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Illinois's Cottage Food Law

Illinois allows cottage food production under the Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, which permits individuals to prepare and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. If you're a home baker operating out of your personal residence, this law applies to you. Covered products include baked goods, jams, jellies, candy, and similar shelf-stable items that don't require refrigeration to stay safe.

You can sell your products directly to consumers through farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and festivals. Illinois also permits online orders and shipping, which means you can reach customers beyond your local area. Sales must be direct-to-consumer, so wholesale to grocery stores or restaurants is not an allowed channel under cottage food rules.

Illinois has no annual revenue cap, which makes it one of the more business-friendly states for cottage food operators. You are required to register with your local health department before you start selling. Every product you sell must carry the state-required disclaimer on its label. That combination of no revenue ceiling and shipping permissions gives your business real room to grow.

Quick Summary

Illinois cottage food law allows:

  • •Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
  • •Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • •Candies and confections
  • •Dry herbs and herb blends
  • •Dry baking mixes
  • •Roasted nuts

Not allowed:

  • •Meat and poultry products
  • •Foods requiring refrigeration
  • •Low-acid canned goods
  • •Dairy-based products
  • •Fruit pies with custard or cream fillings
  • •Fermented or acidified foods

Sales limit: $1,000 per year

Annual Limit

$1,000/year

Permit Required

No

Online Orders

Not Allowed

Shipping

Not Allowed

Permitted Foods

  • ✓Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries)
  • ✓Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • ✓Candies and confections
  • ✓Dry herbs and herb blends
  • ✓Dry baking mixes
  • ✓Roasted nuts
  • ✓Honey
  • ✓Coated or decorated popcorn

Prohibited Foods

  • ✗Meat and poultry products
  • ✗Foods requiring refrigeration
  • ✗Low-acid canned goods
  • ✗Dairy-based products
  • ✗Fruit pies with custard or cream fillings
  • ✗Fermented or acidified foods

Labeling Requirements

  • ✓Name and home address of the producer
  • ✓Product name
  • ✓Complete ingredient list
  • ✓Allergen disclosure
  • ✓Net weight or net volume
  • ✓"This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to government food safety inspection."

Required Label Disclaimer

“This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to government food safety inspection.”

Starting a Home Bakery in Illinois

Once you understand the cottage food rules, most Illinois home bakers focus on three things:

  • →Pricing recipes so they are profitable
  • →Creating compliant labels
  • →Managing orders and preorders

endvr helps Illinois bakers do all three in one place.

Tools for Illinois Cottage Food Bakers

Create compliant labels in seconds

endvr's label maker automatically includes the Illinois required disclaimer and allergen labeling — so your labels are always inspection-ready.

Download on the App StoreOr sign up on web →

Common Questions Illinois Bakers Ask

Can I sell baked goods from home in Illinois?+
Yes. Illinois's cottage food law permits individuals to produce and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from their home kitchen directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen license.
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Illinois?+
No permit is required in Illinois to sell cottage food products, though you must still comply with labeling requirements and sales restrictions.
How much can I earn selling cottage food in Illinois?+
Illinois cottage food producers may earn up to $1,000 per year from direct sales. Sales above this limit may require a commercial food license.
Can I take orders online in Illinois?+
Illinois does not permit online sales of cottage food products under the cottage food law. Sales must be conducted in person through direct transactions.
Can I ship cottage food products in Illinois?+
No. Illinois does not allow shipping of cottage food products. Sales must be completed through direct, in-person transactions with the consumer.
What foods can I sell from home in Illinois?+
Under Illinois's cottage food law, permitted products include Baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, muffins, pastries), Jams, jellies, and preserves, Candies and confections, Dry herbs and herb blends, Dry baking mixes, Roasted nuts and others. Generally, any food that does not require refrigeration for safety qualifies. Foods with cream, custard, or meat fillings are typically not allowed.
What labeling is required to sell cottage food in Illinois?+
Illinois requires cottage food labels to include: Name and home address of the producer; Product name; Complete ingredient list; Allergen disclosure. Labels must also display the disclaimer: "This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to government food safety inspection.".

Common Illinois cottage food questions

→ Can I sell cottage food online in Illinois?→ Can I ship cottage food in Illinois?→ What is Illinois's cottage food sales limit?→ What are Illinois's labeling requirements?→ Can I use cream cheese frosting in Illinois?

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