In Illinois, you can sell homemade foods with no sales cap thanks to the Home-to-Market Act — and you can sell a wide range, even some pickles and salsas, with online sales allowed. The one requirement: register with your local health department (fee capped at $50). This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to register, how to label it, and how to start this week.
The short version: Illinois's Home-to-Market Act (Public Act 102-0633) removed the sales cap and expanded what cottage food operators can sell. You register with your county/local health department, pay up to $50, and get a certificate. Then you can sell most non-perishable foods — plus acidified items like pickles, hot sauces, and salsas with pH testing — directly to consumers, including online and shipped within Illinois. Out-of-state shipping and refrigerated foods are off-limits.
No. The Home-to-Market Act removed Illinois's sales cap — there is no annual revenue limit on registered cottage food operations.
| Illinois cottage food rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | None (removed by Home-to-Market Act) |
| Registration | Required with local health department (fee capped at $50) |
| Allowed foods | Broad non-TCS list + some acidified (pickles, salsas, hot sauces) with pH testing |
| Where you can sell | Direct to consumers — in person, online, in-state shipping |
| Out-of-state shipping | Not allowed |
| Governing law | Public Act 102-0633 (effective Jan 1, 2022) |
Yes. Cottage food operators must register with the local health department in the county where the kitchen is located, submit documentation for approval, and obtain a certificate of registration. The registration fee is capped at $50 by law. There's no statewide license beyond this local registration, which makes Illinois low-cost to enter despite the registration step.
Illinois permits most non-potentially-hazardous foods. Commonly sold items include:
Not allowed:
Confirm specifics with University of Illinois Extension.
Illinois cottage food products must be prepackaged with a prominent label that includes:
A simple compliant label might read: *"Prairie State Pickles — [Operation], [Village], reg #00000, [County]. Ingredients: cucumbers, vinegar, dill, salt. Made in a home kitchen not subject to public health inspection; may process allergens."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Illinois allows direct-to-consumer sales through a wide range of venues:
You cannot ship out of state, and sales to retail stores or restaurants are outside the cottage food exemption.
Because Illinois allows online sales and in-state shipping with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup/delivery without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Illinois sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have an Illinois-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
With no cap, Illinois doesn't limit your income — your ceiling is demand and capacity. Because the state allows acidified foods and in-state shipping, Illinois sellers have more product and channel options than most. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For Illinois: Illinois eliminated its statewide 1% grocery tax in 2026, but local governments may add their own 1%; register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and confirm what applies. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:
None of these are part of the cottage food registration itself, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.
Always confirm the current allowed-foods list and label wording with your local health department.
No. The Home-to-Market Act removed Illinois's sales cap. Registered cottage food operations can sell an unlimited amount.
Yes. You must register with your local (county) health department and obtain a certificate of registration. The fee is capped at $50 by law.
Yes. Illinois allows online sales and shipping within the state (check your county for specifics). You cannot ship cottage food out of state.
Yes. Illinois allows certain acidified foods — pickles, hot sauces, and salsas — with pH testing and recordkeeping, which is more than many states permit.
Foods requiring refrigeration, raw dairy, meat (other than insect protein), and anything shipped out of state.
Your operation name, local government unit, registration number, county, ingredients, allergens, and the required home-kitchen disclaimer. Confirm exact wording with your county health department.
The local registration fee is capped at $50 by law. There's no separate statewide license beyond the county registration.
No. Sales to retail stores and restaurants fall outside the cottage food exemption; Illinois cottage food is direct-to-consumer.
With no sales cap, broad allowed foods, and legal online sales, Illinois is one of the best states to grow a home food business — once you've registered locally and your labels carry your registration number. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Illinois cottage food orders with pickup and in-state delivery, then compare the rules in nearby states like Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — verify current requirements with University of Illinois Extension and your local health department before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
