St. Lucie County, FL Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- FS 500.80
- Sales cap
- $250,000 annual gross
- State permit
- Not required (exempt)
- Sales channel
- Direct to consumer
- Local rule
- Home-occupation zoning applies
Summary
Florida's Cottage Food Law lets St. Lucie County residents sell certain non-hazardous homemade foods from their home kitchen without a Department of Agriculture permit, as long as annual gross sales stay at or below $250,000.
A cottage food operation ... may sell, offer for sale, and accept payment for cottage food products ... and is exempt from the permitting requirements of s. 500.12, provided that 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 Florida Statute 500.80, a cottage food operation may produce approved non-time/temperature-control foods (baked goods, jams, candies, and similar) in an unlicensed home kitchen. The operation is exempt from the food-permitting requirements of s. 500.12 as long as its annual gross sales of cottage food products do not exceed $250,000. Products must be properly labeled and cannot be sold wholesale for resale; sales are direct to consumers, including online with in-state delivery. Local zoning still treats this as a home occupation, so St. Lucie County or city home-business standards (no exterior evidence, incidental use) still apply.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the $250,000 cap or selling prohibited foods forfeits the exemption, requiring a state food permit and licensed facility; local zoning violations are enforced by code compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell homemade cookies?
Can I sell my cottage foods online?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida home business overview
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