How long does it take to get a MEHKO permit in Contra Costa County?

Typically 3 to 8 weeks from submitting a complete application. The biggest variable is how quickly you can get the initial inspection scheduled, and whether your SOP needs revisions.

Do I need a commercial kitchen?

No. MEHKO is specifically for ordinary home kitchens. You need working refrigeration, a way to wash hands, a probe thermometer, and a clean space — not commercial equipment or a separate kitchen.

Can I get a MEHKO permit if I rent?

Yes, the law doesn't require you to own your home. Check your lease and any HOA rules for home-business restrictions, though — the health department won't, but your landlord might.

Is a Food Handler card enough?

No. MEHKO requires the Food Protection Manager certification (ServSafe Manager or an equivalent ANSI-accredited exam). The Food Handler card is a lower-level credential for employees.

How to Get a MEHKO Permit in Contra Costa County: Steps, Cost & Timeline (2026)

The short answer

To sell home-cooked meals legally in Contra Costa County, you need a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permit from the Contra Costa Environmental Health. The process: earn a Food Protection Manager certificate, write your standard operating procedures, submit the application and fee, pass a home kitchen inspection, then get your city business license. Expect 3–8 weeks from application to your first sale. Once permitted, you can sell up to 30 meals a day, 90 a week, and $100,000 a year.

MEHKO in Contra Costa County: the basics

Contra Costa Health began issuing MEHKO permits on July 1, 2024 under a time-limited pilot, then in May 2026 the Board of Supervisors voted to make the program permanent. If you held off applying because the pilot might lapse, that concern is gone. Contra Costa also publishes MEHKO inspection records online, the same way it does for restaurants.

The permit covers home kitchens in Richmond, Concord, Walnut Creek, Antioch, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Danville, Martinez, Brentwood, Pleasant Hill, El Cerrito, Hercules, Oakley, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, and unincorporated areas of the county. If you're not sure which jurisdiction you fall under, the department's website has an address lookup, or you can call them.

Step by step: how to apply

Get your Food Protection Manager certificate. MEHKO requires the manager-level certification (ServSafe Manager, Prometric, NRFSP, or 360training), not the basic Food Handler card. The course is online, takes a day, and costs roughly $100–$150 including the proctored exam. It's valid for five years.
Write your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This is the document the health department reads most closely. It describes your menu, how you'll receive and store ingredients, cooking and holding temperatures, how you'll clean and sanitize, how you'll handle allergens, and how customers will pick up or receive delivery. Most counties provide a template — use it.
Fill out the MEHKO application. Download it from the Contra Costa Environmental Health website. You'll attach your SOP, your certificate, a simple sketch of your kitchen layout, your proposed menu, and proof of your water and sewage source (a utility bill works for city water).
Pay the application fee. Contra Costa Environmental Health publishes the MEHKO application and annual fee on its Home Kitchens page; fees were revised when the program went permanent, so use the current schedule rather than older figures circulating online.
Schedule the initial inspection. An inspector visits your home kitchen to confirm what's in your SOP: working refrigeration at or below 41°F, a way to check food temperatures (a probe thermometer), a handwashing setup, sanitizer, no pets in the kitchen while operating, and a clean, pest-free space. They're checking for a safe operation, not a commercial kitchen.
Receive your permit. Once you pass, the department issues your MEHKO permit and permit number. Keep it posted; platforms like Makinson Street require it and display it on your profile.
Get your city business license and seller's permit. Most cities require a business license or home occupation permit. If you sell taxable items, register with CDTFA for a seller's permit. Neither is issued by the health department, and both are usually quick.

What Contra Costa County specifically requires

Applications are reviewed in order received. During the pilot, review times stretched when demand spiked; a complete first submission avoids the back-and-forth.
Your permit must be displayed at your home, and your inspection history is public on cchealth.org — which is a selling point once you have a clean record.
The SOP template asks specifically about cooling procedures — even for same-day service, inspectors want to see you understand the 135°F → 70°F → 41°F cooling windows if you hold anything.
East County well water (parts of Brentwood, Oakley, Byron) requires a potability test.

What you can and can't do once permitted

Allowed	Not allowed
Cook and sell full meals, including meat, rice, and hot food	More than 30 meals/day or 90 meals/week
Sell for pickup, dine-in at your home, or deliver yourself	Third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub)
List on an ordering marketplace like Makinson Street	Preparing food a day ahead — everything is same-day
Employ one full-time-equivalent non-household worker	Sous vide, curing, smoking for preservation, canning, or anything needing a HACCP plan
Take card payments online or cash in person	Raw milk, raw oysters, or selling to other food businesses
Earn up to $100,000/year in gross sales	Running a Cottage Food Operation from the same address at the same time

What it costs, all in

Food Protection Manager course + exam: $100–$150
Contra Costa County MEHKO application and annual permit: see fee note above
City business license: typically $25–$150/year, varies by city
Probe thermometer, sanitizer test strips, labels: under $50
Liability insurance (optional but recommended): $25–$50/month for a home food business policy

and once you're permitted —

Makinson Street lists permitted makers for 3% on card orders (plus Stripe's processing fee) and nothing on in-person payments. Read how much home cooks actually make and how to price a meal, or apply to become a maker — we'll verify your permit and walk you through your first listing.

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