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Cottage food laws

Florida Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Florida? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food Operation
Annual sales cap
$250,000
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupOnline (in-state)Mail order (in-state)
Registration / to start
None (no permit required); labeling required
Allowed foods
Non-TCS shelf-stable foods: breads, cookies, cakes, jams/jellies, dry mixes, candies, similar
Not allowed
Perishable/TCS foods, low-acid canned goods, meat products, most refrigerated dairy
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding $250,000 gross, selling TCS foods, or wholesale requires a licensed establishment/permit
Administered by
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) · Fla. Stat. § 500.80

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

Highest cap in the nation at $250,000 (raised from $15,000). No registration; online and mail-order (in-state) allowed.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Florida food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Florida?
Yes. Florida has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Operation) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $250,000. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS).
What foods can I sell under Florida's cottage food law?
Non-TCS shelf-stable foods: breads, cookies, cakes, jams/jellies, dry mixes, candies, similar Not allowed: Perishable/TCS foods, low-acid canned goods, meat products, most refrigerated dairy
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Florida?
Exceeding $250,000 gross, selling TCS foods, or wholesale requires a licensed establishment/permit At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Florida?
None (no permit required); labeling required

Food-business permits in Florida's biggest counties

Local food-permit cost, plan review and the health-department contact for the counties people look up most.

Bay County
Martin County
Collier County
Lake County
Marion County
← All states
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified October 2026