Chefry
🆕 New for 2026: Long Beach launches its own MEHKO program

MEHKO Long Beach: Sell Cooked Meals Legally From Home

Long Beach approved its own Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation program and is opening applications in 2026. Cook and sell real meals from your home kitchen, and have your free Chefry menu ready to take orders the day you are approved.

See How to ApplyStart Your Free Menu
30
Meals per day
Maximum under the program
90
Meals per week
Maximum under the program
$100k
Gross sales cap
Per year, adjusted for inflation
5
On-site customers
Maximum at one time

What a Long Beach MEHKO Lets You Do

California's AB 626 created the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO), a legal way to cook hot, made-to-order meals in your home kitchen and sell them to the public. Long Beach has now adopted its own MEHKO ordinance, which means home cooks in the city will have a clear, legal path to sell cooked food, not just shelf-stable cottage foods.

Under the program you can serve up to 30 meals a day and 90 meals a week, with up to $100,000 in gross annual sales. Food must be prepared, cooked, and served the same day, operating hours run 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and you can host up to five customers on-site at a time. That is exactly the model for weekly meal-prep drops, Sunday pre-order plates, and small-batch home cooking, no commercial kitchen, no storefront, no landlord.

Heads up on the LA County waiver: the county's $597 fee subsidy (waived through June 30, 2026) does not apply in Long Beach, because Long Beach runs its own program. Long Beach sets its own fees, which the city finalizes as the program launches, so confirm current amounts on the official city MEHKO page before you apply. Cooking elsewhere in LA County? See the LA County $597 waiver here.

You don’t need your MEHKO yet to start on Chefry

Long Beach is still finalizing its program, so do not wait on it to get going. Creating your Chefry profile is free, and you can build your menu, share your link, and grow a customer list today, well before applications open.

Start by selling cottage-food items you are already allowed to sell, test what people want, and switch on hot, made-to-order plates the day your MEHKO clears. Just get your permit before you sell cooked meals that require it.

Claim your free storefront →See how selling works

How to Get Your Long Beach MEHKO Permit

1

Confirm you can operate in Long Beach

You must be a resident of the home you cook in, and only one MEHKO is allowed per residence. Long Beach runs its own program through the city Environmental Health Bureau, separate from LA County.

2

Get your food safety certification

Long Beach requires a valid Food Manager Certification for the operator, plus Food Handler Cards for anyone helping with food prep. Line these up early so they are not what holds up your approval.

3

Prepare your application package

You will submit a Public Health Permit application plus an annual Business License, along with your Standard Operating Procedures, proposed menu, and a kitchen layout. Fees are set by the city and finalized as the program launches.

4

List your menu on Chefry and build your list

While your permit processes, set up your free Chefry menu so you are ready to take pre-orders and weekly drops the day you are approved, with online payments and daily payouts built in.

Apply through the City of Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services, Environmental Health Bureau. Chefry is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the City of Long Beach, always confirm current fees, opening dates, and eligibility on the city's official MEHKO page before applying.

New to all this? Read our guide to selling cooked food and plates from home for the full picture.

🏆 FOUNDING 100, 22 SPOTS LEFT

Be Ready the Day Your Permit Clears.

The first 100 chefs on Chefry become Founding Chefs, with the lowest platform fees we will ever offer, locked in for the life of your account. Build your menu and customer list now so you can sell the moment Long Beach approves you. Only 22 founding spots left.

Claim a Founding SpotSee How Selling Works

Built for Home Cooks, Not Restaurants

Free to start

List your menu and take orders with no monthly fee. Plate and menu orders are 0% commission, so you keep the full sale price.

Daily payouts

Money for completed orders pays out daily, with instant-to-debit options. No waiting two weeks, no chasing screenshots.

Real per-person pricing

Price weekly meal-prep plates and pre-orders the way home cooks actually sell, typically $25 to $35 per person, with a clean menu and checkout.

Pre-orders & weekly drops

Open a pre-order window, let customers pay up front, and cook to confirmed orders. Perfect for the 30-meals-a-day MEHKO model.

MEHKO Long Beach, Frequently Asked Questions

Does Long Beach have a MEHKO program?

Yes. Long Beach approved its own Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) ordinance and is launching the program in 2026 with applications handled by the city Environmental Health Bureau. Because Long Beach runs its own health department, its MEHKO program is separate from the Los Angeles County program.

Does the LA County $597 MEHKO fee waiver apply in Long Beach?

No. The LA County fee subsidy that waives the $597 application review fee through June 30, 2026 specifically excludes Long Beach, Pasadena, and Vernon because those cities run their own MEHKO programs. Long Beach sets its own fees, which the city finalizes as the program rolls out, so always confirm current amounts on the official Long Beach MEHKO page before applying.

What can I sell with a Long Beach MEHKO permit?

Cooked, ready-to-eat meals prepared, cooked, and served the same day, the kind of food you would serve at a restaurant. A MEHKO is a big step up from a cottage food permit, which only covers shelf-stable items like baked goods and jams. It is ideal for weekly meal-prep drops, pre-order plates, and small-batch home cooking.

How many meals can a Long Beach MEHKO sell?

Under the MEHKO model, operators can serve up to 30 meals per day and 90 meals per week, with up to $100,000 in gross annual sales (adjusted for inflation). Operating hours run 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with no more than five customers on-site at one time.

What do I need to apply for a Long Beach MEHKO?

Plan on a valid Food Manager Certification for the operator and Food Handler Cards for any helpers, plus a Public Health Permit application and an annual Business License. You will also provide Standard Operating Procedures, a proposed menu, and a kitchen layout. Confirm the full checklist and fees on the city Environmental Health Bureau MEHKO page.

Do I need my permit before I can set up on Chefry?

You can create your free Chefry profile and build your menu anytime, it costs nothing to start. We recommend having your MEHKO permit before you begin selling cooked meals so you are operating legally. Use the wait time to photograph your dishes and line up pre-orders so you can sell the day you are approved.

Related guides

Get Ahead of the Long Beach MEHKO Rush.

Set up your free Chefry menu today so you are ready to take orders the moment your permit clears. Founding spots are almost gone.

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