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CS/HB 663 — Cottage Food Operations
by Regulatory Reform Subcommittee and Reps. Salzman, Botana, and others (CS/SB 1294 by Rules Committee and Senator Brodeur)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Regulated Industries Committee (RI)
The bill revises the regulations on cottage food operations and cottage food sales. Under current law, a cottage food operation is a natural person who produces or packages cottage food products, defined by the Department of Agriculture as any food that is not a potentially hazardous food, at his or her residence.
The bill allows individual cottage food operations to sell, offer for sale, and accept payment for cottage food products as a business entity. The bill also allows cottage food products to be sold, offered for sale, and paid for by mail order, and permits cottage food products to be delivered by mail.
Under current law, cottage food operations are exempt from food permitting requirements if the cottage food seller complies with s. 500.80, F.S., and has annual gross sales of up to $50,000. The bill increases the maximum allowable gross sales to $250,000.
The bill preempts the regulation of cottage food operations to the state. However, cottage food operations must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances regulating traffic, parking, noise, signage, and hours of retail operation.
The bill provides that this act may be cited as the “Home Sweet Home Act.”
Under the bill, cottage food operations must comply with the conditions for the operation of home-based businesses under s. 559.955, F.S., which is a provision created by CS/HB 403 to prohibit the licensing and regulation of home-based businesses by local governments. CS/HB 403 also establishes standards for the conduct of a home-based business, including requiring compliance with relevant traffic, noise, and signage requirements. CS/HB 403 was adopted by the Legislature during the 2021 Regular Session. If approved by the Governor, CS/HB 403 takes effect July 1, 2021.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect on the same date that HB 403 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in this legislative session and becomes law.
Vote: Senate 30-10; House 90-28