[bayamos]

What about zoning restrictions? Food service licenses? In many places, if you prepare food for sale to be consumed onsite, you are treated like a restaurant - most home kitchens aren't going to pass local health department requirements.

[panarky]

Many great new ideas aren't legal. Use your own car like a taxi? Rent your spare bedroom to strangers? Sell electric cars direct, without a dealer? Share music, books and movies with your friends? Run a mesh network in your city to bypass the local monopoly? Trade cryptocurrency for national currency?

Just because it's illegal doesn't mean it's not a killer idea.

Congratulations, Cozymeal!

[gamblor956]

In the case of unsanitary food preparation, it very well could be a killer idea.

By the way, none of those other ideas are illegal (in the US). Taxi drivers can own their own cabs; some do but most do not due to the expense of acquiring/maintaining an adequate vehicle. It's always been okay to rent your "spare bedroom" to strangers--just as long as you occupy the remainder of the unit (though whether your lease or HOA agreement allows this is a separate issue). Sharing your physical copy of an artistic work has always been allowed. Private mesh networks have never been illegal. Cryptocurrencies are legal forms of exchange (or in this context, "consideration") between two consenting private parties, just like any other form of property.

[jlmorton]

Sure, but it does likely mean that hosts should expect some surprise visits from the local health department and likely fines, because it certainly does require at least a temporary food permit. Here are the relevant San Francisco requirements: http://www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/Food/Permits/PopUps.asp

[johnrob]

The sharing economy now provides a predictable playbook here:

1) get popular 2) get hassled by local government 3) make deal with local government

I don't see why this idea is different.