Escambia County, FL Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Sales cap
- $250,000 per year
- State permit
- Not required if compliant
- Where made
- Home kitchen
- Labeling
- Required disclosure statement
- Wholesale
- Not allowed
Summary
Florida cottage food operations selling up to $250,000 a year need no state food permit and can operate from a home kitchen. Products must be labeled and sold directly to consumers, not wholesale.
A cottage food operation that has annual gross sales of cottage food products that do not exceed $250,000 is exempt from the permitting requirements of s. 500.12 if the cottage food operation complies with this section.
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute 500.80 lets residents make and sell certain non-hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, candies, dried mixes) from an unlicensed home kitchen. A cottage food operation with annual gross sales of cottage food products not exceeding $250,000 is exempt from the Department of Agriculture's food-permit requirements. Products must be prepackaged and labeled with the operation's name and address, product name, ingredients, net weight, allergens, and the statement that the food was made in a cottage food operation not subject to Florida's food safety regulations. Sales may be direct, in person, by mail, or over the internet, but not at wholesale. Escambia County cannot ban a compliant cottage food home operation.
Violations & Fines
Selling wholesale, exceeding the sales cap, or omitting required labeling removes the exemption and subjects the operation to Department of Agriculture permitting and enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell homemade food in Florida?
Can I sell cottage foods online?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Escambia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Escambia County to another location·View the Florida home business overview
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