Cannery Licensing Process

Below is a summarized version of how to obtain a Cannery License with CDPH.  If you have an additional questions after reading this process and need a more detailed description, please click the following link to be redirected to a detailed PDF version:  Detailed Cannery Licensing Process (PDF)

General Overview of Process to Obtain Cannery License:

1. Submit product with the appropriate form (under Forms on Cannery Webpage) for testing to the lab. This process could take 4-6 weeks to complete testing.

2. Receive an Official Process Letter (S-Letter) showing results of testing from the lab. All questions regarding the results of the letter should be directed to the lab.

3. Once the firm knows what license to obtain, fill out the Cannery License Application (PDF) by sending it with payment ($236.00 non-refundable fee) to the California Department of Public Health. It could take up to 2 weeks before the cannery desk receives your application with payment.

4. The cannery desk will notify the district supervisor in the firm's area of your cannery license application.

5. The firm will receive their first cannery billing invoice along with a cover letter. Firms are charged for two hours upfront before their initial inspection. Firms must pay this invoice before an inspector is able to conduct their initial inspection. Once paid, this amount becomes a credit on your account that can be used towards further inspections.

6. The district supervisor will assign an inspector to the firm. The inspector will notify the firm to set up a time for an initial inspection. This could take 4-8 weeks depending on the inspector's workload. All questions about the initial inspection can be answered by the inspector when a firm receives a phone call to schedule the inspection.

7. Once a firm has their initial inspection, the inspector will notify the cannery desk when a new license should be issued.

8. Licenses are mailed out to firms and valid for two years. The entire process will take several months to obtain a cannery license.

9. Firms will continue to receive billing invoices monthly whether they have an amount due or credit balance on their account. All outstanding balances are to be paid in full before firms are able to renew cannery licenses.