Home cooks in Sonoma County have a new way to turn family recipes into small businesses, and the first step is happening in Guerneville. On Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., county officials will hold an in-person and online meeting at the West County Services Center, 16390 Main Street, Suite B, to explain how residents can apply for permits to sell meals from their own kitchens. With application fees waived through Nov. 1 — or until state grant funds run out — the timing gives home chefs a short window to get started at no cost.
The Board of Supervisors adopted the enabling ordinance in December 2024, and the MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation) program officially launched earlier this year. MEHKOs give residents the chance to legally sell meals prepared in their home kitchens, provided they pass an inspection, earn a food manager certification, and follow strict limits on meals per day and annual revenue.
For aspiring food entrepreneurs, this meeting is the key moment to learn how to get started. County staff will walk through the application process, outline health and safety requirements, and answer questions about how to turn a home kitchen into a permitted business…