Home Restaurants Kickoff is Here!

The Long Beach Department of Health has officially opened applications for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permits. The application form is available now at longbeach.gov.

To help home cooks navigate the process, the Department is hosting two free workshops with community partners. Long Beach Fresh and key MEHKO partner organizations will be on hand to answer questions and help connect attendees with the right resources.

MEHKO Workshops
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Workshop #1
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Houghton Park

Workshop #2
Thursday, June 4, 2026 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm McBride Park — Teen Center

Drop in anytime during the workshop window. Bring your questions, bring a neighbor.
No registration is required, and language interpretation is available.

Introducing MEHKOLink

There are clear steps to take if you want to get started with your own home kitchen business, and your community is here to help!

We anticipate the City will be able to begin issuing the first permits in August of this year, and we are launching MEHKOLink as a MEHKO accelerator, promotion network, and resource connector.

MEHKOLink serves as a peer network and resource hub for current and aspiring MEHKO operators. MEHKOLink connects home cooks with each other, with information and resources, and the broader Long Beach food community through cooperative marketing. Avid MEHKO supporters are encouraged to join and stay in the loop about home restaurant launches, as well!

Sign up for MEHKOLink updates as we build together! tinyurl.com/homecookco.



How We Got Here
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​For the past several years, Long Beach Fresh has coordinated advocacy and worked alongside local decision-makers to ensure Long Beach's MEHKO program is genuinely accessible. We're continuing that work: we're asking the City to identify funding to help home cooks get started, and we're hopeful that state funds may also become available to support new MEHKOs.