2026 reference
Florida Cottage Food Law
Florida's cottage food law sets an annual revenue cap of $250,000 and no state permit or registration is required. Direct sales, online, in-state mail, and farmers markets — all permitted. Wholesale to retailers, restaurants, and grocery stores is NOT permitted.
Watch for: Florida has the highest cap in the country AND one of the lowest startup burdens. The trade-off: products may only be sold direct to consumers — not wholesaled through retail outlets.
Key facts
Read the full Florida cottage food law guide
Editorial guide with statute citations, special-program details, label requirements, and complete FAQ coverage.
Where you can sell
Direct sales, online, in-state mail, and farmers markets — all permitted. Wholesale to retailers, restaurants, and grocery stores is NOT permitted.
- Direct (in-person)
- Farmers markets
- Online (in-state)
- In-state mail
What's required before your first sale
No state license, permit, kitchen inspection, or food handler course required (under HB 663, the "Home Sweet Home Act," 2021). State law preempts local cottage food regulation.
Allowed and excluded foods
Permitted under cottage food
- baked goods
- jams and jellies
- fruit butters
- honey
- candies and confections
- granola and cereals
- popcorn
- dried herbs and seasonings
- dry baking mixes
- roasted coffee
Excluded from cottage food
- acidified canned goods
- pickled products
- fermented vegetables
- hot sauce and salsa
- refrigerated items
- meat and poultry
- dairy products
- fish products
Label requirements
- Name and address of the cottage food operation (operator name plus physical address OR name plus Florida P.O. box)
- Name of the food product
- Full ingredient statement (descending order by weight, with sub-ingredients)
- Net weight or volume
- Allergen disclosures for the major nine allergens
- Verbatim disclosure: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." (10-point type or larger)
- Label in English (additional languages may be added)
Frequently asked questions
How much can I make under Florida cottage food law?
The Florida cottage food annual gross-revenue cap is $250,000, raised from $50,000 by HB 663 effective July 1, 2021 and codified in Florida Statutes §500.80. This is the highest cottage food cap in the country. The cap is measured against gross receipts from cottage food sales — not net profit — and is not adjusted for inflation under current statute.
Do I need a permit or license to sell cottage food in Florida?
No. Florida is one of the few states with no permit, license, or registration requirement for cottage food operators. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) does not issue cottage food production permits, and there is no fee to begin operating. You also are not required to complete a food handler training course at the state level.
Can I sell hot sauce, pickles, or fermented foods under Florida cottage food law?
Generally no. Florida cottage food law excludes acidified canned goods (hot sauce, salsa, relishes), pickled products, fermented vegetables, and most non-jam acid-controlled foods from the approved list. The narrow allowed acid-and-sugar category covers jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, and honey.
Can I ship Florida cottage food across state lines?
No. Florida cottage food sales are limited to within Florida. Interstate shipping triggers federal jurisdiction (FDA), which does not recognize state cottage food exemptions. Online sales within Florida are permitted as long as the buyer is in Florida and delivery is in-state.
Can I sell cottage food to restaurants or grocery stores in Florida?
No. Florida cottage food law restricts sales to direct-to-consumer transactions only. Producers may sell from their home, at farmers markets, at roadside stands, by mail order within the state, by online order shipped within the state, and at events. Wholesale to restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops, or other retailers is not permitted under the cottage food exemption.
What goes on a Florida cottage food label?
A compliant Florida cottage food label includes the name and address of the cottage food operation (the operator's name plus the physical address where the food was prepared, OR the name plus a Florida P.O. box address), the name of the food product, the ingredients in descending order by weight (with sub-ingredients for compound ingredients), the net weight or volume, allergen disclosures for the major nine allergens, and the verbatim statement: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." The disclosure must appear in 10-point type or larger.
Sources
- FDACS — Cottage Foods
- Forrager — cottage food law database
- Florida Statutes §500.80 (Cottage Food Operations)
- HB 663 (2021) — Home Sweet Home Act
Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.
Tools that work with Florida
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Run your Florida cottage food business in one place
Ardent Seller tracks ingredients, batches, labels, and revenue against your state's cap — built for cottage food producers.