Open a permitted home kitchen

What a permitted home kitchen (MEHKO) is

MEHKO stands for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation: a small food business run by a resident inside a private home. It is the legal way to sell food cooked in your own home directly to the public in this state, and the permit is issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Cual.co has been an approved MEHKO intermediary since November 2024. That means you can list your kitchen on our platform and reach customers in your own city and neighborhood, with no commissions.

Requirements

• •Public Health Permit issued by the LA County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division.
• •The operator must live in the home and is responsible for the operation.
• •The operator must pass an accredited Certified Food Protection Manager exam. Anyone else helping out needs a food handler card.
• •Food is prepared, cooked, and served the same day, and sold directly to consumers: on-site, by delivery, or from approved food carts.
• •Leftover food must be disposed of at the end of the day.
• •Fat, oil, and grease must be disposed of in an approved manner.
• •The cooking area must have a type 10:BC fire extinguisher.

Limitations

• •One permit per resident, per owner.
• •No more than one full-time employee (40 hours), or several employees whose combined hours do not exceed 40 per week.
• •You may not produce, serve, or sell raw milk products.
• •You may not serve or sell raw oysters.
• •You may not operate as a caterer or as a Cottage Food Operator.
• •You may not resell food to other food businesses.
• •No signage or outdoor advertising is allowed on the home.
• •You may not use third-party delivery apps such as Grubhub or Uber Eats.
• •You may not sell or serve food with alcohol without an Alcoholic Beverage Control License.
• •Up to 30 meals per day or 90 per week, with an annual sales cap of $100,000 (which may increase if you operate alongside a compact mobile food operation).

How to get the permit

1. 1.Submit the Public Health application, your Standard Operating Procedure, your menu, and your Certified Food Protection Manager certificate.
2. 2.Submit food handler cards for anyone helping out, either up front or within 30 days of hiring them.
3. 3.Submit well-water testing results, if applicable.
4. 4.Pay the associated fees.
5. 5.Schedule a home inspection.