Florida Cottage Food Law · 2026
Can you sell homemade beef jerky in Florida?
NO — Not Allowed
No. Meat products — including jerky — are never cottage foods in Florida. Meat processing requires separate inspection and licensing.
Why no?
All meat products are excluded from cottage food law, even shelf-stable ones like jerky. Meat processing has its own federal/state inspection regimes (USDA/FDACS) that apply regardless of how dry the final product is.
This is one of the brightest lines in the law: if it contains meat, poultry, or seafood, it cannot be a cottage food.
Florida Cottage Food Law: Key Facts
Updated July 2026- Permit required: None — no license, permit, or FDACS registration for cottage foods
- Legal basis: Florida Statute 500.80
- Annual sales cap: $250,000 gross per year
- The rule: Only non-potentially-hazardous foods (safe at room temperature)
- Sales channel: Direct to consumers in Florida only — no wholesale
- Labels: 6 required elements, including the cottage food statement
Legal alternatives for jerky makers
- 1Plant-based "jerky" (mushroom, jackfruit — fully dried) can qualify as dried produce
- 2Dry jerky seasoning + cure kits for home hobbyists are allowed products
- 3Commercial route: an inspected meat processing facility (serious but doable)
- 4Some makers partner with existing licensed jerky processors to co-brand
Storage & refrigeration
Beef Jerky isn't cottage-eligible because it needs refrigeration or special processing to be safe — it's a “potentially hazardous” food. Selling beef jerky from home would require a licensed, inspected facility, not the cottage food exemption.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming that because beef jerky can be shelf-stable, it's automatically allowed — it isn't
- Selling a refrigeration-required or specially-processed food without a licensed facility
- Relying on a booth or online store to hide a product that isn’t cottage-eligible
Not sure about a different product?
Check any food against Florida's rules in seconds with our free tool — then price it and label it with the rest of the toolkit.
Frequently asked questions
It's completely dried — why is it different from dried fruit?
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Because it's meat. Meat is categorically excluded from cottage food law and regulated under separate inspection laws, independent of moisture content.
What about fish jerky or smoked salmon?
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Seafood is likewise excluded. All animal-protein products require licensed processing.
People also ask about
Official Florida sources
FDACS — Cottage Foods
Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services — the official cottage food program.
Florida Statute 500.80
The cottage food law itself, on the Florida Legislature's official site.
This is general educational information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — always verify current requirements with FDACS before you sell.
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Educational information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with FDACS. Based on Florida Statute 500.80 as of 2026.