(a) A microenterprise home kitchen operation, as defined in Section 113825, shall be considered a restricted food service facility for purposes of, and subject to all applicable requirements of, Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 113700) to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 114265), inclusive, and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 114380), except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b) A microenterprise home kitchen operation shall be exempt from all of the following provisions:

(1) Handwashing facilities requirements, as required in Section 113953, provided that a handwashing sink is supplied with warm water and located in the toilet room and supplied, as specified in Section 113953.2.

(2) Any provision in this part relating to sinks, warewashing machines, and manual or machine sanitation, including, but not limited to, Sections 114099, 114099.2, 114099.4, 114101.1, 114101.2, 114103, 114107, 114123, 114125, 114163, and 114279, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(A) Utensils and equipment are able to be properly cleaned and sanitized.

(B) The sink in a microenterprise home kitchen operation has hot and cold water and is fully operable.

(C) If a dishwasher is used, it shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

(3) Prohibition on the presence of persons unnecessary to the food facility operation in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas, as specified in Section 113945.1, provided that the permitholder takes steps to avoid any potential contamination to food, clean equipment, utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and prevents a person suffering from symptoms associated with acute gastrointestinal illness or person known to be infected with a communicable disease that is transmissible through food to enter the food preparation area while food is being prepared as part of a microenterprise home kitchen operation.

(4) No smoking sign posting requirements, as specified in Section 113978.

(5) Limitations on employee consumption of food, drink, or tobacco outside of designated areas, as specified in Sections 113977 and 114256, provided that the permitholder takes steps to avoid any potential contamination to food, clean equipment, utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and prevents a person suffering from symptoms associated with acute gastrointestinal illness or person known to be infected with a communicable disease that is transmissible through food to enter the food preparation area while food is being prepared as part of a microenterprise home kitchen operation.

(6) Limitations on consumer access to the food facility through food preparation areas, as specified in Section 113984.1, provided that the permitholder takes steps to avoid any potential contamination to food, clean equipment, utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and prevents a person suffering from symptoms associated with acute gastrointestinal illness or person known to be infected with a communicable disease that is transmissible through food to enter the food preparation area while food is being prepared as part of a microenterprise home kitchen operation.

(7) Display guard, cover, and container requirements, as specified in Section 114060, provided that any food on display that is not protected from the direct line of a consumer’s mouth by an effective means is not served or sold to any subsequent consumer.

(8) Requirements to provide clean drinking cups and tableware for second portions and beverage refills, as specified in Section 114075.

(9) Requirements pertaining to the characteristics and certification of utensils and equipment, as specified in Sections 114130 and 114139, provided that utensils and equipment are designed to retain their characteristic qualities under normal use conditions.

(10) Requirements pertaining to the characteristics, construction, and multiuse of food-contact and nonfood-contact surfaces, as specified in Sections 114130.3 and 114130.4, provided that food contact surfaces are smooth, easily cleanable, and in good repair.

(11) Requirements pertaining to the characteristics, construction, and disassembly of clean in place (CIP) equipment, as specified in Section 114130.5.

(12) Limitations on the use of wood as a food contact surface and in connection with other equipment, as specified in Section 114132, provided that hard maple or equivalent wood is approved for use in direct contact with food during preparation.

(13) Any provision in this part relating to ventilation, including, but not limited to, Article 2 (commencing with Section 114149) of Chapter 6, provided that gases, odors, steam, heat, grease, vapors, and smoke are able to escape from the kitchen.

(14) Requirements that cold or hot holding equipment used for potentially hazardous food be equipped with integral or permanently affixed temperature measuring device or product mimicking sensors, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 114157.

(15) Requirements pertaining to the installation of fixed, floor-mounted, and table-mounted equipment, as specified in Section 114169.

(16) Dedicated laundry facility requirements, as specified in Section 114185.5, provided that linens used in connection with the microenterprise home kitchen operation shall be laundered separately from the household and other laundry.

(17) Requirements pertaining to water, plumbing, drainage, and waste, as specified in Sections 114193, 114193.1, and 114245.7.

(18) Any requirement that a microenterprise home kitchen operation have more than one toilet facility or that access to the toilet facility not require passage through the food preparation, food storage, or utensil washing areas, including, but not limited to, the requirements specified in Sections 114250 and 114276.

(19) Light intensity, light source, and lightbulb requirements, as specified in Sections 114252 and 114252.1, provided that food preparation areas are well lighted by natural or artificial light whenever food is being prepared.

(20) Requirements to provide and use lockers, storage facilities, and designated dressing areas, and that food facility premises be free of litter and items that are unnecessary to the operation, as specified in Sections 114256.1 and 114257.1, provided that personal effects and clothing not ordinarily found in a home kitchen are placed or stored away from food preparation areas and dressing takes place outside of the kitchen.

(21) Limitations on the presence and handling of animals, such as domestic, service, or patrol animals, as specified in Sections 114259.4 and 114259.5, provided that all animals are kept outside of the kitchen during food service and preparation.

(22) Requirements pertaining to floor, wall, and ceiling surfaces, as specified in Sections 114268, 114269, and 114271, provided that the floor, wall, and ceiling surfaces of the kitchen, storage, and toilet areas are smooth, of durable construction, and easily cleanable with no limitations on the use of wood, tile, and other nonfiber floor surfaces ordinarily used in residential settings.

(23) Any local evaluation or grading system for food facilities, as authorized by Section 113709.

(24) All prohibitions and limitations on the use of a kitchen in a private home as a food facility, including, but not limited to, prohibitions and limitations specified in Section 114285, provided that food is not prepared in designated sleeping quarters. Open kitchens adjacent to living and sleeping areas, kitchens in efficiency, studio, and loft-style residences, and kitchens without doors at all points of ingress and egress may be used in microenterprise home kitchen operations.

(25) Planning and permitting provisions of Sections 114380 and 114381.2.

(c) A microenterprise home kitchen operation may operate an open-air barbecue or outdoor wood-burning oven, pursuant to the requirements of Section 114143.

(d) The operator of a microenterprise home kitchen operation shall successfully pass an approved and accredited food safety certification examination, as specified in Section 113947.1.

(e) Any individual, other than the operator, who is involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food in a microenterprise home kitchen operation shall be subject to the food handler card requirements specified in Section 113948.

(f) A microenterprise home kitchen operation shall only offer for sale or sell food that was prepared during a food demonstration or preparation event to a consumer who was present at that food demonstration or preparation event.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 536, Sec. 4. (AB 377) Effective October 7, 2019.)