This ordinance creates a permitting process for home-based food businesses called Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) and sets annual license fees for them. It aims to regulate and support small-scale food operations in San Francisco.
Ordinance amending the Health Code to establish a permitting process for the operation of Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs); and amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code to establish annual license fees for MEHKOs.
How it got here
The legislation to establish a permitting process for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) in San Francisco originated from the need to support small food entrepreneurs and was prompted by state legislation enacted in 2018.
The California Legislature enacted legislation that authorized Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) as a lawful pathway for small-scale food entrepreneurs to prepare and sell meals from their home kitchens.
Supervisors Fielder, Melgar, Walton, Mahmood, Chan, and Chen introduced an ordinance to amend the Health Code and Business and Tax Regulations Code to establish a permitting process and annual license fees for MEHKOs.
The Department of Public Health reviewed the proposed regulations for MEHKOs to ensure compliance with state law and public health standards.
The ordinance was assigned under the 30 Day Rule for further consideration by the Board of Supervisors.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record