Want to operate a food business from your home kitchen in Santa Barbara County? A Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permit might be what you need. Here’s a breakdown:
- Review Guidelines: Start by reading the official guidelines: MEHKO Guidelines (English) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO Guia (Spanish) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO Mga Patnubay (Tagalog) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO 指南 (Chinese) (opens in a new tab)
- Complete the Application Packet:
- Download and complete the MEHKO Permit Application (opens in a new tab).
- Fill out the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Form (opens in a new tab).
- Complete the Rental Notification Form (opens in a new tab) if applicable.
- Submit Your Application: Mail or hand-deliver the completed packet with the required permit fee. Note: Permit fees for this program are waived until 2023.
- Food Safety: Pass a food safety manager certification exam, and get a food handler card for other individuals involved.
Key MEHKO Points:
- MEHKOs are operated from private home kitchens.
- Food must be prepared, cooked, and served on the same day.
- There are limits on the number of meals that can be served, and the revenue you can make.
- Home-based chefs cannot sell at wholesale or to other food facilities.
Important Links:
- MEHKO Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab)
- MEHKO Outreach Presentation (English) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO Presentación (Spanish) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO 推介會 (Chinese) (opens in a new tab) | MEHKO Pagtatanghal (Tagalog) (opens in a new tab)
- Contact: <a href=”mailto:mehko@smcgov.org”>mehko@smcgov.org</a> or call (650) 372-6200.
Remember, this is a basic summary. You need to review the official documents for all requirements.
