LOS ANGELES, CA – Home cooks who serve food to the public will soon be able to obtain permits as part of a new program launched Monday in Los Angeles County.
The county’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation, or MEHKO, program allows residents to operate food establishments from their homes or other private kitchen spaces, creating what county officials refer to as a “mini restaurant.”
The permits, which can be applied for starting Monday, are expected to be issued starting Nov. 1. Once licensed, a resident will be able to store, handle, prepare and serve food in their homes, as permitted by California Health and Safety. Code.
“MEHKOs represent an important economic vehicle for entrepreneurial county residents – particularly women, immigrants and communities of color – to create new opportunities in the formal economy,” Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said in a statement. “The MEHKO program is a revolutionary step toward allowing home kitchens to operate legally and safely, allowing countless people to turn their culinary passions into thriving businesses.
The Board of Supervisors in May approved legislation establishing the program, which requires business owners to pay an application fee of $597 and an annual health permit fee of $347.
The program includes a set of rules:
- Businesses can only have one full-time equivalent employee, excluding family or household members.
- Operators need the Certified Food Protection Manager certificate.
- Anyone involved in the business must have a food handler card certificate.
- Food must be prepared, cooked and served or delivered the same day it is prepared.
- Businesses cannot sell more than 30 meals per day or 90 meals per week, with a total revenue of $100,000 per year.
- Resale of food to other facilities is not permitted.
- Businesses may not use third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats, except as required by the California Health and Safety Code.
- Businesses cannot serve alcohol or food containing alcohol without a proper license.
- Businesses are not allowed to operate a restaurant business.
The council also approved a $600,000 grant program that will offer up to 1,000 eligible applicants a one-time grant equal to 100% of the initial application fee of $597. Eligibility will be limited to new MEHKO applicants with annual net revenues of less than $50,000.
The order will affect businesses throughout the county, except those in Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon, which are overseen by those cities’ individual health departments.
Under the ordinance, a MEHKO may also be approved to serve as a commissary for up to two food carts or compact mobile food operations. In these cases, kitchens will be limited to 80 meals per day and no more than 200 meals per week. Gross sales for a MEHKO operating as a commissioner will be $150,000.
“Our Home Kitchen Microbusiness Operations Ordinance allows Los Angeles County to align with the state in creating a pathway for unregulated chefs to obtain licensing and builds on our efforts to provide guardrails that protect residents and brick-and-mortar businesses, while helping thousands of street vendors and chefs benefit from our local economy,” Supervisor Holly Mitchell said in a statement.
The Department of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health will authorize permits and conduct annual inspections and complaints-based investigations.
“Through the growth of MEHKOs, we are committed to providing food entrepreneurs with the skills and tools needed to increase knowledge of food safety practices when serving the public,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the DPH, said in a statement.
Applications are available online.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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