​Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO)

Assembly Bill (AB) 626 authored by Assemblyman Garcia, Chapter 470, Statutes of 2018, was signed into law by Governor Brown on September 18, 2018; effective January 1, 2019. This bill amends the California Health and Safety Code to establish a “microenterprise home kitchen operation”, referred to as MEHKOs, as a new type of retail food facility that will allow an individual to operate a restaurant in their private residence.​​ The new law also establishes requirements for “Internet Food Service Intermediary” (IFSI) entities, which provides a platform on its Internet Web site or mobile application, where a microenterprise home kitchen operation (MEHKO) can advertise food for sale. IFSIs are required to obtain a registration from the California Department of Public Health – Food and Drug Branch prior to advertising or promoting MEHKOs on their internet web site or mobile application.