Florida Cottage Food Laws

Florida is a standout for home bakers: a high cap, no permit, and internet and mail-order sales written into the statute. Local zoning is where most Florida bakers still hit friction.

Important information: Cottage food laws vary by state and may change. This guide is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your state's official regulatory agency before selling homemade food.

Checked against official Florida sources on November 2, 2026: permit, sales cap, online sales, shipping and label statement. Anything not marked as checked is our summary — check with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

Fast facts

Permit
No permit or license required (checked)
Annual sales cap
$250,000/yr (checked)
Online sales
Allowed (checked)
Shipping
Allowed (checked)

What makes Florida different

  • One of the highest caps in the country: $250,000 in annual gross sales
  • No permit; cottage food operations are exempt from Florida's food permitting requirements
  • Internet and mail-order sales are allowed; the statute doesn't address shipping across state lines

Where you can sell in Florida

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Roadside stands
  • Online
  • Mail order in state

What you can and can't make

These lists describe what most cottage food laws allow and prohibit. They aren't Florida's official product list: check the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services for the foods Florida actually allows.

Generally allowed

  • Breads, rolls, biscuits and buns
  • Cakes, cupcakes and brownies (without cream-cheese or custard fillings)
  • Cookies, bars and biscotti
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candy, brittle, fudge and chocolate-covered items
  • Dry mixes, granola, popcorn and roasted nuts
  • Jams, jellies and preserves made from high-acid fruit

Generally prohibited

  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese frostings or fillings
  • Custard, meringue, pudding and Bavarian-cream pies
  • Anything containing meat, poultry or seafood
  • Fresh-dairy items, ice cream and buttercream that requires refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, salsas and other low-acid canned goods
  • Garlic-in-oil, pickled goods and fermented foods (in most states)
  • Kombucha, juices and other beverages requiring a process authority

Florida labeling requirements

Required statement, checked November 2, 2026:

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

At least 10-point type, in a color that contrasts with the background.

Most states require the elements below. Florida's exact list may differ, so confirm it with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

  1. The name and physical address of your home kitchen business
  2. The common name of the product
  3. A full ingredient list in descending order by weight
  4. Allergen declaration for the major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
  5. Net weight or volume
  6. A cottage food disclosure such as "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine state inspection"

Official source for Florida

The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services administers cottage food rules in Florida. Their page is the authoritative, current version of everything summarized here.

Visit the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Sources we checked on November 2, 2026:

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Cottage food laws in other states