Lemonade Stands Still A Neighborhood Summer Staple In California: What To Know

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta Police put a local call out to residents and families, saying they want to support kids running corner lemonade stands. The sweet message reminds us that that form of free enterprise is not allowed everywhere. According to Legalize Lemonade, only 14 states don't require permits for the card table stands.

"Residents of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut can legally hold a lemonade stand with no issues," according to that site. If you don't live there, you're going to need a permit or speak with your local city council first.

In California, kids and families can run lemonade stands, according to the California Department of Tax and Administration Office of Public Affairs.

"A child can legally run a lemonade stand without a seller's permit," that office said in an email to the Sacramento Bee. "Generally, a person selling cold food to go is not required to obtain a seller's permit."

The sugary, tart concoctions typically served cold in to-go cups and sold at card tables and temporary stands don't fall under the dining and beverage industry rules. The money you and your children earn by running that stand is not taxable, either, according to California tax regulations in 2025.

Elsewhere, Country Time Lemonade has worked to change that. In 2018, a mom in Colorado was "shocked to find out" that her son's lemonade stand needed "hundreds of dollars' worth of permits," a Country Time Lemonade spokesperson wrote. Spearheading a bill in her state, it took nine months to change her state legislation so that Colorado kids can run lemonade stands without grown-up repercussions. Since then, Country Time Lemonade has offered "legal-ade" for those whose towns have fined them for hosting lemonade stands. A one-time offer per household allows an entrant to make a plea to have their fine (up to $300) covered.

Thankfully, in California, there is no worry of getting shut down in such a manner.

Recently, in Murrieta, police asked residents to share the locations of lemonade stands so that officers could stop by and support the young entrepreneurs.

"Lemonade stands are a sweet way for us to connect with kids in our community," a spokesperson said. "It’s a fun photo op, a chance to say hi, and an opportunity for our officers to cool off in this summer's heat!"

So here are a few Patch Lemonade Stand tips to get you started!

Grandma's Lemonade Recipe:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

1. Make simple syrup by heating sugar and water in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
2. While the syrup mixture is resting, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, yielding approximately 1 cup of juice.
3. Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher.
4. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less, to the desired strength.
5. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it. Serve with ice and sliced lemons. This should serve up to 10 small glasses of lemonade.

How to Host a Lemonade Stand:

First, price your lemonade to sell. Market it with some signs, possibly a pom-pom waver or bubble blower, or someone adorable to wave over customers.

Second, consider your price point. Charge 25 to 50 cents to fill a paper cup with possibly an ice cube or two. Anything higher, you may lose your target audience. Consider offering volume discounts, such as selling five glasses for a dollar.

Have exact change and a money box. This teaches a bit of math along with the art of doing business.

Always say "Thank you!" to your customers!

Finally, post the location of your stand on a neighborhood Facebook group and your local Patch page!

A little social shout-out is always a good thing. Happy selling, and have a great summer, from your friends at Patch.com.

Related:

These Southwest Riverside County Cops Are Looking For Lemonade Stands