Interested in Learning about Florida's Cottage Food Law?

Interested in Learning about Florida’s Cottage Food Law?

If you’ve ever been told your cookies could win awards, your spice blends should be bottled, or your sourdough starter deserves its own fan club, you might be sitting on more than just a hobby. Many home cooks don’t realize that their passion projects, like those late-night baking sessions or weekend canning marathons, could actually become a small business. In Florida, that possibility is more accessible than you might think.

What Is Florida’s Cottage Food Law?

Florida’s Cottage Food Law opens the door for individuals to sell safe, homemade foods directly to consumers right from their home kitchen.

Some core components of Florida’s Cottage Food Law are:

Products must be non-time/temperature control for safety (non-TCS) foods.
Products must be made in your home kitchen.
Items must be properly labeled.
Sales must occur within Florida, whether in person, online, or by mail order.
You can earn up to $250,000 in annual gross sales.

For many aspiring food entrepreneurs, this law removes the biggest barriers to getting started. But understanding the rules (and making sure you’re following them) can feel overwhelming at first.

Want to learn more?

That’s where UF/IFAS Extension comes in. We’re excited to introduce a new program being offered, Introduction to Cottage Foods in Florida.

This workshop is designed to help you confidently take the first steps toward launching your cottage food operation. Participants will learn:

The basics of Florida’s cottage food law
Essential food safety practices
Labeling requirements and best practices
Simple, practical steps to get your business off the ground

Whether you’re dreaming of selling your sourdough loaves, shipping cookies across the state, or simply turning your hobby into a side hustle, this program gives you the foundation you need. Your kitchen might just be the start of your next big adventure!

The first class will be offered in Orange County virtually through Zoom on July 20th, 2026 from 12:00pm-1:00pm (EST). To sign up for the class, click here.

Classes are added monthly, so make sure you continue to check back or join our E-news mailing list: Join Here!