Florida Statutes §500.80 — The "Home Sweet Home Act"
Florida's cottage food law was first enacted in 2011 (HB 7209) and significantly expanded in 2021 by the "Home Sweet Home Act" (HB 663). The law allows individuals and business entities to produce and sell non-perishable food products from their primary residence without a state food permit, inspection, or food handler certification — as long as annual gross sales remain at or below $250,000. Regulation of cottage food operations is preempted to the state, meaning no local government can prohibit your operation or add food-specific rules beyond the state law. The governing agency is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety.
Florida is one of the most seller-friendly states in the nation
The $250,000 annual cap is the highest of any state with a sales limit — enough to build a real business before ever needing a commercial kitchen permit. There is no permit, no registration form, no fee, and no inspection required to start. You can accept orders and payment online, ship products by USPS or commercial carrier, and sell at farmers markets, pop-up events, and roadside stands. Florida also has no state income tax, so more of every dollar you earn stays in your pocket.
Eight Chapters — Everything You Need to Know
What You Can Sell
Breads, jams, cookies, candy, granola, honey, dried goods, and more. Plus the complete prohibited foods list — pickles, hot sauce, juices, and fermented foods that don't qualify.
Shelf-Stable Foods
A deep look at jams, jellies, fruit butters, baked goods, spices, candy, and nut butters. What makes a food shelf-stable under Florida's TCS standard and where the gray areas are.
Prepared Meals
Florida's cottage food law does not cover prepared meals requiring temperature control. Learn what pathways exist for home-cooked meal sellers — including licensed kitchen options.
Beverages
Kombucha, cold brew, shrubs, juices, and carbonated drinks are generally not permitted under the cottage food law. Explore what's available, what's restricted, and alternative licensing paths.
Permits & Licenses
No state permit needed for cottage food. What you may need: a local business tax receipt from your county, a sales tax registration with FDOR, and a Fictitious Name if operating under a business name.
Label Requirements
Florida requires a specific 10-point disclaimer on every label, plus your name and address, product name, ingredients, net weight, and allergen info. Templates and examples included.
Start Your Business
Sole prop vs. LLC in Florida. No state income tax. $125 LLC formation fee. No franchise tax. How to register a business name (DBA), get an EIN, and set up your Florida cottage food business the right way.
Special Categories
Datil pepper products, honey (harvester-only rule), boiled peanuts exemption, alcohol-adjacent extracts, and other category-specific rules that Florida sellers need to know before they label and sell.
How Florida's Cottage Food Law Evolved
Florida's cottage food law has improved significantly since its first passage in 2011, going from a strict $15,000 cap with no online sales to one of the most permissive frameworks in the country.
Florida Compliance Score — Free Tool
Answer a few questions about what you sell and how you sell it, and our compliance checker tells you exactly where you stand under Florida §500.80 — with specific guidance on label requirements, sales channel rules, and any areas that need attention.
Try the Free Compliance Checker →Florida FDACS — Division of Food Safety
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is the official governing agency for cottage food operations in Florida. FDACS investigates complaints, issues guidance, and maintains the official cottage food information for the state. They are friendly and responsive — don't hesitate to call with questions.
FDACS — Division of Food Safety
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650