Florida Cottage Food Law
A complete guide to cottage food regulations in Florida (FL) — revenue limits, allowed products, labeling, and permitting requirements.
Requirements & Restrictions
Permitting & Registration
- Food Handler Certification
- Not required
- Business License
- Not required
- State Registration
- Not required
Where You Can Sell
- direct to consumer in person
- internet / online sales
- mail order (USPS or commercial mail delivery service)
- specific event venues
- consumer's residence (delivered in person)
Allowed Products
- Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits
- Cakes, pastries and cookies
- Candies and confections
- Honey
- Jams, jellies and preserves
- Fruit pies and dried fruits
- Dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures
- Homemade pasta
- Cereals, trail mixes and granola
- Coated or uncoated nuts
- Vinegar and flavored vinegars
- Popcorn and popcorn balls
Prohibited Products
- Salsa, barbecue sauces, ketchups and/or mustards
- Canned fruits and vegetables, chutneys, vegetable butters and jellies, flavored oils, hummus, garlic dip and salsas
- Fish or shellfish products
- Canned pickled products such as corn relish, pickles, sauerkraut
- Raw seed sprouts
- Bakery goods which require any type of refrigeration such as cream, custard or meringue pies and cakes or pastries with cream cheese icings or fillings
- Eggs, milk and dairy products including hard, soft and cottage cheeses and yogurt
- Cut fresh fruits and/or vegetables.
- Juices made from fresh fruits or vegetables Ice and/or ice products
- Fresh or dried meat, or meat products including jerky
- Foccaccia-style breads with vegetables and/or cheeses
- Homemade icings and frostings made from dairy based cream cheese and/or butter
- Any products containing hemp, hemp extract or CBD derived from the plant Cannabis sativaL.
- Syrups (including elderberry syrup)
- Wholesale sales of cottage food products
Labeling Requirements
The following information must appear on every cottage food product label sold in Florida:
Required Disclaimer
Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations.
Additional Notes
1. Allowed products are defined by exclusion: any food that is NOT a 'potentially hazardous food' as defined by FDACS rule (Fla. Stat. §500.03(j)). The statute does not enumerate a specific product list. 2. Annual gross sales cap of $250,000 includes ALL sales of cottage food products at any location, regardless of product type or number of persons involved (§500.80(1)(b)). 3. Wholesale sales are explicitly prohibited (§500.80(2)). 4. Products must be prepackaged with a label affixed; bulk/unpackaged sales are not permitted. 5. If a nutritional claim is made, appropriate nutritional information per federal labeling requirements must also appear on the label (§500.80(3)(f)). 6. The disclaimer must be printed in at least 10-point type in a color providing clear contrast to the label background (§500.80(3)(g)). 7. Regulation of cottage food operations is preempted to the state — local ordinances cannot prohibit or regulate cottage food operations, though the operator must comply with home-based business conditions under §559.955 (§500.80(6)). 8. Products must be stored on the premises of the cottage food operation (§500.80(4)). 9. No FDACS permit is required, and no formal registration with FDACS is required. 10. Food handler certification and business license requirements are not addressed in the cottage food statute; operators should verify local home-based business rules under §559.955.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual revenue limit for cottage food businesses in Florida?
- Florida cottage food producers may earn up to $250,000 per year from cottage food sales.
- Do I need a food handler certification to sell cottage food in Florida?
- No. Florida does not require a food handler certification for cottage food producers.
- Is a business license required for cottage food sales in Florida?
- No. Florida does not require a business license to operate a cottage food business.
- Does Florida require cottage food producers to register with the state?
- No. Florida does not require cottage food producers to register with a state agency.
- Where can I legally sell cottage food products in Florida?
- In Florida, cottage food products may be sold at: direct to consumer in person, internet / online sales, mail order (USPS or commercial mail delivery service), specific event venues, consumer's residence (delivered in person).
- What allergen labeling standard applies to cottage food in Florida?
- Florida follows the FDA Big Nine allergen standard for cottage food labeling.
- What products are allowed under Florida cottage food law?
- The following product categories are permitted for cottage food production in Florida: Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits, Cakes, pastries and cookies, Candies and confections, Honey, Jams, jellies and preserves, Fruit pies and dried fruits, Dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures, Homemade pasta, Cereals, trail mixes and granola, Coated or uncoated nuts, Vinegar and flavored vinegars, Popcorn and popcorn balls.
- What products are prohibited under Florida cottage food law?
- The following products may not be sold under Florida's cottage food exemption: Salsa, barbecue sauces, ketchups and/or mustards, Canned fruits and vegetables, chutneys, vegetable butters and jellies, flavored oils, hummus, garlic dip and salsas, Fish or shellfish products, Canned pickled products such as corn relish, pickles, sauerkraut, Raw seed sprouts, Bakery goods which require any type of refrigeration such as cream, custard or meringue pies and cakes or pastries with cream cheese icings or fillings, Eggs, milk and dairy products including hard, soft and cottage cheeses and yogurt, Cut fresh fruits and/or vegetables., Juices made from fresh fruits or vegetables Ice and/or ice products, Fresh or dried meat, or meat products including jerky, Foccaccia-style breads with vegetables and/or cheeses, Homemade icings and frostings made from dairy based cream cheese and/or butter, Any products containing hemp, hemp extract or CBD derived from the plant Cannabis sativaL., Syrups (including elderberry syrup), Wholesale sales of cottage food products.