Cottage food operations in Hillsborough County are protected by FL 500.80, which preempts local regulation and allows sales of non-hazardous homemade foods up to 250,000 dollars per year without a food license. Direct and online sales to Florida consumers are allowed. Local home occupation signage and traffic rules still apply.
Florida Statute 500.80 allows sales of non-potentially hazardous items such as baked goods, jams, honey, dried pasta, and candies from home kitchens. Products must be labeled with producer name, address, ingredients, allergens, and the cottage food disclaimer. Hillsborough County cannot require a permit for the cottage food activity itself but the home occupation certificate and BTR still apply to the residential business operation. FDACS provides cottage food guidance.
Improper labeling: FDACS warning and potential cease-sale. Selling prohibited items such as meat or dairy: misdemeanor under FL 500.04. Operating without home occupation certificate: county citation.
Dover, FL
Dover is an unincorporated CDP in eastern Hillsborough County, so noise is governed by the County's Noise Control Ordinance in Code Part A, Chapter 1, Articl...
Hillsborough County, FL
Hillsborough County Animal Control Ordinance treats continuous barking over 10 minutes, or intermittent barking over 30 minutes, as a public nuisance enforce...
Hillsborough County, FL
Construction noise in unincorporated Hillsborough County is restricted to 7 AM through 7 PM Monday to Saturday, with no Sunday or legal holiday work except f...
Hillsborough County, FL
Hillsborough County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Gas blowers are allowed during construction/landscape hours (7 AM to 7 PM) and must not exceed gen...
Hillsborough County, FL
In unincorporated Hillsborough County, retaining walls are regulated under Land Development Code Part 6.07.00 (Fences and Walls) for setback and dimensional ...
Hillsborough County, FL
Corner lots in Hillsborough County must maintain a sight visibility triangle: no fence, wall, or landscaping over 30 inches within 25 feet of the intersectin...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Hillsborough County.
See how other cities in Hillsborough County handle cottage food operations.
See how Dover's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.