High Revenue Last reviewed 2025-01-01
2026 reference
Illinois Cottage Food Law
Illinois's cottage food law sets an annual revenue cap of $50,000 and producers must register with the state before the first sale. Direct sales, farmers markets, online, and retail sales permitted.
Watch for: Retail sales are limited to shelf-stable products only. Anything refrigerated stays direct.
Key facts
Annual revenue cap
$50,000
Permit / registration
Registration required
Kitchen inspection
Not required
Food handler training
Required
Acidified foods
Excluded
Interstate shipping
In-state only
Where you can sell
Direct sales, farmers markets, online, and retail sales permitted.
- Direct (in-person)
- Farmers markets
- Online (in-state)
- Retail / grocery
What's required before your first sale
Registration plus food handler training required. State law preempts local ordinances.
Sources
Reference content only — not legal advice. State laws change frequently. Verify against the official source before launching.
Tools that work with Illinois
Compare with nearby states
Run your Illinois cottage food business in one place
Ardent Seller tracks ingredients, batches, labels, and revenue against your state's cap — built for cottage food producers.