Cottage food in Illinois: the checklist

Not legal advice. This is a starting checklist, checked 2026-09-25. Rules change and differ by county and city. Talk to a lawyer and confirm with your local health department (CDPH in Chicago) before you sell a ticket or open your space.

At a glance

• Covers: any food not on the banned list (no meat, fish, cream pies or alcohol), prepackaged and labelled. 410 ILCS 625/4
• Sales cap: none. 410 ILCS 625/4
• Registration and fee: register every year with your local health department. The fee is capped at $50 (Chicago amount unverified). 410 ILCS 625/4 CDPH form
• Doesn't cover: ticketed or plated dinners. Cottage food is prepackaged goods only, with no on-site meals. Think take-home, not sit-down. 410 ILCS 625/4
• Home-kitchen meal law: none for meals. Home kitchen operations cover baked goods only, up to $1,000 a month, where local law allows. 410 ILCS 625/3.6

Quick answers

What does Illinois cottage food law cover? Any food not on the banned list, prepackaged and labelled. Meat, fish, cream pies and alcohol are banned. 410 ILCS 625/4

Is there a sales cap on cottage food in Illinois? No. Home kitchen operations, a separate track for baked goods only, cap at $1,000 a month. 410 ILCS 625/4 410 ILCS 625/3.6

Does Illinois cottage food law cover a ticketed dinner? No. Cottage food is prepackaged goods only, with no on-site meals. In Chicago, a ticketed dinner starts with a $50 pop-up user licence at a licensed host venue. 410 ILCS 625/4 BACP

What this means for a dinner

• Start with a free dinner for friends at home. The licence question starts when money changes hands, or when it's advertised to the public, charge or not. Chicago trigger: BACP flyer
• Charging for a micro hospitality night? You'll need a food licence instead. In Chicago, that starts with a $50 pop-up user licence at a licensed host venue. BACP
• Cottage food needs a Certified Food Protection Manager certificate for everyone preparing: about $100 to $300, good for 5 years. U of I Extension
• Take-home treats: your labels need your registration number and a home-kitchen warning, plus a notice where you sell, online too. 410 ILCS 625/4

Your city

• Chicago: organizer checklist · venue host checklist

Learn more

• 410 ILCS 625/4: cottage food
• U of I Extension: cottage food questions
• 2026 Cottage Food Guide (IDPH and Extension)

Not legal advice. Confirm with a lawyer and your local health department (CDPH in Chicago) before you act.