Florida cottage food law
Florida cottage food bakers: Sell legally under §500.80
Florida's Cottage Food Law (Florida Statute §500.80) allows home-based food sellers to operate up to $250,000 in annual gross sales — one of the most generous cottage food revenue caps in the country. The trade-off: strict labeling, a defined allowable-foods list, and a "Made in a Cottage Food Operation" disclaimer on every product. CottageOps handles all of it.
What Florida cottage food law actually says
Florida's Cottage Food Operations are governed by Florida Statute §500.80, last substantially amended in 2021 (HB 663, the "Home Sweet Home Act") to raise the revenue cap from $50,000 to $250,000. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) maintains the rule but does not require a license, registration, or kitchen inspection for cottage food operators — making Florida one of the easier states to start in, regulatorily speaking.
The trade-off for the high cap and low entry friction: the allowable-foods list is restrictive, the labeling rules are specific, and the "direct sales only" requirement is enforced. Florida cottage food operators sell directly to consumers — at farmers markets, in-person, online to in-state customers, by direct delivery — but cannot sell wholesale to grocery stores, restaurants, or institutions.
Florida §500.80 at a glance
- Revenue cap
- $250,000 per year, gross sales (raised from $50,000 by HB 663 in 2021)
- License required
- No state license, no registration, no inspection
- Where you can sell
- Direct to consumers in Florida — farmers markets, your home, online to Florida customers, in-person events, direct delivery
- Where you cannot sell
- Wholesale, retail stores, restaurants, institutions, mail order out of state
- Mandatory label disclosure
- "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." Required exact wording on every product label.
- Allowable foods
- Baked goods, candies, jams and jellies, honey, dry herbs and herb blends, dried fruit, dehydrated vegetables, popcorn, popcorn balls, cereals, granola, trail mixes, and several other low-risk categories. NO TCS foods (no meat, dairy, cream fillings) without exception.
What CottageOps does for Florida bakers
When you select Florida as your state during signup, CottageOps configures itself for §500.80:
- The mandatory disclosure on every label. "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations" is required wording — not "no inspection," not "home kitchen," the exact statutory phrase. Our PDF generator places it correctly.
- $250K rolling 12-month tracking. Florida's cap is the highest among the launch-5 states, but it's still a cap. Our dashboard tracks against $250K with 75/90/100% warnings.
- Allergen disclosure enforcement. Required on every product before publish.
- Direct-sales-only sales channel. No wholesale module enabled — Florida cottage food prohibits indirect sales.
- In-state shipping default. Florida cottage food covers in-state direct sales; out-of-state shipping crosses federal jurisdiction.
Watch out for
- The exact disclosure wording. Florida's mandatory phrase is specific: "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." Don't paraphrase. CottageOps uses the exact statutory language; if you make a custom label, copy the disclosure verbatim.
- No TCS foods, period. Cream-filled cupcakes, custard tarts, cheesecake — all TCS, all excluded. Even if your kitchen has good refrigeration. CottageOps's product wizard flags TCS categories.
- No retail-store sales. A local boutique offering to carry your jam? That's an indirect sale; you can't do it under §500.80. Either decline or transition to a commercial kitchen license.
- The $250K cap is gross, not net. Cost of goods doesn't subtract. Track gross.
- County health department interactions. §500.80 is state law and counties don't typically add cottage food rules — but a few do impose local sales-event permits (especially for farmers market booths). Check with your local health department before your first market.
Ready to sell legally in Florida?
CottageOps configures itself for Florida §500.80 with the exact mandatory disclosure, $250K cap tracking, allergen enforcement, and direct-sales-only flow. $19/month flat. No transaction fees. 30 days free.
Start your 30-day free trialFlorida cottage food FAQ
Do I need to register with Florida to sell cottage food?
No state-level registration, license, or inspection is required under §500.80. Some counties have local permit requirements for farmers market vendors — check locally.
Can I sell my Florida cottage food online?
Yes, to Florida consumers, via direct sales (your storefront, pickup, in-state delivery). Out-of-state shipping is generally not covered.
Can a friend's coffee shop sell my baked goods?
No. That's an indirect sale; §500.80 prohibits it. Either decline the offer or transition to a commercial kitchen with a Florida Food Establishment Permit.
What's TCS and what does it have to do with my cinnamon rolls?
Time/Temperature Control for Safety. Foods that require refrigeration to stay safe — most cream/custard/dairy fillings, fresh meat, etc. — are excluded from Florida cottage food. Plain cinnamon rolls without cream fillings are fine. Cream-cheese-filled cinnamon rolls are TCS and not allowed.
What if I cross $250K?
You're no longer covered by §500.80 for sales past the cap. You'd transition to a commercial kitchen license and a Florida Food Establishment Permit. CottageOps warns you at 75% and 90% so you can plan the transition.
Does CottageOps handle Florida sales tax?
Florida requires sales tax collection on most cottage food sales. CottageOps tracks the data; we export a monthly summary for your accountant. Filing is on you.
Selling in another state? Read our state-specific guides:
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Florida §500.80 mandatory disclosure on every label, $250K cap tracked, direct-sales-only enforced. Cancel anytime; the most-recent month is refundable.
Start your 30-day free trialLast verified: 2026-05-09. Not legal advice — confirm cottage-food requirements with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.