Illinois cottage food laws
Rules change, so always confirm with the official Illinois source.
The law: Cottage Food Operation; 410 ILCS 625/4
What you can sell
Breads, cookies, cakes, candies and many other foods are allowed unless specifically prohibited. Some frostings, fermented foods, acidified foods and canned tomatoes require extra controls or testing.
What you can't sell
Meat, poultry, seafood, most dairy products and prohibited low-acid canned foods cannot be sold under this exemption. Confirm individual recipes against the state guide.
Do you need a license or permit?
Register with the health department where you live. Food protection manager certification is required; the current fee schedule was not confirmed.
Sales limits
A current statewide dollar cap was not confirmed from the fetched agency page.
Where you can sell
Direct-to-consumer sales are allowed; resale and retail food establishment sales are prohibited. The current detailed online, shipping and interstate conditions were not fully confirmed.
Label requirements
Include product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, processing date, registration number and registering municipality or county. Prominently state: “This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.”
Good to know
The agency’s December 2025 labeling checklist requires a registration number rather than merely a home address. Packaging exemptions require local health department approval. Some details on this page could not be fully confirmed from official sources, so check with the state agency before you sell.
Pricing your products
Knowing your real cost per item matters as much as following the law.
Try Oven Elf free →Source: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/food-safety/cottage-food.html
General summary, not legal advice.
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