Hosting a ticketed dinner in St. Petersburg: the checklist

Not legal advice. This is a starting checklist, checked 2026-09-25. Rules change and differ by county and city. Talk to a lawyer and confirm with DBPR before you sell a ticket or open your space.

At a glance

• Cheapest start: a free dinner for friends at home. Ask DBPR where free ends (unverified). DBPR
• Cottage food covers your cookies, not your coq au vin. A ticketed dinner needs a DBPR food licence. §509.013
• Your home kitchen is out. DBPR service "MAY NOT be conducted in a private residence." DBPR
• Often the simplest route: book a licensed venue; your tickets cover the rental fee. Brewers' Law
• Biggest risk: running unlicensed is a misdemeanour, plus fines up to $1,000 per offence. §509.261

Quick answers

Can I sell tickets to a dinner I cook at home in St. Petersburg? No. A ticketed dinner needs a DBPR food licence, and DBPR food service "MAY NOT be conducted in a private residence." §509.013 DBPR

What's the simplest legal way to host a ticketed dinner in St. Petersburg? Often the simplest route: book a licensed venue; your tickets cover the rental fee. Brewers' Law Next is a DBPR temporary event licence, $91 for 1 to 3 days (unverified: usually tied to a community event; call first). DBPR

Can wine come with the ticket at a St. Petersburg dinner? Not in your ticket. Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. Drinks "gifted" with a ticket count as a sale. §561.01 ABT

Start here: one dish, free, at home

Already hosting? Skip to your routes.

• Cook one dish (one protein, one plate) for a few friends at home. Free: no ticket, no donation jar, no public post. Friends are the cheapest test kitchen in town.
• Let a friend bring a friend. Still free, still invite-only.
• What turns it into a regulated sale in Florida: any charge, or when it's advertised to the public, charge or not (unverified). §509.013 DBPR
• When guests start asking to pay, pick a route below.

Your routes, cheapest first

Steps, in order

Already done some of these? Skip them.

Suggested order.

• 1. Talk to a lawyer before you charge anyone. An hour of their time costs less than learning this the hard way.
• 2. Get a food manager certificate and train your staff. 61C-4.023
• 3. Register on Sunbiz, get a tax ID, and ask the Department of Revenue about sales tax. Volusia Commissary FL DOR
• 4. Book a licensed kitchen. One asks for $1M insurance naming it and a $250 deposit. FCW
• 5. Get your own DBPR licence, even in a shared kitchen. DBPR
• 6. After DBPR, get a city business tax receipt. No county one needed. St. Pete Pinellas
• 7. Put the fee, deposit, licence cover and drinks plan in writing with the venue.
• 8. List your night.

Drinks

• Cheapest: a licensed venue sells drinks, you cook. Brewers' Law Elsewhere, hire a licensee.
• Bar route: with a DBPR-licensed caterer on food, a 4COP bar can sell drinks, no extra licence. §561.20 ABT
• Caterer route: a DBPR-licensed caterer with a 13CT ($1,820 a year) does both, with food and soft drinks 51%+ of each night's sales. No ABT notice found. ABT BLE-202
• Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. §561.01 §562.12
• BYOB outside a licensed restaurant needs a $500 bottle club licence. Hired bartender pouring your wine? Still a sale. St. Pete: temporary alcohol and use permits (unverified). ABT St. Pete

Watch-outs

• Insurance: homeowners policies exclude activity "engaged in for money." Some policies exempt small side income; get it in writing from your insurer. ISO HO-3
• Opening before your city receipt costs a 25% penalty. Receipts expire Sept 30. St. Pete
• From people who've done it: sake bar In Between Days hosted a chef's $120 supper club (anecdotal). CL Tampa

Learn more

• DBPR catering guide
• Shared kitchens

Cost your micro hospitality night before you set a price: try the free Planner.

Not legal advice. Confirm with a lawyer and DBPR before you act.