspection) + CA Food Handler Card.

Nutrition Facts Trigger

Triggered if making any nutrition or health claim on packaging/website, or once annual gross sales or FTE thresholds cross FDA small-business exemptions.

CA Required Home-Kitchen Statement

Mandatory California Cottage Food Disclaimer Text

“Made in a Home Kitchen”

Typography & Placement Rule: Minimum 12-point type on the principal display panel; include county permit/registration number when required locally.

Verify Local County & State Updates: State cottage food caps, allowed food lists, and local county/municipal zoning or Board of Health ordinances change regularly. Verify exact label wording and current annual gross sales thresholds with your state Department of Agriculture / Health and local county health authority prior to commercial printing.

California 6-Point Pre-Print Compliance Checklist

Verify every required label component before exporting your vector print file.

Audit Score

0/6

Auto-Fill Ready: Launch our Label Studio with California’s home-kitchen statement pre-loaded alongside automatic USDA macros and Top 9 allergen auditing.
Launch Studio Pre-Filled for California

Required Label Elements in California

Every retail cottage food package in California should display these standardized components clearly on the label.

Product Identity (Common Name)
Common or usual name of the food clearly stated on the principal display panel (e.g., "Artisan Honey Almond Granola").
Business Name & Physical Address
Name and street address (or city/state/ZIP if listed in a public directory under FDA 21 CFR 101.5) of the cottage food producer.
Net Weight / Volume Declaration
Net quantity of contents in both U.S. customary (oz / lb / fl oz) and metric (g / ml) units placed in the bottom 30% of the front panel.
Ingredients Descending by Weight
All ingredients and sub-ingredients declared in descending order of predominance by raw formula weight before baking/moisture loss.
Top 9 Major Allergens (FALCPA + FASTER Act)
Explicitly declare Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Tree Nuts (specific species), Peanuts, Wheat, Soybeans, and Sesame (mandatory nationwide since Jan 2023).
California Home-Kitchen Disclaimer
"Made in a Home Kitchen" in at least 12-pt font on the primary display panel, plus county registration/permit details.
Nutrition Facts Panel Trigger
Required whenever you make a nutrient claim (e.g., "Low Fat", "Good Source of Fiber") or exceed FDA small-business exemption limits.

Frequently Asked Questions: California Cottage Food Labeling

What is the difference between California Class A and Class B Cottage Food permits?

Class A allows direct-to-consumer sales only (in-person, farmers markets, home pickup, or direct delivery) without a physical kitchen inspection. Class B allows both direct and indirect retail sales (local cafes, grocers, restaurants) within the county/permitted area and requires a county home kitchen inspection.

Does California require Nutrition Facts on cottage food labels?

Small cottage food businesses under FDA gross sales/volume limits are exempt unless they print a nutrient content claim (like "Sugar Free", "High Protein", or "Low Sodium") or sell to retail stores that require full 21 CFR 101.9 Nutrition Facts panels.

What font size is required for California’s "Made in a Home Kitchen" notice?

California law specifies that "Made in a Home Kitchen" must appear on the primary display panel in at least 12-point font alongside the county name and registration/permit number.

Explore Other State Cottage Food Label Guides

Compare mandatory home-kitchen disclaimers and sales limits across all 15 covered states.

All 15 States Hub
TexasTXFloridaFLNew YorkNYOhioOHMichiganMIIllinoisILPennsylvaniaPAGeorgiaGAWashingtonWANorth CarolinaNCVirginiaVAArizonaAZColoradoCOMassachusettsMA