Florida Cottage Food Laws

Florida is a standout for home bakers: high cap, no permit, and shipping within the state is legal. Local zoning is where most Florida bakers still hit friction.

Fast facts

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

What makes Florida different

  • One of the highest sales caps in the country at $250,000 gross annually
  • No license, registration or inspection required
  • Online sales and in-state mail order are explicitly allowed

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

Florida follows the standard cottage food logic: shelf-stable items are in, anything needing refrigeration is out. Check the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services product list for state-specific exceptions.

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

  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

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services administers cottage food rules in Florida.

Last verified:

Visit Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Not legal advice. This summary is for general education. Confirm with Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services before you start selling.

Cottage food laws in other states