Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation
Prepare and Sell Food Legally Out of Your Kitchen with MEHKOs
Are you looking for a way to earn money by preparing and selling food from your home kitchen? Look no further! LA County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation ordinance is now effective countywide and allows individuals to operate a small scale restaurant from their homes.
About MEHKO
A Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation, or MEHKO, is a small scale, home-based restaurant, within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Division. Food is prepared, handled, and served from the resident’s private home kitchen for on-site consumption, take out, or delivery. A MEHKO can sell up to 30 meals per day, but no more than 90 meals per week, with an annual sales limit of $100,000.
How to Obtain a MEHKO Permit
Operators are advised to contact their local jurisdiction to determine any local permitting requirements (e.g., business license) that must be obtained before operation. To obtain a MEHKO permit, submit an application packet to the Environmental Health Division that includes the following documents:
- A completed Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) form. Please visit ph.lacounty.gov/MEHKO for the form.
- For MEHKOs, a meal is generally defined to include various dishes that a typical person can consume in one sitting. A meal may include one or more of the following: a main dish, appetizers, side dishes, beverages, baked goods, or desserts. See restrictions below on the type of food that can be served by a MEHKO
- A copy of the operator’s Food Manager Protection Certificate.
- Copies of Food Handler Cards for any employees or family/household members assisting in the preparation, storage, or service of food in the MEHKO.
- A copy of well-water test results for nitrate, nitrite, and bacteriological water quality, if using well-water.
- Payment for the initial inspection and application review. For a limited time through June 30, 2026, Los Angeles County is offering a one-time subsidy on a first-come, first-serve basis for up to 1,000 MEHKO permittees to offset the initial $597 application review fee. Other permit related fees may apply.
Need to Know Operational Requirements
As you consider opening a MEHKO from your home, there are some operational requirements to keep in mind:
- Direct sales on-site, direct delivery, or on approved food cart; MEHKO can’t sell food to stores, wholesales businesses, or at farmers markets
- Food can only be prepared and stored in permitted areas of the home
- Equipment must be in good repair, clean, and sanitized; Commercial equipment and/or appliances are not required
- Food must be prepared, served, or disposed of by the end of the day
- Oil and grease disposal must be done in an approved manner
- It is subject to an annual inspection and complaint-based investigations, just like other retail food businesses
- A MEHKO is limited to one full-time employee (up to 40 hours a week) or multiple employees whose total working hours combined do not exceed 40 hours per week; this does not include a family or a household member
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the permit requirements?
Ordinance will include the permitting requirements and fees:
- •Public Health Permit Application Fees
- New application required for menu changes
- Public Health Annual Health Permit Fees
- Fees are paid annually
- Fees are established based on the cost to administer the program
- The fees are currently with the Auditor/Controller for approval
- •Only one permit can be issued at a residential home
Can a MEHKO have employees?
A MEHKO is limited to one full-time employee (up to 40 hours a week) or multiple employees where the total working hours for all employees combined do not exceed 40 hours per week; that does not include a family or a household member.
Are there any restrictions to the type of food a MEHKO can serve?
A MEHKO can prepare and sell foods that have been approved as part of their menu by the Environmental Health Division.
A MEHKO business may not prepare food or beverages that:
- Involves the production, service, or sale of raw milk or raw milk products.
- Involves raw bottled juice from home.
- Involves the service or sale of raw oysters.
- Involves food processes that require a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP). The following specialized food processes require a HACCP plan:
- Smoking food as a method of food preservation.
- Curing food.
- Using food additives or adding components such as vinegar as a method of food preservation.
- Operating a molluscan shellfish life support system display tank used to store and display shellfish that are offered for human consumption.
- Using acidification or activity to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum.
Packaging potentially hazardous food using a Reduced-Oxygen Packaging (ROP) method.
Where can I advertise my MEHKO business?
MEHKOs are not allowed to have signs that advertise their business on the MEHKO property. MEHKOs may advertise in other ways. For example, MEHKOs may use an internet food service intermediary (IFSI) or other online platforms that lists or promotes the MEHKO on its Internet website, mobile application, or social media. They can also advertise in a newspaper, newsletter, or other public announcement. MEHKO advertisement should include the following information:
- the name of the local enforcement agency that issued the permit (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division).
- the permit number.
- the statement “Made in a Home Kitchen”. “Made in a Home Kitchen” statement needs to be in a clear, visible font and location within the advertisement.
Contact the LA County Office of Small Business
LA County’s Office of Small Business (OSB) is the County’s one-stop shop dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs kick start, grow, and thrive! You can connect with OSB in-person, online, or over the phone:
Call or Email: 844-432-4900
osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov
Visit: 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Bldg. B Los Angeles, CA 90022
Need help ? Sign up for a concierge appointment with our Office of Small Business to:
- Discuss your MEHKO
- Understand the necessary permits and regulations
- Receive advice on the application process and required documentation
- Learn about resources and support available to you
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