Cottage Food Operations

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.  

The amended Cottage Food Operation Act became effective in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2022. The Act requires Cottage Food Operations to register with local health departments before selling products to the public.

The new registration form and updated informational handouts from the Illinois Department of Public Health are below. The food service sanitation class list and a copy of the entire Act are posted below.

If you have any questions, please contact the Environmental Health Division at (618) 296-6079.

COTTAGE FOOD REGISTRATION APPLICATION Provide copies of all labels of the foods you will be selling. (see the Cottage Food Guide on what the label should include.) MCHD will provide the registration number after you submit all the other paperwork. Provide a copy of your Food Protection Manager Certification. If you are doing salsas or fermented foods additional paperwork is required, please contact us for the additional forms.