On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will look to make permanent a program for Permitting Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO).
Last July, the county announced the pilot program and will now look to make it permanent.
Currently, the legislation permits counties to authorize individuals to use their home kitchens to prepare, sell and serve up to 30 meals per day, or 90 meals per week, and collect a maximum annual revenue of $100,000, as adjusted annually for inflation based on the California Consumer Price Index. Family members can be employed to help operate MEHKOs, along with a maximum of one paid non-family employee.
Risky food preparation techniques are prohibited and menus are restricted to items that can be prepared and sold the same day. Meals can be served in the home, picked up by the customer, or delivered by the Microenterprise Home Kitchen operator.
According to the county, MEHKOs require an annual valid health permit issued by the Contra Costa Health, EHD, an initial permitting inspection and an annual routine inspection thereafter. MEHKO owners are required to obtain a Food Manager certificate and employees are required to obtain a Food Handler card.
According to Contra Costa County data, 94 were permitted June 24-February 2026 while 34 renewed permitting through 2026-27.
The county received 2 complaints for MEHKO’s over the two-year pilot program. They also were informed of 3 local code enforcement complaints – note, only 4 agencies responded to the survey while Walnut Creek and El Cerrito reported no MEHKO complaints. They also uncovered 6 unpermitted food operations obtained MEHKO permits after investigations by EHD
To date, at least fifteen counties have permanently authorized these operations.
- 298 – Los Angeles County
- 204 – Santa Clara County
- 155 – San Diego County
- 102 – Riverside County
- 79 – Contra Costa County
- 73 – Alameda County
- 43 – Imperial County
- 30 – Monterey County
Per the Staff Report:
The MEHKO pilot program has demonstrated strong compliance, equitable participation, broad geographic coverage, significant community demand, successful transition of previously unpermitted food businesses into compliance, and no adverse public health impacts. The program aligns with statewide regulation and provides meaningful economic opportunities for home‑based food entrepreneurs while maintaining adequate public health protections.
Staff has completed a multi‑source evaluation using EHD permitting data, GIS spatial datasets, complaint logs, operator technical assistance records, workshop activity, and statewide jurisdictional surveys. EHD permitting data shows that the MEHKO pilot program achieved broad geographic reach across West, Central, and East County, including Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Rodeo, Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Moraga, Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, Brentwood, Danville, and San Ramon. As of April 22, 2026, 34 MEHKO operators have applied for renewal in current permit year demonstrating sustained participation and program viability. The pilot program has served as a powerful catalyst for inclusive economic development, lowering the barrier to entry for a diverse coalition of local entrepreneurs. Demographic data collected from permitted operators indicates that the program is predominantly supporting women-owned microenterprises and individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, including Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. Furthermore, the program is actively generating supplemental income opportunities across all socioeconomic tiers, successfully serving households earning under $50,000 annually alongside higher-income brackets.
The benefits of authorizing Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations continue to include:
• Increases economic opportunities;
• Encourages safer and legal home businesses;
• Allows people to learn how to operate small-scale food businesses;
• Enables in-home care for families while still generating income;
• Creates additional family income; and
• Provides food in remote locations and food deserts.
Documents:
- Staff Report: Click Here
- Presentation: Click Here
- Ordinance: Click Here
Previous
- July 2024 – New Health Permit Allows Home Kitchens to Sell Meals to the Public in Contra Costa: Beginning July 1, Contra Costa Health (CCH) offers a new type of food permit for small-scale, home-based restaurants operated inside private homes by their residents. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout. The board unanimously adopted an ordinance in May authorizing the county to offer the permit under terms of a 2018 state law. Several other Bay Area jurisdictions already do so, including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties, and the City of Berkeley.