How long does it take to get a MEHKO permit in Los Angeles 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.

Is the LA County MEHKO application fee still waived?

The county announced a waiver of the $597 application review fee for up to 1,000 eligible permittees as a 2026 launch subsidy. Whether it's still available depends on how many have been issued — check the department's page or call before applying.

I'm in Long Beach or Pasadena — can I get a MEHKO permit?

Long Beach approved its own program in April 2026; apply through the Long Beach Health Department. Pasadena has not opted in, so cottage food is the only home-based option there for now.

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

The short answer

To sell home-cooked meals legally in Los Angeles County (except Pasadena and Long Beach and Vernon, which run their own health departments), you need a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 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 Los Angeles County: the basics

The LA County Board of Supervisors approved MEHKO in May 2024, making the largest county in the state — and the biggest single market for home cooks in the country — open for permits. The program launched with a subsidy: the county has been waiving the initial application fee for the first 1,000 eligible permittees.

The permit covers home kitchens in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Glendale, Torrance, Inglewood, Burbank, Culver City, West Hollywood, Compton, Downey, Pomona, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, El Monte, Whittier, and unincorporated areas (except Pasadena and Long Beach and Vernon, which run their own health departments). 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 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 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. LA County's MEHKO application review fee is $597 and the annual permit is $347. The county has been waiving the $597 review fee for the first 1,000 eligible applicants through its 2026 subsidy — check the department's MEHKO page to see whether the waiver is still open when you apply.
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 Los Angeles County specifically requires

Pasadena, Long Beach, and Vernon are excluded because they run their own health departments. Long Beach approved its own MEHKO program in April 2026 with applications opening mid-2026; Pasadena has not opted in as of this writing.
LA County requires a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential to be on file before approval — same as elsewhere, but the county is strict that it's the manager-level cert.
Employees are capped at 40 combined hours per week for non-household workers.
The county SOP template is long. Set aside an evening for it; it asks about everything from where you'll store personal food separately to how you'll handle a customer allergy question.

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
Los Angeles 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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