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
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Florida does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Florida? For basic cottage foods, Florida does not require a separate license or permit — but other rules can still apply.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Not required
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- 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 rules. 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.
How much is a permit to sell food in Florida?
There is no permit fee — Florida's Home Sweet Home Act (§ 500.80) lets you sell shelf-stable cottage foods with no state license or registration. The annual cap is a generous $250,000, and cities and counties cannot require their own cottage food permit.
Can I sell cooked food from home in Florida?
Florida cottage food is limited to shelf-stable items, so hot, ready-to-eat cooked meals fall outside it. The path to yes for prepared food is a licensed or commissary kitchen, or catering under a food-service license. Shelf-stable foods — baked goods, jams, candies, dry mixes — you can sell directly and ship in-state up to the $250,000 cap.
Can I sell tacos from home in Florida?
It depends on the taco. Shelf-stable components can qualify, but assembled hot tacos and meat fillings need temperature control, which the cottage food law does not cover — those go through a licensed kitchen. Dry spice blends, baked goods, and similar shelf-stable items are fine to sell directly under Florida's cottage food program.
Can a Florida city or county add its own cottage food permit or rules?
No — § 500.80(6) preempts local governments from prohibiting cottage food operations or regulating how you prepare, process, store, or sell cottage food products. General home-based business conditions like zoning and parking can still apply under § 559.955, but food-specific local rules are blocked.
Can I ship Florida cottage food out of state?
Treat it as a gray area. The statute authorizes shipping within Florida via USPS or commercial carriers and does not expressly ban interstate sales; FDACS informally said in 2023 that interstate shipping is unlikely to be enforced but flagged potential FDA jurisdiction. It is not clearly authorized, so get legal advice before shipping across state lines.
Florida cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Florida does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The annual gross sales cap is $250,000. Florida allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Florida?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. 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 rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish.