Do I need a notary for the Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form?

No. The owner signs and dates the form's certification under penalty of perjury; it does not require a notary. Attach product names and complete ingredient lists if the menu changed or items were added.

What information does the renewal form ask for?

It asks for business details, cottage food category, product and distribution information, and initials for statements about prohibited foods, sales limits, and delivery.

What should I attach if my menu has changed?

Provide the product name and a complete ingredients list for new or changed menu items as an attachment.

Merced County, CA · Merced County

No notary required

Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form

Cottage food operators use this form to renew their operation and report business details, food categories, products, and distribution methods to Merced County.

At a glance

Issued by: City of Merced County · Merced County, Merced County, California
Notarization: Not required: file this form without a notary.
Official source: countyofmerced.com
Blank form: Download the PDF
Catalogued: Oct 5, 2026
Machine-readable: JSON record · about the forms index

What this form is

This annual renewal form collects information about a cottage food operation, including its business details, category, products, and sales and distribution methods. The owner indicates whether business information or the menu has changed, lists retail facilities for Class B sales, and initials statements about permitted foods, sales limits, and delivery. If the menu has changed or new items were added, the form requests product names and complete ingredient lists as an attachment.

Who needs it

Cottage food operation owners renewing with Merced County should complete the form and provide any requested product and ingredient information.

How to submit it

Submit it to the Division of Environmental Health, Community and Economic Development Department, at 222 "M" Street, Merced, California 95340; the form lists phone number (209) 381-1100.

About notarization

This document is signed without a notary; the owner signs and dates a certification under penalty of perjury, and changed menu items require an ingredient-list attachment.

How to submit this form

1
Download the Form
Download the Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form.
2
Complete the Business Information
Enter the business name, address, contact details, facility ID, and requested information about categories, products, and distribution.
3
Gather Any Attachments
If the menu changed or new items were added, attach each product name and complete ingredients list.
4
Sign and Submit
Sign and date the certification, then submit the form to the Division of Environmental Health at the address provided.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a notary for the Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form?: No. The owner signs and dates the form's certification under penalty of perjury; it does not require a notary. Attach product names and complete ingredient lists if the menu changed or items were added.
How do I submit the Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form?: Submit it to the Division of Environmental Health, Community and Economic Development Department, at 222 "M" Street, Merced, California 95340.
What information does the renewal form ask for?: It asks for business details, cottage food category, product and distribution information, and initials for statements about prohibited foods, sales limits, and delivery.
What should I attach if my menu has changed?: Provide the product name and a complete ingredients list for new or changed menu items as an attachment.

Need something notarized?

This Cottage Food Operation Annual Renewal Form doesn’t need a notary, but if you have another Merced County form that does, a commissioned online notary can help.