Why this matters
What Florida actually allows — and what it doesn't.
Florida permits cottage food sales under Florida Statute § 500.80 (HB 663 'Home Sweet Home Act', effective July 1, 2021). Annual sales are capped at $250,000. No state registration is required; optional ID programs may be available for label privacy.
Annual revenue cap
$250,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$250,000
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations
— Florida Statute § 500.80 (HB 663 'Home Sweet Home Act', effective July 1, 2021)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Florida — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
Florida does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Dairy
- Canned Goods
- Acidified Foods
- Fermented Foods
- Garlic In Oil
- Beverages
- Cut Produce
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Florida.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Florida's cottage food lane. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Florida allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Florida cottage food — your questions answered.
Do I need a permit or license to sell cottage food in Florida?
No. Florida is one of the few states with no registration or permit requirement at all. You can start selling cottage food from your home kitchen today. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) does not issue a cottage food license and does not require you to notify them before selling. FDACS will only inspect upon complaint.
What's the $250,000 cap and what counts toward it?
$250,000 is your total gross annual sales from all cottage food activity under Florida Statute § 500.80 — the highest cap of any US state. It includes all sales regardless of product type or how many people are involved in the operation. You're responsible for tracking your revenue and must provide written documentation to FDACS upon request.
Can I ship my products to customers?
Yes, within Florida, via USPS or commercial carriers like UPS and FedEx. Interstate shipping is a gray area — the statute does not prohibit it but also does not explicitly authorize it. FDACS has informally acknowledged interstate shipping may raise FDA jurisdiction concerns. If you want to ship out of state, talk to an attorney first.
What foods can't I sell?
Anything potentially hazardous or temperature-controlled: meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, dairy, canned goods (fruits and vegetables), acidified foods like salsa or BBQ sauce or pickles, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, garlic-in-oil, beverages including juices, and any cut produce. If it needs refrigeration, it's not cottage food in Florida. Unlike California or Texas, Florida has no separate tier for TCS foods.
Can my city or county require their own permit?
No. Florida Statute § 500.80(6) explicitly preempts local regulation of cottage food operations. Counties and municipalities may not prohibit you or regulate how you prepare, process, store, or sell your products. General home-business rules — zoning, parking — still apply under § 559.955, but food-specific rules are blocked.
Florida cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Florida does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. The annual gross sales cap is $250,000. Florida allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Florida?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. Florida may still have label, food-category, local zoning, or other business rules, so check the official source before you sell.
What foods can I sell from home in Florida?
Florida's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish.