Florida Cottage Food Law · 2026
Can you sell brownies from home in Florida?
YES — Allowed
Yes. Brownies and bar cookies are shelf-stable baked goods — fully allowed under Florida's cottage food law.
Why yes?
Brownies, blondies, and dessert bars are classic non-potentially-hazardous baked goods. They travel well, package beautifully, and are among the easiest cottage foods to start with.
As with all baked goods, keep toppings and mix-ins shelf-stable. A ganache drizzle is fine; a cream cheese swirl needs refrigeration and is not allowed.
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
How to sell brownies legally
- 1Individually wrapped brownies sell well at markets and add a professional touch
- 2Declare allergens clearly — most brownies contain wheat, eggs, and milk
- 3Upsell with variety boxes (brownie + blondie + bar assortments)
- 4Nuts are a major allergen — call them out in bold on the label
Storage & refrigeration
Brownies qualifies because it's shelf-stable — safe at room temperature. Keep it that way: the moment you add a cream or custard filling, fresh dairy, or anything that needs refrigeration, it stops being a cottage food. Store and transport brownies at room temperature and it stays compliant.
How to label brownies
Every package of brownies you sell needs a compliant label with all 6 required elements:
- 1Your cottage food business name and address
- 2The product name
- 3Ingredients, listed in descending order by weight
- 4Net weight or quantity
- 5Allergen declaration (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish)
- 6The cottage food statement (exact wording, below)
“Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations.”
This statement must appear word-for-word.
Where you can sell brownies in Florida
Cottage food is sold direct to the customer, within Florida. For brownies, that means:
✅ Allowed
- Farmers markets, fairs & events
- Home pickup and local delivery
- Online, phone & mail order — delivered in Florida
🚫 Not allowed
- Wholesale to stores/restaurants for resale
- Selling or shipping outside Florida
- More than $250,000 in gross sales per year
Pricing brownies for profit
Add up your cost per unit (ingredients + packaging), multiply by 3–4× to cover your time and overhead, then sanity-check against what similar makers charge locally. Undercharging is the single most common mistake — your time is a real cost, not a freebie.
Free recipe cost calculatorCommon mistakes to avoid
- Underpricing — not counting your time, packaging, and market fees
- Missing a required label element, especially the exact cottage food statement
- Adding a filling or frosting that needs refrigeration, which quietly turns compliant brownies non-compliant
- Selling across state lines or wholesale to a shop for resale
- Losing track of the $250,000/year gross sales cap
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
Can I sell cream cheese swirl brownies?
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No — cream cheese components require refrigeration. Stick to shelf-stable variations like ganache, caramel, or nuts.
What should I charge for brownies?
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Most Florida sellers price individually wrapped brownies at $3–$6 depending on size and ingredients. Cost them with the free Recipe Cost Calculator.
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.
Ready to start selling?
Get the step-by-step startup guide, free pricing tools, and a spot in Florida's cottage food directory.
Educational information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with FDACS. Based on Florida Statute 500.80 as of 2026.