DATE: July 14, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Adoption of Amendment to Title 8 of the Ordinance Code of Fresno County, Adding Chapter 8.51 "Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations"
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Conduct second hearing and adopt the proposed Ordinance amending Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 8 Health and Safety, to add Chapter 8.51 Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, to be effective January 1, 2027, and waive reading of the Ordinance in its entirety.
REPORT
The first hearing to approve the proposed amendment and addition to Title 8 Health and Safety was held on June 30, 2026. Approval of the recommended action would add Chapter 8.51 "Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations" to Title 8 Health and Safety to allow new economic opportunities for home cooks, expand local food options, and provide easier entry into the retail food business. A microenterprise home kitchen operation (MEHKO) is a new type of retail food facility that is operated by a resident in their private dwelling where food is stored, handled, prepared, and potentially served to consumers. AB626 and AB377 introduced MEHKOs as a new opportunity for a legal pathway into food service and allowed counties full jurisdiction to authorize MEHKOs to operate within the county. This ordinance will allow for a 2-year pilot project to determine the full feasibility and benefit of introducing a MEHKO program. There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board choose not to approve the recommended action, the County would continue without an ordinance to allow MEHKOs to be introduced into the County of Fresno.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Department of Public Health (DPH) will incur costs associated with the inspection and regulation of MEHKOs; howeve...
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