Los Angeles County is officially permitting people to operate small-scale restaurants out of their homes. This means that so-called “mini-restaurants” can now be operated in homes as long as the county government approves them.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program on October 7 and began accepting permit applications.
According to the health department, the program will allow licenses to store, handle, and prepare food in private homes and serve those meals to customers.
The state has been loosening regulations on home kitchen businesses in recent years. In April, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance for MEHKOs.
The LA County Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Division is responsible for approving permits. Once licensed, Environmental Health staff will conduct annual inspections and investigate complaints.
“The MEHKO program is a groundbreaking step toward allowing home kitchens to operate legally and safely,” said LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis. “This will be an important means to create new economic opportunities, especially for women, immigrants, and communities of color.”
However, some have argued that the MEHKO program’s eligibility requirements and restrictions are too onerous. Operators must first hold a public health permit issued by the Department of Environmental Health and pass a Certified Food Protection Manager certification exam.
Also, food must be prepared, cooked, served, or delivered on the same day, and they are not allowed to sell raw oysters or raw milk products and must dispose of leftovers.
Vendors cannot resell food to other establishments, and they cannot use third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats. Food cannot be served more than 30 meals per day, 90 meals per week, or for more than $100,000 in annual revenue.
Operators are also prohibited from hiring more than one full-time employee other than family or household members. Using your home kitchen as a catering service is also not permitted. Serving alcohol with food is also prohibited without a liquor license.
“It’s almost like opening a restaurant, and it’s a lot of work to apply,” said Kaylee Kim, who runs a bakery business on social media, adding, “I don’t know if they really need a permit to sell in the neighborhood on a small scale.” According to the authorities, MEHKO permits will be issued starting November 1. The cities of Pasadena, Long Beach, and Vernon, which have their own health departments, are not eligible for permits.
Those interested in applying can fill out a form on the health department’s website and submit it by email (homebasedfoods@ph.lacounty.gov) or in person. Operators can also call 626-430-9855 for inquiries. The application fee is $597 and the annual health license fee is $347.
The health department is currently offering a conditional one-time grant to cover the application fee for the first 1,000 applicants.
More information is also available at the health department’s website at publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/business/microenterprise-home-kitchen-operation.htm.
An informational seminar to launch the MEHKO program will be held at 10 a.m. on October 26 at the Public Health Department’s Environmental Health Division building at 5050 Commerce Drive, Baldwin Park.
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
