Microenterprise Home Kitchen Ordinance Proposed to Assist Individual Entrepreneurs

Interest in permitted home kitchens would allow food preparation and sale to the public.

UPDATE 5/6: This agenda item will be brought to the Board at a later date.

Marin County, CA – In post-pandemic Marin County, buying meals from  vendors making home-cooked food has grown exponentially as a culinary choice for hungry consumers. Until now, regulations have not given the opportunity for these start-up food entrepreneurs to thrive. The County of Marin is proposing an ordinance to foster these microbusinesses and create pathways for legal food vending.

The Marin County Community Development Agency is introducing a draft ordinance to establish a countywide microenterprise home kitchen operations (MEHKO) permit program during the May 6 meeting of the Board of Supervisors. If the Board approves the introduction, the topic will return to the Supervisors’ consent agenda May 20 for consideration of adoption.

The MEHKO program was recognized by the State of California to allow local governments to create permitting structures that allow individuals making home-cooked meals to start or partner with permitted mobile food vendors.   Marin’s ordinance would create opportunities for such food entrepreneurs throughout the county to diversify their income streams while introducing a framework for these operations to adhere to environmental health standards and follow safe food-handling practices. CDA’s Environmental Health Services Division would oversee the program.

Improving equity is a strong motivation for the MEHKO ordinance. A MEHKO gives an opportunity for a person to cultivate a food business without requiring the capital or process needed for a full brick-and-mortar business, giving new business owners a stepping stone to the next level of operations.

“From an economic vitality and equity perspective, this initiative helps empower local entrepreneurs who traditionally face barriers in achieving business ownership,” said Raissa de la Rosa, Marin’s economic vitality coordinator. “MEHKO is a step toward addressing longstanding disparities in Marin and encourages more vibrant and available food options throughout the county. Equally important, this ordinance provides a pathway for previously unpermitted home cooks and mobile food vendors to become compliant with state and local laws.”

Implementation of a MEHKO program would define key terms, establish permitting and inspection requirements, outline the terms of non-compliance and penalties for violations, and set fees to recover costs of the program. The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health provided a $56,540 grant to help offset program costs; that will be combined with $100,000 previously allocated by the Board to assist in reducing or waiving fees for eligible applicants and those from underserved communities.

The May 6 agenda item is scheduled for the Board’s morning session, which begins at 9 AM. The meeting is taking place in Suite 330 of the Marin County Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. The meetings are livestreamed on the County website, and participants can contribute in-person or online; details are on the Board’s meeting archive webpage. 

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