Cottage food is preempted to the State of Florida. Under FS 500.80, Tarpon Springs cannot prohibit or regulate the preparation, storage, or sale of cottage food products produced in a private home kitchen up to $250,000 in annual sales.
Florida Statute 500.80 (the Home Sweet Home Act) governs cottage food operations statewide. Tarpon Springs residents may produce shelf-stable items such as breads, cookies, cakes, jams, jellies, dry mixes, and candies in their primary home kitchen without a state license or inspection, provided annual gross sales stay under $250,000. Products must be properly labeled, sold directly to consumers in person, online, or by mail. Local governments are preempted from prohibiting cottage food operations or regulating their preparation, storage, or sale. Tarpon Springs zoning still controls signage, customer traffic, and other land-use impacts.
Selling non-allowed products (meat, refrigerated dairy, low-acid canned goods), exceeding the sales cap, or mislabeling products can prompt FDACS enforcement action.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle cottage food operations.
See how Tarpon Springs's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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