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Updated:   2026-04-07

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Measure
Authors Arambula  
Subject Microenterprise home kitchen operations.
Relating To relating to the California Retail Food Code.
Title An act to amend Section 114367 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to the California Retail Food Code.
Last Action Dt 2026-03-19
State Amended Assembly
Status In Committee Process
Flags
Vote Req Approp Fiscal Cmte Local Prog Subs Chgs Urgency Tax Levy Active?
Majority No Yes Yes None No No Y
i
Leginfo Link  
Bill Actions
2026-03-23     Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-19     Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-19     From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-20     From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19     Read first time. To print.
Versions
Amended Assembly     2026-03-19
Introduced     2026-02-19
Analyses TBD
Latest Text Bill Full Text
Latest Text Digest

Existing law, the California Retail Food Code (code), authorizes the governing body of a city, county, or city and county that is designated as the enforcement agency to permit microenterprise home kitchen operations (MEHKOs), and prohibits MEHKOs from operating unless they have obtained a permit from the enforcement agency. Existing law requires the permitting of MEHKOs to apply to all areas within a city, county, or city and county’s jurisdiction, including to all cities within a county that authorizes MEHKOs. Existing law requires MEHKOs, as a restricted food service facility, to meet specified food safety standards. Existing law makes a violation of the code a misdemeanor.

This bill would instead require the governing body of a city, county, or city and county that is designated as the enforcement agency to grant a nondiscretionary permit to use a residence as a MEHKO, and would prohibit a governing body of a city, county, or city and county that is designated as the enforcement agency from prohibiting MEHKOs from operating in any residential dwelling. The bill would prohibit the governing body of a city, county, or city and county from imposing a restriction on the number of MEHKOs permitted to operate within the governing body’s jurisdiction or restrict operations based on geography.

This bill would require the enforcement agency to issue a permit without a hearing and would prohibit the enforcement agency from requiring, among other things, additional permits, approvals, or discretionary review by any other local department or agency. The bill would require the enforcement agency to be the sole local permitting authority of a MEHKO, and would require the enforcement agency to make permits available no later than July 1, 2027.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.