Florida cottage food label requirements
Florida puts its whole cottage food label rule in one paragraph of the statutes: section 500.80(3). There is no cottage food permit or registration number to print. Florida cottage food operations are exempt from state food permits as long as they follow section 500.80 and stay under its annual gross sales limit ($250,000 in the current text), and every product they sell must be prepackaged with a label.
Required statement (Florida Statutes 500.80(3)(g))
Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations.
Type size: At least 10-point type, in a color that contrasts clearly with the label background.
Open the Florida preset in the tool
Last checked October 19, 2026. Sources · Example label · FAQ
What a Florida cottage food label must show
| Element | What to print | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Name and address of the cottage food operation | Your business name and address. | Fla. Stat. 500.80(3)(a) |
| Name of the product | For example "Key Lime Shortbread". | 500.80(3)(b) |
| Ingredients | In descending order of predominance by weight. | 500.80(3)(c) |
| Net weight or net volume | For example "Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)". | 500.80(3)(d) |
| Allergen information | As specified by federal labeling requirements. | 500.80(3)(e) |
| Nutrition information | Only if a nutritional claim is made. | 500.80(3)(f) |
| Cottage food statement | The sentence quoted below, at least 10-point, contrasting color. | 500.80(3)(g) |
All seven items must be on a label affixed to the prepackaged product; a Florida cottage food operation "may only sell cottage food products which are prepackaged with a label affixed" (500.80(3)). The statute doesn't define "address" further. A street address is the safest reading; Florida has no ID number you could print instead.
Keep your home address off the label?
No. Florida Statutes 500.80(3)(a) requires the name and address of the cottage food operation, and Florida issues no cottage food permit or ID number that could be printed instead.
This is what the rule says, not legal advice. Check with your state agency before you print.
The Florida statement, word for word
Section 500.80(3)(g) quotes the statement:
Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations.
It names the state, so a label printed for another state will not work in Florida, and a Florida label will not work elsewhere. Copy it exactly, including "Florida’s".
Type size and placement
The statement must be "printed in at least 10-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background of the label" (500.80(3)(g)). Black or dark text on a white or pale label is the simple way to meet the contrast rule; avoid pale gold or pastel text on kraft paper.
Our 4-inch PDF prints the Florida statement in bold at about 10.6 points when printed at 100% ("Actual size"). Scaling it below about 94% drops it under 10 points.
Selling online, at markets or through stores
Florida cottage food operations may sell and take payment online or by mail order, and deliver in person, to an event venue, or by U.S. Postal Service or a commercial mail delivery service (500.80(2)). Whatever the channel, the product must be prepackaged with the label attached, so shipped orders carry the same label as market sales. Wholesale is not allowed (500.80(2)), and products must be stored on the premises of the cottage food operation (500.80(4)).
Free samples are allowed, but FDACS says they must be prepackaged as well.
Local governments cannot prohibit cottage food operations or regulate how cottage foods are prepared, processed, stored or sold (500.80(6)). The conditions for home-based businesses in s. 559.955 still apply.
Example Florida cottage food label
A fictional Tampa baker selling an 8-ounce box of shortbread:
Key Lime Shortbread
Ingredients: enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (cream, salt), powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), key lime juice, lime zest, salt.
Contains: Milk, Wheat.
Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)
Gulf Breeze Treats, 789 Palm Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations.
- The statement is printed last, in bold, at about 10.6 points.
- There is no permit or registration line: Florida does not issue one for cottage foods.
- Powdered sugar is listed with its sub-ingredients (sugar, cornstarch).
- Butter brings Milk into the "Contains" line; enriched flour brings Wheat.
Open the Florida preset in the tool
On your first visit the tool loads this example, with its made-up details marked as examples and a Start blank button. If you already have a recipe saved, it keeps your recipe and switches the state to Florida.
Easy mistakes to avoid
- Using a generic "Made in a home kitchen" line instead of Florida's exact sentence.
- Light, low-contrast text for the statement.
- Selling unpackaged items: Florida cottage foods must be prepackaged and labeled.
- Listing a count only, without the net weight or volume.
- Adding claims like "sugar free" without nutrition information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit number on a Florida cottage food label?
No. Florida cottage food operations that follow section 500.80 are exempt from the state food permit, so there is no permit or registration number to print.
What is the exact Florida cottage food statement?
"Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." printed in at least 10-point type in a contrasting color (Fla. Stat. 500.80(3)(g)).
Can I ship Florida cottage foods?
Section 500.80(2) allows delivery by U.S. Postal Service or commercial mail delivery, as well as in person or to an event venue. The product must still be prepackaged with the label attached.
Do Florida cottage foods need a Nutrition Facts panel?
Only if a nutritional claim is made (500.80(3)(f)).
Can I list a count instead of a weight?
The statute asks for the net weight or net volume (500.80(3)(d)). You can add a count next to it, for example "12 cookies, Net Wt 12 oz (340 g)".
Sources
Last checked October 19, 2026. We read each of these official sources; quotes on this page are copied from them.
- Florida Statutes 500.80: Cottage food operations (Online Sunshine)
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Cottage Foods
This page explains the rules in plain English. It is not legal advice. Rules change, and your county or market may ask for more, so check with the agency above before printing a large run.
How we check these rules, and what changed: How we verify · change log · report an error.
Other states
Arizona · California · Georgia · Michigan · Ohio · Oregon · Texas · All states and the label maker
Also useful: what goes on a food label (federal basics) and the ingredient label maker.