Roosevelt Gardens Home Business: Cottage Food Operations Rules (2026)

Cottage food operations in Broward County are governed by Florida Statute 500.80. Operators may prepare non-potentially hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, honey, dry mixes, candy, pickles meeting pH requirements, granola, roasted nuts) in an unlicensed home kitchen and sell directly to consumers, at agricultural venues, at roadside stands, by mail order within Florida, or online. The 2021 amendment raised the gross annual sales cap to $250,000 and preempted local regulation, meaning Broward County and its municipalities cannot require a cottage food operator to obtain a local business license, permit, or inspection for the cottage food activity itself. Products must be properly labeled with operator name and address, product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight or volume, allergen declarations, and the statement: Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida food safety regulations. Foods requiring time/temperature control (meat, dairy-based, cream-filled, most custards) are prohibited. Operators may not sell wholesale to restaurants or retailers for resale. FDACS has authority to investigate complaints.