Selling homemade food is getting easier for Illinois residents who want to work in their own kitchens. State law, updated in 2017 and 2021, allows homemade food producers to sell a wide variety of products directly to consumers in many venues.

Grades For Homemade Food Laws Illinois
Final GradeB-
Food Categories Grade C
Sales and Venue Restrictions Grade A-
Regulatory Burdens GradeB-

Illinois cottage food types

Food VarietiesIllinois
What Shelf-Stable Foods Can I Sell in Illinois?No restrictions
Can I Sell Refrigerated Baked Goods in Illinois?No
Can I Sell Meat in Illinois?No
Can I Sell Acidified or Pickled Foods in Illinois?Yes
Can I Sell Low-Acid Canned Goods in Illinois?No
Can I Sell Fermented Foods in Illinois?Yes

Many states regulate “cottage food,” meaning food made in a home kitchen for sale. Illinois cottage food producers may sell a variety of homemade food so long as they are not “potentially hazardous,” which includes meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, cheesecakes, custard pies, crème pies, low-acid canned foods, sprouts, cut leafy greens, cut or pureed fresh tomato or melon, dehydrated tomato or melon, frozen cut melon, wild-harvested mushrooms, alcoholic beverages and kombucha. 

Illinois cottage food venues

Sales and Venue RestrictionsIllinois
Annual Sales CapNone
Where Can I Sell Homemade Food Direct to Consumers in Illinois?No restrictions
Can I Sell Homemade Food to Retail Outlets Like Restaurants and Grocery Stores?No
Online OrdersYes
Mail DeliveryYes

Illinois cottage food producers may sell directly to consumers for their own consumption and not for resale in coffee shops, bakeries and other retail outlets. Prior to 2022, Illinois limited most homemade food sales to farmers’ markets. But now sales may occur at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals, public events or online. Illinois also allows home pickup and delivery, although local restrictions may apply. Only food that is non-potentially hazardous may be shipped, and nothing may be shipped out of state.

Getting started in Illinois

Regulatory BurdensIllinois
Inspections Required Before StartingNo
Are Local Ordinances Preempted or Overridden?Yes
License, Permit or Registration RequiredYes
Recipe Approval or Lab Testing RequiredOnly for acidified and fermented foods as well as baked goods made with cheese.
Food Handler Training RequiredYes

Illinois cottage food producers must register annually with their local health department and pay an annual fee not to exceed $50. Home inspections are not required to get started, but inspections may occur following consumer complaints or foodborne illness outbreaks. Once registered, Illinois cottage food producers may sell their products outside their local jurisdiction. Illinois cottage food producers who sell canned tomatoes or canned products containing tomatoes must follow preapproved recipes or submit original recipes to a commercial laboratory for testing to ensure proper acidification.

Prior to 2022, the state allowed local jurisdictions to adopt their own regulations, resulting in a patchwork of laws. Homemade food producers could cross town borders and find totally different opportunities. But now the entire state follows the same set of rules, with local ordinances preempted by state law.

Illinois cottage food labeling

Illinois cottage food must include a prominent label that includes the name of the cottage food operation, the unit of local government in which the cottage food operation is located, the identifying registration number provided by the local health department, the common name of the food product, all ingredients listed in descending order by weight, the date the product was processed, and allergen labeling as specified under federal labeling requirements. Labels must include the following phrase in prominent lettering: “This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.”

Illinois cottage food facts

Myths about cottage food abound. Here are the facts:

  • Cottage food is safe. Critics who talk about the risk of food-borne illness give hypothetical examples of what could go wrong because real-world cases are rare or nonexistent.
  • Cottage food is local. When neighbors trade with neighbors, money stays in the local economy.
  • Cottage food is transparent. People who buy from a cottage food producer know what they get. If they have questions about ingredients, sourcing or safety, they can ask.
  • Cottage food creates jobs. Many homemade food producers use their income to provide for their families. Others seek a secondary or supplemental income.
  • Cottage food empowers women. IJ cottage food research shows that most cottage food producers are women, and many live in rural areas with limited economic opportunity.
  • Cottage food expands consumer choice. Some stores simply don’t sell what you want. This is especially true if you have a gluten-free, peanut-free, halal, kosher or vegan diet. Cottage food fills market gaps, giving consumers more options.

Illinois cottage food resources 

As part of its Food Freedom Initiative, the Institute for Justice provides a variety of resources for home bakers and other food entrepreneurs. These include:

Tell your Illinois story

Is government violating your homemade food freedom in Illinois? Do you have a potential case for IJ? Get started here…

Support Illinois legislation

Help expand cottage food laws in Illinois by teaming with the Institute for Justice. Send an email with your name, background information and availability to  get started…

Defending homemade food freedom nationwide 

People have a right to earn an honest living without arbitrary and excessive government interference. Since 2013, the Institute for Justice has defended home bakers and chefs as part of its Food Freedom Initiative. Read about IJ’s nationwide food freedom advocacy…

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All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes, regulations, and processes are subject to change at any time, and specific facts and circumstances could alter how they are applied. If you have questions about the regulation of cottage foods in your jurisdiction, we recommend consulting a lawyer who can help you navigate the process.