Coachella Valley · MEHKO Permit Guide
Your Kitchen Could Be
Your Business.
California's MEHKO law lets licensed home chefs sell home-cooked meals directly from their kitchens. Lore helps you get permitted and start earning in the Coachella Valley.
Become a Chef on Lore →"Passed down. Cooked fresh."
🔥 Attend a Free Workshop
Lore hosts free in-person MEHKO workshops in the Coachella Valley. We walk you through every step together.
The Basics
What is a MEHKO?
MEHKO stands for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation. California AB 626 (signed in 2018) created this license to let home cooks sell meals directly from their own residential kitchens — legally, safely, and without needing a commercial kitchen or restaurant space.
Riverside County is fully enrolled in the MEHKO program. That means you can apply today through Riverside County Environmental Health and get permitted to sell home-cooked meals as a legitimate small food business in the Coachella Valley.
Key Rules
- —Cook and sell from your own home kitchen (must be your primary residence)
- —Pickup only — customers come to you. No delivery.
- —Maximum 30 meals per day, 90 meals per week
- —Annual revenue cap: ~$100,000+ (base amount indexed to California CPI)
- —All household members working in the kitchen need a Food Handler Card
- —At least one person must hold a Food Safety Manager Certification (CFPM)
Menu Rules
What Can You Sell?
✓ Allowed
- ✓Home-cooked meals made in your own kitchen
- ✓Baked goods, tamales, soups, stews, and desserts
- ✓Hot and cold food, including traditional cultural recipes
- ✓Pre-orders paid online (through Lore)
- ✓Up to 30 meals per day, 90 per week
✗ Not Allowed
- ✗Raw shellfish, raw oysters, or raw sprouts
- ✗Home-canned or pressure-canned items
- ✗Unpasteurized dairy or juice products
- ✗Delivery (all sales must be pickup from your home)
- ✗Operating as a restaurant, food stand, or commissary
The Permitting Process
How to Get Permitted
Getting your MEHKO permit takes four steps. Most chefs in the Coachella Valley complete the process in 6–12 weeks. Here's exactly what to do.
Food Handler Card
~2 hours · ~$15–$25
Everyone who works in your kitchen needs a valid California Food Handler Card. Get one online in about two hours at ServSafe, StateFoodSafety, or similar providers. Cards are valid for 3 years.
Food Safety Manager Certification (CFPM)
1 day · ~$150–$200
At least one person in your operation must pass a California Food Protection Manager (CFPM) exam. The most common is ServSafe Manager. The course takes about 8 hours, followed by a proctored exam. The certification is valid for 5 years.
Study tip: Riverside County Environmental Health sometimes offers resources or referrals — call their office to ask.
Submit Your Application
1–2 weeks to process
Apply at rivcoeh.org or in person at 800 S. Sanderson Ave, Hemet, CA 92543. Phone: (888) 722-4234.
Documents to Submit
- —Completed MEHKO application form
- —Copy of your Food Handler Card(s)
- —Copy of your CFPM certificate
- —Proposed menu
- —Completed Operating Procedures / SOP form
- —Site plan / kitchen diagram (simple hand-drawn sketch is fine)
- —Photo ID
Fees
Pass Your Kitchen Inspection
Scheduled 4–8 weeks after application
After reviewing your application, Riverside County Environmental Health will schedule a kitchen inspection at your home. A health inspector spends 1–2 hours reviewing your kitchen setup.
What They Inspect
- —Handwashing station (dedicated sink, soap, paper towels)
- —Refrigeration (≤41°F fridge, ≤0°F freezer, calibrated thermometer)
- —Food storage (6" off the floor, FIFO labeled, no cross-contamination)
- —Pest prevention (no signs of pests, sealed entry points)
- —Sanitation (cleanable surfaces, 3-compartment sink or dishwasher)
- —Ventilation (working range hood, grease filter)
- —Paperwork (Food Handler Cards, CFPM cert, menu, operating plan posted)
Pass the inspection → your permit is issued within a few days.
Before Your Inspector Arrives
Prep for Your Kitchen Inspection
Use this checklist to get your kitchen ready before your inspector arrives.
🚰 Handwashing
- Dedicated sink for handwashing only (not for food prep or dishes)
- Liquid soap in a dispenser at the sink
- Paper towels (no cloth towels)
- Accessible and unblocked at all times during cooking
📦 Food Storage
- All food stored at least 6 inches off the floor
- No personal household food mixed with MEHKO food
- All containers labeled with contents and date (FIFO)
- Separate storage for raw meat below ready-to-eat foods
❄️ Refrigeration
- Refrigerator temperature at or below 41°F at all times
- Freezer at or below 0°F
- Calibrated thermometer visible inside the fridge
- No overpacking (air must circulate)
🐛 Pest & Sanitation
- No signs of pests, rodents, or insects
- All entry points sealed (doors, windows, vents)
- Surfaces non-porous and cleanable (no bare wood prep surfaces)
- 3-compartment sink or dishwasher available for sanitizing
💨 Ventilation
- Functioning range hood above your stove
- Clean grease filter in place
- No excessive smoke, steam, or grease buildup
📋 Paperwork
- Food Handler Cards for every person working in the kitchen
- Food Safety Manager Certificate (CFPM) on display
- Proposed menu posted or available
- MEHKO permit posted visibly once issued
- Operating Procedures (SOP) document on site
Startup Costs
The Most Affordable Path to a Food Business
Compare what it really costs to start a food business in California.
| MEHKO on Lore | Food Truck | Restaurant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup cost | < $1,000 | $50,000+ | $300,000+ |
| Permit fee | $658/year | $2,000–5,000/year | $5,000–15,000+ |
| Equipment | Your own kitchen | $20,000–40,000 buildout | $50,000–150,000+ |
| Location | Your home | Routes + parking permits | Commercial lease |
| Time to open | 6–12 weeks | 3–6 months | 12–24 months |
| Delivery required? | No (pickup only) | Yes | No |
"Less than $1,000 to start a MEHKO — compared to an estimated $50,000+ to launch a food truck, or $300,000+ to open a restaurant in California."
Links & Documents
Official Resources
Riverside County Environmental Health (MEHKO Program)
800 S. Sanderson Ave, Hemet, CA 92543 · (888) 722-4234
rivcoeh.org/microenterprise-home-kitchen-operation →Official Documents (direct PDF links)
After Your Permit
Ready to Cook? Join Lore.
Once you have your MEHKO permit, Lore handles everything else you'd have to build yourself.
Online Ordering
Customers browse, pre-order, and pay online. No cash handling, no logistics headaches.
Your Chef Profile
A dedicated page for your story, menu, and photos. Customers discover and fall in love with you before they even taste your food.
Simple Payments
Get paid automatically. Lore charges a 15% platform fee plus a $2.99 service fee per order — you keep 85% of your menu price.
Pre-Order System
Customers order in advance, so you know exactly what to cook and how much. No guessing, no waste.
Bilingual Support
Full English and Spanish support for chefs and customers throughout the Coachella Valley.
We Walk With You
Lore helps you navigate every step of the MEHKO process. You don't have to figure this out alone.
Your Potential
What Can You Earn?
At a $40 average order value and Lore's 15% commission:
Ready?
Ready to Get Started?
Lore hosts workshops and walks you through every step — from your Food Handler Card to your first order. Submit the “Become a Chef” form and we'll connect with you personally.
Become a Chef →¿Prefieres hablar en español? Escríbenos.