On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to ensure home kitchen operation permits would become permanent.
Under the ordinance, which began as a pilot, Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) will continue. 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.
Supervisor Diane Burgis highlighted the county went into this policy “carefully” but also allow people to do this while ensuring people are protection from situations that could be threatening to health or preventing something that could be lethal.
Burgis also noted she recently visited Genesis Church and they had a community kitchen and questioned if they are seeing more of these facilities opening throughout the county.
“It’s a nice way for people to network with each other and also have some other opportunities,” said Burgis.
Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston asked about vendors out selling food items and how to do outreach to them so they could participate in the program. Staff said its complaint based that staff have to respond to informal food vendors operating without a permit—a tiered approach from a warning/education.
Supervisor John Gioia said the idea was to start as a pilot and then expand it by taking advantage of state law. He said it could also lead to a surge in home businesses.
“I was excited when we started this pilot program because I saw an opportunity and heard from a number of residents, small businesses, immigrant community about the desire to provide more opportunities for more home permitted kitchen,” said Gioia. “It’s great to see this kind of growth around the county and well spread out.”
Supervisor Candace Andersen called it a great program and was supportive of the pilot program.
“As we saw in the map, San Ramon particularly, a very diverse community, particularly the Indian and Chinese population, people want food from their regions and they may not have the time to prepare it themselves and there are not enough restaurants,” said Andersen. “I think its great it has been successful and I think it can continue to be so, so after public comment, I am going to support it.”
During public comments, Chris Lujan, owner of Cafe Lujan in Pittsburg, said the program helped him achieve the American Dream and that he felt that “this is bringing neighborhoods back together.”
After several public comments, all in support, the Board of Supervisors quickly moved the item.
Gioia called it an example of government responding to the needs of the community and found a way to make a new business model work and keep it safe. The board voted 5-0 in support.
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
Previous
- May 10, 2026 – Contra Costa County Set to Make Home Kitchen Operations Permanent
- 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.
