A “Cottage Food Production Operation” involves a person using their own kitchen facility to produce food items that are not potentially hazardous, including bakery products, jams, jellies, candy, dry mixes, spices and some sauces. — via Facebook
California bakers asked California state legislators to enact a Cottage Foods bill authorizing the Department of Health and Senior Services and/or the Department of Agriculture to issue customized “Home Bakery” licenses to residential kitchens for the purpose of selling non-potentially-hazardous bakery products, such as, but not necessarily limited to: breads, cakes, doughnuts, pastries, buns, rolls, cookies, biscuits, and pies (except meat or cream pies).
:: Resources ::
Cottage Food Law Update in other States
Comments(27)
Amber says:
January 4, 2012 at 6:25 amI think this is a great idea! But your link is broken.
Here is another link: http://www.petitiononline.com/CAHBLP/petition.html
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 6:49 amThanks for pointing out the broken link, it has been fixed! 🙂
Debbie Crincoli says:
January 4, 2012 at 7:24 amWhy would anyone want to invite a new tax and the government into their home? I can get certified organic . . . for about $400 dollars a year, on top of taxes, food handling permit and farmers market fees. I don’t even make that much profit.
I am still trying to figure out how you get away with all you do . . . chickens, ducks, goats and your store. You live in a Suburban setting, aren’t there zoning laws against it. I live in RURAL Arizona in the county and they won’t let me have chickens on my homesite. I am less than an acre. But I could have 2 chickens and a rooster IF I have a child participating in 4 H. Go figure. I am currently fighting the chicken ordinance, the nearby city which shares my address, allows up to 12 chickens on a STANDARD homesite. I am zoned RS, which means I could run a service business out of my home . . . I get that zoning because my home backs up to a small business area (about 2 streets worth) and an auto mechanics shop. Do you have special zoning because of the nearby Interstate?
Kimm says:
January 4, 2012 at 8:32 amThanks for posting this. I didn’t know my state had such a law, enacted last year!
Zach says:
January 4, 2012 at 8:45 amThis seems like a funny thing for homesteaders to be advocating. Unless home production is completely illegal in California already, a bill like this which would allow the state to be in control of the licensing would be a loss of freedom rather than a gain.
The ability to make and sell your own food products should not be something that we give the government the ability to interfere with. The “potentially hazardous” clause will certainly allow for making raw milk, and really any homemade milk or meat product, illegal.
Leslie says:
January 4, 2012 at 2:38 pmI agree with Zach.
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 2:52 pmCalifornia does not currently have a Cottage Food Law allowing its citizens to operate a home based bakery or food processing business. For details about small/home food processing contact your local health departments or the state Department of Agriculture.
A Cottage Food Law initiative was started in the state of California by the Sustainable Economies Law Center located in the Bay Area. This group met recently with State Senator Mark DeSaulnier to begin the process of drafting a Cottage Food Law for California. The Los Angeles Bread Bakers are also organizing in Southern California around the need for this law and welcomes the support of all home bakers. Bear in mind, home food processing is not allow in the state of California, even bake sales are currently illegal in California.
http://homebasedbaking.com/knowledgebase/rules-regulations/california/
c says:
January 4, 2012 at 9:20 pmHow has this nation gotten to a place where bake sales are illegal?
Anais Dervaes says:
January 5, 2012 at 5:34 amNation gone stupid… too many rules I tell you!
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 2:52 pmCalifornia does not currently have a Cottage Food Law allowing its citizens to operate a home based bakery or food processing business. For details about small/home food processing contact your local health departments or the state Department of Agriculture.
A Cottage Food Law initiative was started in the state of California by the Sustainable Economies Law Center located in the Bay Area. This group met recently with State Senator Mark DeSaulnier to begin the process of drafting a Cottage Food Law for California. The Los Angeles Bread Bakers are also organizing in Southern California around the need for this law and welcomes the support of all home bakers. Bear in mind, home food processing is not allow in the state of California, even bake sales are currently illegal in California.
http://homebasedbaking.com/knowledgebase/rules-regulations/california/
Loretta says:
January 11, 2012 at 8:37 amI’m with Zack. Our government already has their hands to the bottom of our pockets and far too much say in our everyday life as it is.
My garden and the blessings that come from it, are for me, my family, my friends and neighbors. Not inviting Uncle Sam in at all. If Uncle Sam gets his hands in the pot, then there is no longer a blessing, just another tax and tons of regulations.
Of course, I’m not selling anything either.
Karen says:
January 4, 2012 at 9:03 amOOOoooo! This is awesome! I would love to start a cottage business like those mentioned… how do I find out what the requirements would be to get licensed once Illinois passes this? Maybe I could get a jump start on getting ready!!!
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 9:29 amCheck out the link that I featured in “Resources” Many states have already passed such a bill… maybe yours? 🙂
Karen says:
January 4, 2012 at 9:44 amNo… Illinois is pending… any resourses available to look up criteria other states use?
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 9:52 amI just added another resource link check out http://homebasedbaking.com/cottage-food-laws/
Ginger says:
January 4, 2012 at 10:04 amGovernment intervention always sounds good. However, when they get their fingers in your pie, they always are greedy for more.
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 2:56 pmCalifornia does not currently have a Cottage Food Law allowing its citizens to operate a home based bakery or food processing business. For details about small/home food processing contact your local health departments or the state Department of Agriculture.
A Cottage Food Law initiative was started in the state of California by the Sustainable Economies Law Center located in the Bay Area. This group met recently with State Senator Mark DeSaulnier to begin the process of drafting a Cottage Food Law for California. The Los Angeles Bread Bakers are also organizing in Southern California around the need for this law and welcomes the support of all home bakers.
Bear in mind, home food processing is not allow in the state of California, even bake sales are currently illegal in California.
http://homebasedbaking.com/knowledgebase/rules-regulations/california/
Ginger says:
January 4, 2012 at 4:23 pmOh, so they are already have their fingers in your pie, and you are trying to get them out. Good for you. Little Jack Horner is being sent to the corner instead of your front porch stand! Hurray!
Pat says:
January 4, 2012 at 10:50 amThey just passed a similar bill here in Texas.
Great article.
Will be reading the other links.
Thanks!
Pat
Anais Dervaes says:
January 4, 2012 at 11:17 amThanks for your positive comments, hopefully CA will follow Texas! 🙂
The Weekend Homesteader says:
January 4, 2012 at 1:03 pmThis is great information. Thanks for the links. I’m happy to see GA on the list of pending.
Heather :) :) :) says:
January 4, 2012 at 6:58 pmI signed your petition 🙂
Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Anais Dervaes says:
January 5, 2012 at 5:31 amThank you! Hope you are enjoying the CA sunshine where you are. Love and hugs….
martin johnstone, outer hebrides says:
January 5, 2012 at 12:51 pmI think this sounds like a positive step to have this bill. Wether it it proves to be more of a hindrance than a help, could depend on how much the people make it known to their elected government representatives, that they want it to be a non interfering, non taxed type of set up?
Deanna says:
February 25, 2012 at 6:42 amThanks for the links in this blog. My oldest son is an avid baker but has been limited to baking for sale because of the laws in our area. However, the link you provided us helped me locate the actual law that was just passed last year.
Sue Clabby says:
April 9, 2012 at 12:51 pmFolks,
Do we know the status of the home business/baking proposal?
Here it is April already. Harvest is out there and this would be a great
accomplishement for all of home bakers. I am a dog treat baker boxed in
by the CA laws stating I have to rent a commercial for meat free dog treats.
Just so exhausting!
Thanks, Sue
Anais Dervaes says:
April 9, 2012 at 2:27 pmThe hearing date for the bill going before the Health Committee has been pushed back to April 17. There’s an amendment process going on to clarify some of the language which is taking longer than expected. What the California Homemade Food Act, AB 1616, would accomplish, if passed – a summary http://www.theselc.org/cottagefood/cottage-food-lawscottage-food-law-bill-language/