Cottage Food Laws by State
Illinois Cottage Food Laws
Illinois has a well-established cottage food law that allows home producers to sell shelf-stable foods at farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and directly from home without a permit. The cap was removed in 2022.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
No
Venues
4
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Illinois cottage food law.
Baked Goods
Permitted- Cakes and cupcakes
- Cookies and brownies
- Muffins and quick breads
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Fruit pies (cream and custard pies require refrigeration and are not permitted)
- Cake pops and dipped treats
- Donuts and pastries
Candies and Confections
Permitted- Chocolates and fudge
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Toffee and caramel (shelf-stable)
- Cake truffles
Preserved and Dry Goods
Permitted- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- Honey and honeycomb
- Dried herbs and spices
- Roasted nuts and trail mix
- Granola and cereal
- Popcorn and flavored popcorn
- Dried pasta (no egg)
Beverages
Permitted- Coffee (roasted or ground, not brewed)
- Dry tea blends
What You Cannot Sell
These product types are not covered by the Illinois cottage food law and require a commercial kitchen license.
- Meat, poultry, and seafood products
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter)
- Items requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Fruit and vegetable juices
- Canned low-acid vegetables
Where You Can Sell
Illinois permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Roadside stands
Fairs and festivals
Direct consumer sales at fairs and festivals are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap. Cap was removed in 2022.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit or license is required for cottage food operations in Illinois.
What a Compliant Illinois Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Produced: August 23, 2026
Sunflower Home Bakery
Permit #CF-10293
Springfield, IL, Franklin County
Ingredients:
Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Starch, Salt, Soybean Oil; Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla; Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Confectioner's Glaze, Carnauba Wax, FD&C Colors; Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Red 40.
Contains:
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.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Illinois must have a label that includes the following.
| Required field |
|---|
| All 9 FDA major allergens present |
| Complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight |
| Business name |
| Product name |
| City name |
| County name |
| Permit number |
| Date of production |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Illinois.
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.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Illinois label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Illinois Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Illinois does not require a permit or license for cottage food producers operating under the $50,000 annual cap.
You can accept online orders, but the sale must be completed as a direct in-person transaction. Shipping through carriers is not permitted under the cottage food exemption.
Yes. Farmers markets are one of the most common venues for Illinois cottage food sellers.
Foods that require refrigeration, such as cream pies, cheesecakes, and custard-filled items, are not permitted. Meat, dairy, canned low-acid vegetables, and alcoholic beverages are also prohibited.
Law reference: Illinois Cottage Food Law (Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, 410 ILCS 625) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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