Cottage food rules
Illinois Home Bakery License: What Home Bakers Need
A clear path through Illinois cottage food registration, from the health department to your certificate.
On this page
What to remember
- Register your cottage food operation with your local health department.
- Sell directly to the person who will eat the food, not for resale or in retail food establishments.
- Everyone who prepares or packages the food needs Certified Food Protection Manager certification.
- The Home-to-Market Act changed the state law in 2022, and Chicago rules changed on January 1, 2022.
If you bake at home in Illinois and want to sell legally, the first question is usually whether you need a license. For many home bakers the step is a cottage food registration. The law that governs it, 410 ILCS 625/4, was overhauled by PA 102-0633, the Home-to-Market Act, effective in 2022. That makes the current rules worth checking before you take your first order. It also helps to know what the cost looks like; see home bakery license cost for a plain breakdown.
Who registers and where
Your local health department is the office that registers a cottage food operation. The statute says the local health department must register any eligible operation that meets the requirements and issue a certificate of registration with an identifying registration number. The certificate carries that identifying number. The Illinois Department of Public Health points home bakers to the local health department for this step.
Illinois Extension also publishes guidance on the laws, certifications, and process for running a cottage food operation in Illinois. Read the state page and your local health department page together, because the state law sets the base rules and your local office handles the registration.
What you can sell and who needs certification
Illinois allows cottage food operations to sell food directly to consumers. The law includes sales by the owner, a family member, or an employee. The limits are clear: the food may not be sold for resale, and it may not be sold in retail food establishments. A shop that wants to resell your cookies would be a resale sale, which the cottage food law does not allow.
Certification is the other big piece. All cottage food operators must have completed the Certified Food Protection Manager certification. The same requirement applies to any person helping to prepare or package food products as part of the operation. That means a friend or family member who packs boxes with you also needs the certification. Plan for the course and exam before you start taking orders.
Register your cottage food operation
Confirm you qualify as a cottage food operation
The law applies to eligible cottage food operations. Check the state page and your local health department for the current requirements.
Complete the food protection certification
All cottage food operators and anyone helping to prepare or package food products must have completed the Certified Food Protection Manager certification.
Register with your local health department
The local health department registers any eligible operation that meets the requirements of the statute.
Keep your certificate of registration
The health department issues a certificate of registration with an identifying registration number. Keep it with your business records.
Sell direct to your customers
Cottage food sales may be made directly to consumers by the owner, a family member, or an employee. Do not sell for resale or in retail food establishments.
Chicago and the 2022 changes
Chicago made major changes to its cottage food operation rules on January 1, 2022. The state law also changed: the Home-to-Market Act, PA 102-0633, took effect in 2022 and overhauled 410 ILCS 625/4. If you bake in Chicago, check the city cottage food page and your local health department before you sell. If you are outside Chicago, the local health department is still your starting point.
The rules can feel scattered across state law, city pages, and local offices. For a wider view, the federal cottage food laws guide covers the federal side. The Forrager cottage food laws guide is another walkthrough for home bakers. And the home bakery license cost guide helps you plan the money side before you register.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from home in Illinois?
For a cottage food operation, the step is a registration with your local health department. The department registers eligible operations and issues a certificate of registration with an identifying registration number.
Can I sell my bakes to a coffee shop or restaurant?
No. Cottage food sales may not be for resale or in retail food establishments. Sell directly to the consumer.
Does everyone who helps me need certification?
Yes. All cottage food operators and anyone helping to prepare or package food products must have completed the Certified Food Protection Manager certification.
Did the Illinois cottage food rules change in 2022?
Yes. The Home-to-Market Act, PA 102-0633, overhauled 410 ILCS 625/4 effective in 2022. Chicago made major changes to its cottage food operation rules on January 1, 2022.
Where do I register my cottage food operation?
With your local health department. The Illinois Department of Public Health points cottage food operators there.
Sources
This is general information about Illinois cottage food rules, not legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with your local health department before you sell.