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Hernando County, FL Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
§500.80, preempted to state
Permit
None required
Sales cap
$250,000 per year
Foods
Non-hazardous, shelf-stable
Shipping
Allowed since 2021

Summary

You can bake and sell cottage foods from a Hernando County kitchen with no permit and no local approval. Fla. Stat. §500.80 preempts cottage food regulation to the state, letting an operation gross up to $250,000 a year selling non-hazardous foods like breads, jams, and cookies.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Hernando County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The regulation of cottage food operations is preempted to the state. A local law, ordinance, or regulation may not prohibit a cottage food operation or regulate the preparation, processing, storage, or sale of cottage food products by a cottage food operation.

Source: Florida StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

The 2021 expansion of Florida's cottage food law bars Hernando County and the City of Brooksville from touching home food operations. Under Fla. Stat. §500.80 a cottage food operation needs no state permit or license and may gross up to $250,000 a year producing non-potentially-hazardous foods, breads, cakes, jams, dry mixes, and similar shelf-stable items, in a home kitchen. The 2021 amendments also let operators ship, not just hand-sell, those goods. Every package carries a label with the operator's name and address, the ingredients, allergen information, and a notice that the food was made in an operation not subject to Florida's food safety regulations.

Violations & Fines

Selling potentially hazardous foods that need refrigeration, exceeding the $250,000 cap, or selling at wholesale strips the exemption and pulls the operation under full DBPR food permitting, with stop-sale orders and penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to sell home-baked goods in Hernando County?
No. Fla. Stat. §500.80 requires no permit or license for a cottage food operation and preempts local regulation, up to $250,000 in annual gross sales of non-hazardous foods.
What foods can I make and sell from home?
Non-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable items such as breads, cakes, cookies, jams, and dry mixes. Foods needing refrigeration are excluded from the cottage food exemption.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hernando County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsZoning & Home Occupation PermitsFew RestrictionsCustomer Traffic RestrictionsSome RestrictionsHome DaycareSome RestrictionsSignage RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy Restrictions

All Hernando County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hernando County to another location·View the Florida home business overview

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