Florida law allows individuals to use their unlicensed home kitchens to produce for sale certain foods that present a low risk of foodborne illness. Cottage food operators can produce and sell these products directly to consumers without obtaining a food permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Florida law allows individuals to use their unlicensed home kitchens to produce for sale certain foods that present a low risk of foodborne illness. Cottage food operators can produce and sell these products directly to consumers without obtaining a food permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Gross sales for a cottage food operation must not exceed $250,000 annually.

Approved Cottage Food Products

Cottage Food Law Basics

• Cottage food operators may sell cottage food products on their website, by mail order, and direct to consumer (in person).
• Cottage food products cannot be sold wholesale. 
• Cottage foods must be properly packaged and labeled. Cottage food operators can serve free samples for tasting, but the samples must be prepackaged. 
• A cottage food operation must comply with all state or federal tax laws, rules, regulations or certificates that apply to all cottage food operations.