CHAPTER 20
MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS Revised 4/25 Revised 6/25 Amended Ord. 3966
420.1.010 MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS. Amended Ord. 3966
Where allowed by Article 18 of Chapter 2 of Division 9 of the Torrance Municipal Code, Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) businesses shall comply with the regulations of this section in addition to those regulations set forth and enforced by the MEHKO County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.
MEHKO businesses must have a valid City of Torrance Home Occupation Business License and Zoning Clearance letter to operate within Torrance.
420.1.020 PURPOSE. Amended Ord. 3966
The requirements of this section are intended to:
a) Implement the California Retail Food Code to allow MEHKO;
b) Recognize that a residential property owner or resident has a limited right to conduct an unobtrusive microenterprise home kitchen home occupation business from his or her residence and recognize that the business should be conducted in a manner that has little to no impact on surrounding residents;
c) Preserve the residential character of residential neighborhoods, where microenterprise home kitchens operate;
d) Prevent the operation of a microenterprise home kitchen from transforming a residential neighborhood into a commercial one; and
e) Institute the Zoning Clearance Planning approval process for the approval of all microenterprise home kitchen occupation businesses in addition to the required business license application.
420.1.030 APPROVAL PROCESS. Amended Ord. 3966
a) A MEHKO Home Occupation Business License and a Zoning Clearance application shall be submitted on forms provided by the City of Torrance Community Development Department and Finance Department Business License Division. Upon submittal, the Community Development Director or his/her designee will review the Home Occupation Permit zoning application as the public counter and may require additional information to confirm full compliance with this chapter.
b) Prior to the issuance of the City Business License, the Finance Director or his/her designee will verify that the applicant has supplied written proof that the MEHKO Permit has been issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
c) Applicant shall pay Zoning Clearance and MEHKO Occupation Business License fees associated with the City’s review and processing of the applications. Said fees shall not exceed the City’s cost of administering the review and permitting process.
d) If the applications do not comply with the provision set forth in this Chapter, the Community Development Director and/or Finance Directors may deny the applications, or a revision may be required in order to meet the provisions of this chapter prior to approval of the application.
e) Approval granted by the City of Torrance for the operation of a MEHKO business may be revoked by the City if at any time the use is found to be out of compliance with the provisions of this Chapter or the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Requirements.
f) MEHKO Zoning Clearances are nontransferable.
420.1.040 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. Amended Ord. 3966
A MEHKO home occupation shall be allowed to operate from a legally established residential dwelling unit as an accessory use to the primary residential use of the dwelling, provided that the use complies with all of the following performance standards.
a) A MEHKO home occupation business shall obtain the necessary permits and approvals from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
b) If the MEHKO home occupation operator is not the owner of the residence where the business will be conducted, the property owner’s or apartment manager’s written authorization shall be submitted with the application for a MEHKO home occupation.
c) If the MEHKO home occupation will be conducted in a residential dwelling located within a development subject to Homeowner’s Association (HOA) Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R’s), the applicant shall provide written authorization from the HOA.
d) A MEHKO home occupation business is allowed one full time employee (for 40 hours per week) or multiple employees whose combined hours do not exceed 40 hours per week.
e) A Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) is not permissible within the City of Torrance.
f) A MEHKO home occupation business may not offer alcohol sales or consumption in the City of Torrance.
g) A MEHKO home occupation business is limited to no more than 30 individual meals per day and no more than 90 individual meals per week.
h) A MEHKO home occupation business may not have more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in verifiable gross annual sales, as adjusted annually for inflation based on the California Consumer Price Index.
i) Food may only be sold directly to consumers, not to any wholesaler, caterer, or retailer.
j) A MEHKO home occupation business may not act as a caterer and may not be permitted/registered as a Cottage Food Operation.
k) Signs and outdoor advertising for a MEHKO home occupation business are prohibited.
l) Food may not be served in the front yard of the home, food may only be available for customer pick up, or delivery by the MEHKO operator, third party delivery apps are not allowed except for individuals who have a physical or mental condition indicated in the California Retail Food Code, Section 114367.5.
m) The MEHKO home occupation business shall not generate obnoxious odors, fumes, or emissions that are perceptible without instruments by a reasonable person at or beyond the property line of the site.
n) The MEHKO home occupation business shall comply with the noise standards for residential zones as identified in Article 7 of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Torrance Municipal Code and any other noise standards found in Chapter 6 of Division 4.
o) The MEHKO home occupation business shall comply with all Health and Safety standards, certifications, training and permitting requirements of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
420.1.050 VIOLATIONS – PENALTIES. Amended Ord. 3966
a) A violation of this Chapter is punishable only by an administrative fine in amounts not to exceed the following:
1) One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the first violation.
2) Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for a second violation within one (1) year of the first violation.
3) Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation within one (1) year of the first violation.
4) The City may rescind a permit issued to a MEHKO home occupation business upon the fourth or any subsequent violation.