Florida’s cottage food law allows individuals to produce and sell certain shelf-stable foods from an unlicensed home kitchen. It does not generally cover refrigerated meal-prep dishes, meat, seafood, or other foods that require temperature control for safety.

Under current Florida law, a qualifying cottage food operation can earn up to $250,000 in annual gross sales. Products may be sold directly to consumers, offered online, and delivered using approved methods.

This article provides general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before starting your business.

What foods can you sell from home in Florida?

You can sell qualifying shelf-stable foods that present a relatively low risk of foodborne illness.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services lists examples such as:

• Breads, rolls, and biscuits

• Cakes, pastries, and cookies

• Candies and confections

• Honey

• Jams, jellies, and preserves

• Fruit pies and dried fruit

• Dry herbs and seasonings

• Homemade pasta

• Cereals, trail mixes, and granola

• Coated or uncoated nuts

• Vinegars and flavored vinegars

• Popcorn and popcorn balls

Review the official Florida cottage food product guidance before adding a product to your menu.

Can you sell prepared meals from a home kitchen in Florida?

Generally, the cottage food exemption does not cover ordinary prepared meals that require refrigeration or temperature control.

Meal-prep dishes containing cooked meat, seafood, dairy products, cooked vegetables, or other perishable ingredients will typically fall outside the cottage food program. Selling these products may require an approved facility, a food-establishment permit, inspections, and additional food-safety controls.

Contact the appropriate Florida regulator before selling any refrigerated or perishable meal from home.

How much can a Florida cottage food business earn?

A qualifying Florida cottage food operation may earn up to $250,000 in annual gross sales of cottage food products.

Gross sales include cottage food sales from all locations associated with the operation. Operators should maintain accurate records because the state may request documentation verifying total sales.

Exceeding the limit does not simply mean moving into a commercial kitchen. It means the cottage food exemption no longer applies. The business must determine which permits, facilities, and inspections its activities require.

The current sales limit and operating requirements appear in Florida Statute §500.80.

Can Florida cottage foods be sold online?

Yes. Florida cottage food operators may advertise products, accept orders, and receive payment online or through mail order.

Products may be:

• Delivered directly to the consumer

• Delivered to a specific event venue

• Sent through the United States Postal Service

• Sent through a commercial delivery service

Before shipping outside Florida, check the destination state’s cottage food and food-import requirements. Another state is not required to accept products made under Florida’s exemption.

Can cottage foods be sold wholesale?

No. A Florida cottage food operation cannot sell, offer, or deliver cottage food products at wholesale.

This generally means the cottage food exemption cannot be used to supply products to a grocery store, restaurant, or other retailer for resale. Sales must be made directly to the final consumer.

What must a Florida cottage food label include?

Every cottage food product must be prepackaged and carry a compliant label.

The label must include:

• The operation’s name and address

• The product name

• Ingredients in descending order by weight

• Net weight or net volume

• Required allergen information

• Nutrition information when a nutritional claim is made

• Florida’s required cottage food disclosure

The required disclosure is:

“Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations.”

The statement must appear in at least 10-point type and contrast clearly with the label’s background.

Do you need a food permit for cottage food in Florida?

A qualifying cottage food operation is exempt from Florida’s standard food-establishment permitting requirement.

That exemption only applies when:

• The products qualify as cottage foods

• Annual gross sales remain within the statutory limit

• Products are properly packaged and labeled

• Sales are made directly to consumers

• The operation follows the remaining requirements of Florida law

A business selling foods outside these limits may need a food-establishment permit.

How to start a cottage food business in Florida

1. Confirm that every product qualifies

Compare each proposed product with Florida’s approved cottage food categories. Do not assume a product qualifies simply because it is homemade.

2. Choose a business structure and name

Registration requirements depend on the business structure and name. An LLC or corporation must be registered appropriately. A sole proprietor operating under a name other than the owner’s legal name may need a fictitious-name registration.

3. Review home-business requirements

Florida restricts how local governments may regulate home-based businesses, but operators must still comply with applicable home-business conditions. These may affect parking, signage, employees, customer visits, and the residential character of the property.

4. Create compliant packaging and labels

Complete the label design before accepting orders. Carefully verify ingredient order, allergens, net quantity, business information, and the required disclosure.

5. Determine your tax responsibilities

Cottage food status does not eliminate applicable state or federal tax obligations. Tax treatment can depend on the product and how it is sold. Consult the Florida Department of Revenue or a qualified tax professional.

6. Establish a record-keeping system

Track:

• Gross sales

• Business expenses

• Ingredients and suppliers

• Production dates

• Customer orders

• Deliveries and shipments

• Product complaints

Accurate records support compliance and make it easier to determine when the business is approaching the annual sales limit.

Common Florida cottage food mistakes

Avoid these common problems:

• Selling refrigerated meal-prep dishes as cottage foods

• Using ingredients or processes that require temperature control

• Omitting required information from labels

• Forgetting the mandatory cottage food disclosure

• Selling products wholesale

• Failing to track annual gross sales

• Shipping to another state without checking its laws

• Assuming cottage food status removes every business and tax obligation

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell chicken meals from my home kitchen in Florida?

Not under the cottage food exemption. Cooked chicken and similar prepared meals require temperature control and generally need a permitted food business and approved facility.

Can I sell baked goods from home in Florida?

Yes, many shelf-stable baked goods—including qualifying breads, cakes, pastries, and cookies—may be sold under Florida’s cottage food law.

Do I need a commercial kitchen for Florida cottage food?

No. Qualifying cottage food products can be made in an unlicensed home kitchen. Products that fall outside the exemption may require an approved commercial facility.

Can I advertise Florida cottage foods online?

Yes. Cottage food operators may advertise products, accept orders, and receive payment online.

Can I sell cottage foods to restaurants or grocery stores?

No. Florida cottage food products cannot be sold wholesale for resale by another business.

What is Florida’s cottage food sales limit?

The current limit is $250,000 in annual gross sales of cottage food products.

Who regulates cottage food businesses in Florida?

The primary state resource is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Food Safety.

Final takeaway

Florida’s cottage food law creates a practical path for selling approved shelf-stable foods from home. It is not, however, a general exemption for operating a refrigerated meal-prep business from a residential kitchen.

Confirm that each product qualifies, follow the packaging and labeling rules, sell directly to consumers, maintain accurate records, and obtain regulatory guidance before expanding into perishable foods.