Laws for selling eggs in California

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Thenewman3

Thenewman3

In the Brooder
May 3, 2015
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I've tried doing some research myself, but if someone could point me in the right direction...that would be great!! I have a very small flock of 10 chickens and would like to start selling them to the locals in my hometown. I live in Stanislaus County in California. What types of rules/regulations do I need to follow? Any tips/suggestions are greatly appreciated!
 
I'm not sure on the law, but this is a great time to start selling eggs in California! My wife was just telling me that a dozen at our local "fancy" supermarket costs $7!
According to this news story, it's a combination of the new cage-free law and the bird flu...
I remember selling home-baked bread to neighbors when I was a kid. I never worried about any laws or regulations. If you're not selling very many, do you have any kids that could just go door to door in your neighborhood and "keep in under the radar"? Treat it like a neighborhood kid-run lemonaid stand?
PS. Just don't blame me if you take my advice and then get in trouble! :)
 
Hi from So Cal! Down here, Riverside County, we just keep it on the down low in our community! IMO You need to follow very safe sanitary collection and storage husbandry. Many of us, like you, have a few extra dz/wk. My neighbors don't want store bought eggs. It's nice to be able to "share" and pocket a few dollars to help pay for the feed. There's no clear law for folks selling a few eggs, but many laws that could overlap, as the county needs $$. Some things you might run into. Health Dept, Food handling classes, Food and Ag, Zoning, business/vendors licences... My neighbor had to take her fresh eggs sign down. She needed permits and a plethora of other items once she put that sign up, it opened Pandora's box.
Like @DawnPatrol said, the new law and AI drove the prices way up. I never dreamed folks would be begging to buy my eggs.
With 10 hens, it's not like you would want to rent a booth at a farmers market. We have community FB pages down here to stay connected, find a piano teacher or handyman etc. We have a community FB Buy/Sell/ Trade. Someone will post "does anyone have eggs"? or I have X dz eggs" PM me. There are never enough eggs for the folks that want them. We just go by word of mouth. I only have 15 hens. Wish I had more!
 
Mutt Farm said:
Hi from So Cal! Down here, Riverside County, we just keep it on the down low in our community!
Click to expand...


I believe you will find that 'on the down low' the norm in most areas for small backyard producers, and for the most part prosecution and enforcement is non-existent for people selling a few eggs out of their backyard... It's when you hit up a farmers market, advertise or have a nosy tattletale that you might draw the scrutiny of the authorities...
 
Mutt Farm said:
Hi from So Cal! Down here, Riverside County, we just keep it on the down low in our community! IMO You need to follow very safe sanitary collection and storage husbandry. Many of us, like you, have a few extra dz/wk. My neighbors don't want store bought eggs. It's nice to be able to "share" and pocket a few dollars to help pay for the feed. There's no clear law for folks selling a few eggs, but many laws that could overlap, as the county needs $$. Some things you might run into. Health Dept, Food handling classes, Food and Ag, Zoning, business/vendors licences... My neighbor had to take her fresh eggs sign down. She needed permits and a plethora of other items once she put that sign up, it opened Pandora's box.
Like @DawnPatrol said, the new law and AI drove the prices way up. I never dreamed folks would be begging to buy my eggs.
With 10 hens, it's not like you would want to rent a booth at a farmers market. We have community FB pages down here to stay connected, find a piano teacher or handyman etc. We have a community FB Buy/Sell/ Trade. Someone will post "does anyone have eggs"? or I have X dz eggs" PM me. There are never enough eggs for the folks that want them. We just go by word of mouth. I only have 15 hens. Wish I had more!
Click to expand...

Good to hear! I was afraid I might get in trouble being a scofflaw. But for neighborhood backyard operations, it seems the paperwork and regulations are silly. I know people buy and sell on craigslist and garage sales all the time and don't worry about business permits or sales tax, so I think the same logic can apply to selling a few dozen eggs to neighbors. As said, just keep it on the down low. If you want to open up a store front or put up advertising billboards, or start marketing at your local home show or regional poultry trade show with a fancy trade show booth (ala visit us at the Eggs-R-Us booth or something)... well then it might be a little different. But I've got to believe if you're just selling a few eggs from your backyard around your local neighborhood (without announcing it to the world), then it shouldn't be a problem.
Good to see common sense still exists!
 
Last edited:
MeepBeep said:
I believe you will find that 'on the down low' the norm in most areas for small backyard producers, and for the most part prosecution and enforcement is non-existent for people selling a few eggs out of their backyard... It's when you hit up a farmers market, advertise or have a nosy tattletale that you might draw the scrutiny of the authorities...
Click to expand...
Exactly. They're not looking to "bust" us. I don't want to get off point from the OP, but I've never heard a case of an illness from backyard fruits, veggies or eggs in my area. However, 3 people died and a couple hundred got sick from imported inspected cucumbers from Mexico.
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My neighbors try to "share" fresh fruits, veggies and eggs. One thing I don't do that some folks do is put eggs in used cartons. BYOC, save $.50.
 
DawnPatrol said:
Good to hear! I was afraid I might get in trouble being a scofflaw. But for neighborhood backyard operations, it seems the paperwork and regulations are silly. I know people buy and sell on craigslist and garage sales all the time and don't worry about business permits or sales tax, so I think the same logic can apply to selling a few dozen eggs to neighbors. As said, just keep it on the down low. If you want to open up a store front or put up advertising billboards, it might be a little different.
Good to see common sense still exists!
Click to expand...
Not a scofflaw at all! For backyard neighborhood chickens, the ppwk and regs are rediculous. I'll give eggs away, folks will hand me a 5 towards feed. Now if you have say 100 layers...advertise, well, that might be beyond the scope of sharing with neighbors.
 

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