Resource Center
Every business that cooks here needs its own permits. These guides explain which ones fit your business and where to get them, so you can arrive at your tour ready to go. Rules change, so always confirm with the agency before you apply.
Guide 1. Starting any food business in Chico
Most food businesses in Chico need:
- A City of Chico business license. All businesses doing business within city limits need one, renewed each year. City of Chico business licenses. Questions: Chico Finance, (530) 879-7320.
- A seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration if you sell taxable items. CDTFA permits and licenses
- A food permit or registration for what you make. Guides 2 through 7 explain which one.
- Food handler cards for everyone who handles food, from an ANSI-accredited course, and a certified food manager where your operation requires one. CDPH food safety training requirements
- Workers' compensation insurance if you have employees, and registration as an employer with EDD. Workers' compensation (DIR) | Employer payroll taxes and registration (EDD)
- General and product liability insurance. Our renters need at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, naming Chico's Cooking Place as additional insured.
Free help with business planning, permits and financing: California small business centers
Guide 2. Packaged and wholesale foods
If you make packaged food to sell to stores, online, through distributors or at wholesale, you'll usually need a Processed Food Registration (PFR) from the California Department of Public Health, registered at our kitchen's address. Baked goods, candy, snacks, noodles, sauces and other general foods fall under the PFR. CDPH inspects the facility before issuing the registration.
CDPH Processed Food Registration
Your labels must meet state and federal requirements, including the allergen statement. Because this is a shared kitchen that handles peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy and sesame, products made here can't be labeled allergen-free.
Guide 3. Cottage food: growing out of your home kitchen
California's Cottage Food law lets you make certain low-risk foods in your home kitchen and sell them, up to an annual sales limit. Cottage food operations register or get a permit from the county, not the state.
A cottage food registration covers home production only. When you move production into a commercial kitchen like ours, because you've outgrown the sales limit, want to sell wholesale, or want to make foods that aren't on the approved list, you'll need the permit that covers production here, usually a Processed Food Registration (Guide 2) or a county health permit.
2026 cottage food sales limits
Guide 4. Catering
Caterers who prepare food for events and serve it to the public need a permit from Butte County Environmental Health, which enforces the California Retail Food Code and inspects retail food businesses. Tell them you'll prepare food at Chico's Cooking Place, and ask which catering permit fits your service.
Butte County Environmental Health food program
Contact: (530) 552-3880, BCEnvHealth@ButteCounty.net
Guide 5. Food trucks and carts
Selling from a vehicle, trailer or cart requires a Mobile Food Facility permit from Butte County Environmental Health, plus a City of Chico business license and city vending approval if you operate in Chico. The county's food program page has the application, plan check application and resource guide.
Butte County mobile food facilities
Butte County allows food trucks and carts to use our kitchen. You can use prep space, potable water, dishwashing and cold storage, and we can sign your county commissary form once your account is approved. Wastewater and grease disposal are not available on site, so plan to dispose of those elsewhere.
Guide 6. Farmers markets and community events
Selling food at a community event usually requires a temporary food facility permit from Butte County Environmental Health, unless you already hold another permit that covers it. Farmers markets also set their own vendor rules, so check with the market manager first.
Growers selling their own crops at certified farmers markets work with the county agricultural commissioner as well.
Butte County Environmental Health food program
Guide 7. Specialty products
Some products need special licenses beyond a standard PFR or health permit:
- Canned, jarred or acidified foods (salsas, pickles, sauces in sealed jars) may need a cannery license and an approved process.
- Juice, organic products and pet food each have their own state registration.
- Meat and poultry products sold wholesale may need USDA inspection.
- Alcoholic beverages, cannabis, and hemp or CBD foods are licensed separately by other state agencies, and they can't be made in our kitchen without our written approval and proof of the right license.
CDPH licenses and certificates
Guide 8. Dairy products and frozen desserts
Dairy has its own rules. Making milk products is licensed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), not the health department, and the license belongs to the specific facility, which CDFA inspects and approves first.
State (CDFA) licenses:
- Milk products plant license: for making or packaging milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and similar products.
- Frozen milk products plant license: for ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, popsicles and other frozen desserts, including non-dairy ones. CDFA requires a separate room dedicated to this work.
- Soft-serve license: for anyone selling soft-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt or non-dairy frozen dessert.
County (Butte County Environmental Health): caterers, food trucks and event vendors who serve or sell dairy foods need their county health permit, and must keep dairy foods cold.
Using dairy as an ingredient is different. Butter in cookies, cream in caramels or milk in a sauce is covered by your regular permit (Guide 2 or Guide 4), with no dairy license needed. Foods with cream or custard fillings can't be made under a cottage food registration.
Our kitchen is not a licensed dairy plant, so ice cream, cheese, butter, yogurt and other dairy products can't be made here without CDFA approval. Talk to us and to CDFA before you plan a dairy product.
CDFA milk product plant licenses and permits
CDFA Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch
Butte County Environmental Health food program
Guide 9. Insurance for kitchen renters
Every renter needs insurance in place before their first booking:
- General liability and product liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with an endorsement naming Chico's Cooking Place as additional insured.
- Workers' compensation insurance if you have employees.
- Coverage for your own products, ingredients and supplies is your responsibility, including spoilage from a freezer or refrigerator failure or a power outage.
Monthly-plan renters need an annual or monthly policy. Pay-as-you-go renters can use hourly or daily coverage with a certificate for each booked date.
Some places renters have found coverage:
FLIP (Food Liability Insurance Program)
State Compensation Insurance Fund (workers' compensation)
Your own insurance agent can also quote this coverage.
Chico's Cooking Place is not affiliated with, and receives nothing from, any insurance company. These are suggestions only, not recommendations or endorsements. You are free to use any licensed insurer, and you are responsible for choosing coverage that meets the requirements in our agreement.
Not sure where you fit?
Bring your questions to your tour. We'll walk through what you make and how you sell it, and point you to the right agency.
This information is general guidance, not legal advice. Requirements change, so confirm with the agency before you apply. Last reviewed November 2026.