Cottage Kitchen License Illinois

Cottage food operations are home-based food businesses conducted by a person who produces food or drink, other than foods and drinks listed as prohibited by Illinois law, in a kitchen located in that person's primary domestic residence or another appropriately designed kitchen on a farm. Before the Cottage Food law, Illinois farmers and food entrepreneurs had to prepare their product in a licensed commercial kitchen, an expensive cost that made it difficult to start or grow a small business. To help food entrepreneurs and to support the sales of local foods, the Illinois Cottage Food Operation Law was enacted on January 1, 2012 and was limited to only selling non.

Learn about the Cottage Food Operation law, which allows certain foods made in home kitchens to be sold directly to consumers with limited regulation. If a cottage food operator wants to provide samples of their product and it is a non TCS (Temperature Control for Safety) food, a sampling certificate can be obtained through the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Why Was the Cottage Food Operation Act Created?

Forms, applications and sample documents for the Cottage Food program. Review and downlaod the blank and sample forms below. A Cottage Food License in Illinois is a special permit that allows individuals to prepare and sell certain types of food products from their home kitchens.

This initiative was established to support small businesses and promote local food producers while ensuring food safety and consumer protection. According to Illinois Cottage Food Laws (updated January 1, 2022), licensed cottage food operators can only make non-potentially hazardous foods (see examples of approved products below). Operators can use their domestic home kitchen to produce products to sell directly to consumers at farmers' markets, for delivery, online, pick-up, fairs, and public events.

Some items may be shipped, but. A cottage food operation may produce a wide variety of food and drink in their home kitchen. For more details on allowable and unallowable foods and drink, please refer to the most recent IDPH Cottage Food Guide or IDPH Cottage Food Guide (Spanish).

The amended Cottage Food Operation Act became effective in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2022. Can I be a registered Cottage Food Operation and have a commercial kitchen license at the same time? Yes, but this can become a complicated situation quickly.

Products made for the Cottage Food Operation Registration do not fall under the same rules as those made under the Commercial Kitchen License and vice versa. Illinois regulations allow home-based food entrepreneurs to operate a cottage food business, which involves producing certain foods in a home kitchen for public sale. This framework is designed to help small businesses by allowing direct sales to consumers with limited regulatory oversight.

It is important to know that Illinois does not issue a statewide "license" for these activities.