Illinois: Unattended honesty stand?

Not addressed. The law doesn't say whether a self-serve or honor-box stand is allowed.

Illinois: Sign up with the state?

Yes. Register with your local health department. Renew it each year.

Illinois: Food safety class?

Yes. Whoever prepares or packages the food needs a certified food protection manager.

Illinois: Kitchen inspection?

Sometimes. No routine inspection. A complaint or illness outbreak can bring one.

Illinois: Yearly sales limit

No limit. The cottage food law sets no yearly sales cap.

Illinois: Foods that need a fridge?

Sometimes. Custard and cream pies are banned. Uncanned fermented foods must stay at 41°F.

Illinois: Take orders online?

Yes. Online sales are allowed. Show the home-kitchen notice at checkout.

Illinois: Ship or mail orders?

Sometimes. Only shelf-stable food, and never out of state. Seal it so tampering shows.

Illinois: Sell through shops?

No. No resale and no retail food establishments. Direct to the customer only.

Cottage food law

Illinois cottage food law

Illinois lets you sell allowed foods made in your home kitchen direct to customers. You register each year with your local health department, and the label carries a home-kitchen notice.

Checked against the law October 20, 2026

The rules at a glance

Cottage food operation

Unattended honesty stand?
Not addressed
The law doesn't say whether a self-serve or honor-box stand is allowed.
Sign up with the state?
Yes
Register with your local health department. Renew it each year.
Source
- A cottage food operation must register with the local health department for the unit of local government in which it is located410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- To operate as a cottage food operation, you must register with the local health department where you resideIllinois Department of Public Health: Cottage Food
- Registration shall be completed annually410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Food safety class?
Yes
Whoever prepares or packages the food needs a certified food protection manager.
Source
- A person preparing or packaging a product as part of a cottage food operation must be a Department-approved certified food protection manager410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Kitchen inspection?
Sometimes
No routine inspection. A complaint or illness outbreak can bring one.
Source
- This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- In the event of a consumer complaint or foodborne illness outbreak410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Yearly sales limit
No limit
The cottage food law sets no yearly sales cap.
Source
- Food and drink produced by a cottage food operation shall be sold directly to consumers for their own consumption and not for resale410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Foods that need a fridge?
Sometimes
Custard and cream pies are banned. Uncanned fermented foods must stay at 41°F.
Source
- pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, cheesecakes, custard pies, creme pies, and pastries with time/temperature control for safety foods that are fillings or toppings410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- A fermented or acidified food that is not canned shall be sold in any container that is new, clean, and seals properly and must be stored, transported, and sold at or below 41 degrees410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Take orders online?
Yes
Online sales are allowed. Show the home-kitchen notice at checkout.
Source
- fairs, festivals, public events, or online410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- Online, notice shall be a message on the cottage food operation's online sales interface at the point of sale410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Ship or mail orders?
Sometimes
Only shelf-stable food, and never out of state. Seal it so tampering shows.
Source
- Only food that is not a time/temperature control for safety food may be shipped410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- A cottage food product shall not be shipped out of State410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
- Each cottage food product that is shipped must be sealed in a manner that reveals tampering410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Sell through shops?
No
No resale and no retail food establishments. Direct to the customer only.
Source
- may not be sold for resale or in retail food establishmentsIllinois Department of Public Health: Cottage Food
- Food and drink produced by a cottage food operation shall be sold directly to consumers for their own consumption and not for resale410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)

What goes on the label

Required wording

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.

Must be in prominent lettering on the label.

Source

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 department410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)

The label also shows

The name of your operation and the local government area
Your registration number and where you registered
The common or usual name of the food
All ingredients, most to least by weight
Major allergens
Net weight
The date you made it

Source

the name of the cottage food operation and unit of local government in which the cottage food operation is located410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
the identifying registration number provided by the local health department on the certificate of registration and the name of the municipality or county in which the registration was filed410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
the common or usual name of the food product410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
all ingredients of the food product, including any color, artificial flavor, and preservative, listed in descending order by predominance of weight shown with the common or usual names410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
allergen labeling as specified under federal labeling requirements410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
the date the product was processed410 ILCS 625/4, Cottage Food Operation (Illinois General Assembly)
Net weight. Date the product was processedIllinois Department of Public Health: Cottage Food Labeling checklist (PDF)

Before your first sale

This is general information, not legal advice. Check with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and your local health department before you sell, and again if you add a new food or a new way of selling.

We check these sources every month and update this page when they change.

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