Sarasota County, FL Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- FS 500.80
- Sales cap
- $250,000 annual gross
- Permit
- None required
- Sales
- Direct to consumer only
- Local ban
- Not allowed
Summary
Florida's cottage food law (FS 500.80) lets residents make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from their home kitchen without a permit or inspection, as long as annual gross sales stay at or below $250,000.
A cottage food operation... is exempt from the permitting requirements... if the cottage food operation complies with this section and has annual gross sales of cottage food products that do not exceed $250,000.
Full Breakdown
Under FS 500.80, a cottage food operation is exempt from state permitting and inspection if it complies with the statute and has annual gross sales of cottage food products not exceeding $250,000. Products must be non-time/temperature-control-for-safety foods (breads, cakes, cookies, jams, dry mixes, honey, and similar), sold prepackaged with a required label listing the maker, address, ingredients, allergens, and a statement that the product is made in a home kitchen not inspected by the state. Sales are direct to consumers, including online, by mail, or at events - wholesale is prohibited. A local government may not prohibit a cottage food operation, so unincorporated Sarasota County cannot ban it.
Violations & Fines
Selling adulterated or mislabeled products, exceeding the sales cap, or selling wholesale removes the exemption and subjects the operation to full FDACS permitting and enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sarasota County ban home food sales?
Can I sell cottage foods to a store?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota County to another location·View the Florida home business overview
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