How much is a cottage food permit in Alameda County?
Alameda County Environmental Health charges $190 for a Class A cottage food registration and $450 for a Class B permit (county fee schedule). You submit the application, self-certification, label samples and your California food handler card by mail or walk-in to the county office at 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda. Berkeley runs its own health department, so Berkeley residents apply to the City of Berkeley instead.
Key facts
- Class A fee
- $190
- Class B fee
- $450
- How to submit
- By mail or walk-in, 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda CA 94502
- Renewal
- Annual — the documents are re-submitted with the renewal fee
- Not covered
- Berkeley (own environmental health department)
- City steps
- Oakland: Zoning Clearance, then a Business Tax Certificate
Step by step
- Complete the county CFO registration/permit form and permit application.
- Sign the self-certification checklist.
- Get a California food handler card and include a copy.
- Prepare one label sample for each category of product.
- If your label shows a business name instead of your own name, include proof of a business directory listing.
- If your water comes from a private well, include recent well water test results.
- Mail or walk in the packet with the fee, then complete your city business registration.
Questions
Where do I submit a cottage food application in Alameda County?
Alameda County Environmental Health accepts cottage food applications by US mail or walk-in at 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda CA 94502.
Do I need an Oakland business license to sell cottage food?
Yes. Oakland requires a Zoning Clearance, even for a home-based business (you apply online and pay when you submit), and then a Business Tax Certificate. Both are in addition to the county cottage food registration or permit.
I live in Berkeley. Do I apply to Alameda County?
No. Berkeley has its own environmental health department, so Berkeley cottage food operators apply to the City of Berkeley.
Official sources
- Cottage Food Operations — forms and instructions — Alameda County Department of Environmental Health
- Environmental Health fee schedule (fees 2091, 2092, 2093) — Alameda County Department of Environmental Health
- Cottage Food Operations — California Department of Public Health
- Zoning Clearance Permit (needed before a Business Tax Certificate) — City of Oakland
Last checked against official sources on . Regulatory OS explains official requirements and prepares applications; it is not a government agency and does not give legal advice. Agencies make all permit decisions.