Utah MEHKO County Permits: Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, and Utah County Requirements

Utah's Microenterprise Home Kitchen Act lets you sell hot, ready-to-eat meals from your residential kitchen — but only if your county has opted into the program. Not every county participates, and the ones that do each set their own fees, inspection schedules, and application requirements.

Here's the current county-by-county breakdown so you can figure out what applies where you live.

Which Counties Have Active MEHKO Programs?

As of 2026, four Utah counties have formally adopted MEHKO permitting:

• Davis County — Davis County Health Department
• Salt Lake County — Salt Lake County Health Department
• Summit County — Summit County Health Department
• Utah County — Utah County Health Department

Every other county in the state has not opted in. If you live in a rural county like Wasatch, Iron, or Washington, you cannot legally operate a MEHKO from home — your options are the Cottage Food Program (shelf-stable items only) or the Homemade Food Act (direct-to-consumer, no meat from commercial sources).

The opt-in structure is set at the county Board of Health level, so a county can adopt the program at any time. Contact your local health department directly to check whether anything has changed since publication.

Davis County MEHKO Permit

Davis County runs one of the more straightforward MEHKO programs in the state.

Fees: $300 annual permit fee. If a health department inspection finds adulterated food or traces a foodborne illness to your kitchen, there's an additional $100 investigation fee.

Application process: Submit through the Davis County Health Department Environmental Health Division. You'll need your Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential, written standard operating procedures, a menu of everything you plan to prepare, and a signed consent form allowing inspectors to enter your home during operating hours.

What to expect: A pre-opening inspection of your kitchen, dining area, storage, restroom, and trash facilities. After approval, expect unannounced follow-up inspections during your declared operating hours.

Salt Lake County MEHKO Permit

Salt Lake County has the largest population of any MEHKO-eligible county in Utah, making it the most popular jurisdiction for home meal operations.

Fees: Contact the Salt Lake County Health Department for current fee schedules, as they adjust rates periodically. Budget for both an operational permit fee and a plan review fee.

Application process: Apply through the Salt Lake County Health Department's Environmental Health Bureau. Same core requirements as other counties — CFPM credential, SOPs, menu, and consent form — but Salt Lake County may have additional local ordinance requirements depending on your municipality.

Key consideration: Salt Lake County encompasses dozens of cities, each with their own business licensing and zoning rules. Get your municipal home occupation permit squared away before applying for the health department MEHKO permit.

Summit County MEHKO Permit

Summit County's program covers Park City and surrounding areas. The upfront fees are significant, so confirm the current schedule before applying.

Fees: $364 operational permit fee plus $182 kitchen operational review fee — $546 total upfront. This is a significant investment before you serve your first meal, so make sure you understand all the requirements before applying.

Application process: Apply through the Summit County Health Department. The kitchen operational review is essentially a pre-approval assessment of your physical space before the formal inspection happens.

Important note: Summit County's tourist-heavy economy and higher cost of living mean more potential customers but also more regulatory scrutiny. Inspectors in this county are experienced with food service operations.

Utah County MEHKO Permit

Utah County covers Provo, Orem, and the surrounding corridor — a large and growing market.

Fees: $310 for a new permit, $80 for annual renewal. This makes Utah County one of the more affordable options for ongoing operations, though the initial application cost is comparable to Davis County.

Application process: Submit through the Utah County Health Department (UCHD) Environmental Health division. Standard requirements apply: CFPM, SOPs, menu, consent to inspection.

Renewal: Unlike the initial permit, renewals are straightforward assuming you've maintained compliance — $80 annually plus passing your inspection.

What Every County Requires

Regardless of which county you're in, every MEHKO permit application shares these core requirements:

1. Certified Food Protection Manager credential — Pass a nationally accredited exam like ServSafe or equivalent. The primary operator must hold this; other household members involved in prep only need a standard food handler permit.
2. Written SOPs — Cleaning schedules, temperature control procedures, waste disposal plan, and a detailed menu.
3. Signed consent form — You're agreeing to let health inspectors enter your home during operating hours.
4. Pre-opening inspection — Your kitchen, storage, restroom, and dining/pickup area all get evaluated.
5. Volume caps — Maximum 30 meals per day and 60 meals per week statewide (some counties may allow up to 90 per week).
6. Same-day rule — All TCS food must be prepared, cooked, and delivered the same calendar day. No overnight storage of prepared meals.

What If Your County Hasn't Opted In?

If you're in a county without MEHKO permitting, you have three realistic options:

• Homemade Food Act — Sell non-meat prepared foods direct to consumers with no routine inspection (except during an active foodborne-outbreak investigation) or food permit, but you can't use commercially purchased meat or poultry (only self-raised rabbits or poultry under 1,000 birds/year).
• Traditional Cottage Food — Register with UDAF for shelf-stable items only (no hot meals, no TCS foods).
• Commercial kitchen — Lease space in a shared commercial kitchen or commissary and operate under a standard food service permit.

You can also lobby your county Board of Health to adopt the MEHKO framework — it's a local decision, not a state one.

Our Utah Cottage Food & Home Food Business Guide walks through all three pathways side by side, including a decision flowchart that helps you pick the right one based on what you want to cook and where you plan to sell.

See more Utah guides →