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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Sales cap
$250,000 per year
State permit
Not required
Packaging
Prepackaged with a label
Inspection
Only on complaint
Authority
FS 500.80

Summary

Florida's cottage food law (FS 500.80) lets residents make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen without a state permit or inspection, as long as annual gross sales stay under $250,000 and products are prepackaged with a proper label.

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

A cottage food operation may sell... cottage food products... provided that the cottage food operation's annual gross sales of cottage food products do not exceed $250,000. Cottage food products must be prepackaged with a label... Only upon receipt of a complaint, the department's authorized officer or employee may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food operation.

View official code

Full Breakdown

FS 500.80 allows cottage food operations with annual gross sales of cottage food products that do not exceed $250,000. Products (breads, cakes, jams, honey, dry mixes, and similar non-potentially-hazardous items) must be prepackaged with a label and stored on the operation's premises; the operation is exempt from the FS 500.12 food-permit requirement. The Department of Agriculture may enter and inspect only upon receipt of a complaint. A 2021 amendment raised the sales cap and expanded permitted sales channels including mail order. Home occupation zoning rules under LDC 5.02.07 (no exterior evidence, employee/traffic caps) still apply to selling from the home.

Violations & Fines

Selling non-permitted (potentially hazardous) foods, mislabeling, or exceeding $250,000 in sales subjects the operator to FS 500 disciplinary action; refusing a complaint inspection is separate grounds for discipline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell homemade food?
No. Under FS 500.80 a cottage food operation is exempt from state food permitting as long as it stays under $250,000 in annual gross sales and sells only approved, properly labeled foods.
Can inspectors come to my home?
Only upon receipt of a complaint may the Department of Agriculture's authorized officer enter and inspect a cottage food operation's premises.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Santa Rosa County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsZoning & Home Occupation PermitsSome RestrictionsSignage RulesSome RestrictionsHome DaycareSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Santa Rosa County rules

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