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Cottage food laws · IL
Selling homemade food in Illinois
Illinois offers two paths: a simple Cottage Food registration for direct sales up to about $36,000 a year, or a Local Food Entrepreneur license if you want to sell wholesale to stores and restaurants. Either way, register with your local health department and take a food safety course first.
Program
Illinois Cottage Food Law / Local Food Entrepreneur Act
Registration
Register with your local health department and complete a food handler/food safety course; a separate Local Food Entrepreneur license allows wholesale
Annual sales cap
Up to $36,000/year under the basic Cottage Food Law; higher or no cap under a Local Food Entrepreneur license
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods without cream/custard fillings
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy & chocolate
- Dry mixes & granola
- Popcorn
You can't sell
- Potentially hazardous/perishable foods
- Meat & poultry products
- Dairy-based products
- Home-canned low-acid vegetables
Where you can sell
- Direct in-person sales from home
- Farmers markets
- Local Food Entrepreneur license allows sales to retail stores/restaurants
Selling online
Online ordering permitted with in-state delivery/pickup; no shipping across state lines
What your labels must include
- Business name & address
- "This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to public health inspection" statement
- Ingredient list
- Allergen declaration
- Net weight