        “MEHKO” stands for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation. It is a new ordinance that was recently permitted by the Los Angeles County Board Supervisors in November of 2024, to allow home kitchens to be facilitated as a food facility where individuals can operate a small scale restaurant in their home. The Environmental Health Division, within the Department of Public Health, will issue permits for MEHKO's for Los Angeles County, except in the cities of Pasadena, Long Beach, and Vernon which have their own health departments.  In further detail, this permit will allow cooks to prepare & sell food for compensation legally from their personal kitchens. However, this permit does come with restrictions. Those restrictions would include an annual sales cap, a prohibition on certain food ingredients such as RAW food items, fermented foods, & homemade cheeses. Other restrictions include how many meals can be sold per day but no restrictions on what you consider a " meal ".

The regulations for a MEHKO is to be permitted by your local county health department in order to operate. The steps are to apply with an application at your local health department. That will get approved along with an approval of your menu & business operation plan. Keep in mind that you will need a business license ( EIN # ), food handlers certification, seller’s permit, & a functioning home kitchen to succesfully be approved for a MEHKO license.

I believe that a MEHKO license can & will open many doors for those passionate about cooking & selling to the public. It will abundantly create opportunities for those in need of back door incomes or even an increase to their current income. It’s a great way to connect with your neighbors & communities by understanding the needs, likes, & aversions. For a local chef like myself who is young yet seasoned, I can take advantage of this permit & grow from it professionally & financially. It is only my dream to share my passion with the world & get my creations out on the dance floor.  And so I did! I took full advanatge of this program & I recently got permitted by the health department to operate in my home. The name of my operation is Baylei’s Comfort Kitchen  & I am preparing comfort foods. Comfort foods that have a southern base with a californian finish. Fresh, down-home, tasty, & nostalgic. Stay tune through my chef page to catch more details on using my MEHKO license & to purchase a plate from my everchanging menu. For more information about the MEHKO & how to apply click on the link below.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/business/view-documents.htm

CHEF PAGE