Microkitchens (MEHKO)

As of January 1, 2019, AB 626, known as the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations Act, became law. This law authorizes San Mateo County to permit home kitchens for retail use.  

A Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) is a food facility that is operated by a resident from their private home kitchen. Once permitted, a resident can store, handle, prepare, and serve food to the public, as allowed by State law, similar to a restaurant. State law does place limits on the number of meals that can be served by a MEHKO, revenue that can be earned, and on how certain foods can be prepared, among other requirements.  

San Mateo County is conducting a two-year pilot program for these types of facilities.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Review the following documents:

• MEHKO Guidelines | MEHKO Guia | MEHKO Mga Patnubay | MEHKO 指南
• MEHKO Frequently Asked Questions | MEHKO Preguntas Frecuentes | MEHKO Mga Madalas Itanong | MEHKO 常見問題解答
• MEHKO Outreach Presentation | MEHKO Presentación | MEHKO 推介會 | MEHKO Pagtatanghal

2. Watch an online presentation.

MEHKO 101 and Food Safety – Preparing for and Passing Your MEHKO Inspection
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 
Presentation Recorded in English 
Training PowerPoint Slides English | Español | 中文

3. Complete and submit a MEHKO Permit Application Packet:
    a. MEHKO Permit Application | MEHKO Permit Application Example
    b. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Form | Procedimientos de Operacion Estandár (SOP) | 微型企業家庭廚房營運 (MEHKO) 標準作業程序 (SOPs)
    c. Rental Notification Form (Applicable only if renting)
    d. Permit Fee (Permit fees for this Program are waived until 2023.)

4. Check with the city you live in for additional requirements.

5. Sign up for important Environmental Health Services MEHKO updates.

MEHKO REQUIREMENTS

• A permit issued from San Mateo County Environmental Health Services. 
• No more than one full-time employee, (not including family members or household members) may work at the MEHKO. 
• The MEHKO operator shall successfully pass an approved and accredited food safety manager certification examination.  
• Any person(s) involved in the MEHKO must obtain a food handler card certificate from an approved California provider. 
• Food shall be prepared, cooked, and served on the same day. 
• People can dine at your home, or order take out or delivery. 

MEHKOs are NOT allowed to: 

• Serve or sell raw oysters. 
• Produce or sell raw milk. 
• Conduct processes that require a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan. 
• Manufacture ice cream or dairy products. 
• Serve alcohol or food that contains alcohol without a license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Program. 
• Resell food to other food facilities. 
• Display signage or other outdoor advertising. 
• Employ more than one full-time employee. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• MEHKO Guidelines | MEHKO Guia | MEHKO Mga Patnubay | MEHKO 指南
• MEHKO Frequently Asked Questions | MEHKO Preguntas Frecuentes | MEHKO Mga Madalas Itanong | MEHKO 常見問題解答
• MEHKO Permit Application | MEHKO Permit Application Example
  (Applications may be submitted for review starting August 15, 2021.)
• MEHKO 101 and Food Safety – Preparing for and Passing Your MEHKO Inspection English | Español | 
• MEHKO Flyer | MEHKO Volantes | MEHKO 傳單 | Flyer ng MEHKO
• Internet Food Service Intermediary Contact List
• California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control MEHKO guidance
• Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations Act AB 626

For more information, please call (650) 372-6200 or email mehko@smcgov.org.

NEW! Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) Approved Ordinance 

Board of Supervisors approved making Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) permanent

California Assembly Bill 626 (AB 626), as amended, established Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (“MEHKOs”) as a new category of food facility under the California Health and Safety Code section 113700, et seq. AB 626 authorizes the use of home kitchens for small-scale, direct food sales by home cooks to consumers.  For MEHKOs to legally operate in the County, the Board of Supervisors (Board) must adopt an ordinance or resolution to affirmatively “Opt-In” to the permitting program established by AB 626. 

July 20, 2021, the Board authorized a MEHKO “pilot program,” which authorized Environmental Health Services (EHS) to permit MEHKOs for a two-year period.  The pilot program provided the opportunity to assess the benefits of MEHKOs throughout the County before permanently adopting an ordinance. 

On September 12, 2023 the Board passed an ordinance to permanently authorize EHS to permit MEHKOs pursuant to AB 626; to fund the cost of 
administering this permit program through establishment of an annual permit fee; and to continue providing MEHKO businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic another year of zero permit fees by covering this fee for a one-year period.  

The MEHKO annual permit fee will be waived until October 2024. Effective November 2024, the a permit fee will of $1,108.00 will be charged.

For questions pertaining to the ordinance, email EnvHealth@smcgov.org.  Additionally, the September 12th Board meeting recording can be found here.

PERMITTED MEHKO OPERATORS 

Burlingame

Masa’s BBQ
Richard Shiohira

Daly City

Buddha’s Joy
Michael Chan

JC Home Kitchen
Woong Choi

East Palo Alto

Antojitos La Guera
Liborio Figuero

Half Moon Bay

Rte. 92
Marty Mullarkey

Menlo Park

Lovely Tea Parties
Paula Liebner 

North Fair Oaks

Alicia’s Tacos
Alicia Pacheco

Pacifica

Eggroll Society
Alexandra Seeney

Redwood City

The Bhas Lady LLC
Alpa Bhas

San Carlos 

Mama Chee
Michelle Hoy 

San Mateo

Marissa Cakes
Marissa Yao 

Mary’s Small Kitchen
Mary Ann Gonzalez 

Shazzys Homestyle
Shaharazad Chan

Table For 6
Christina Wu

South San Francisco 

Bayarea Homemade
Rubyjean Velasco

Fiji Indian Kitchen
Praneeta Sharma