Cottage Food Operations: Oak Lawn vs Tinley Park
How do cottage food operations rules compare between Oak Lawn, IL and Tinley Park, IL?
Oak Lawn and Tinley Park have similar restriction levels.
Oak Lawn, IL
Cook County
Illinois's Cottage Food and Home Kitchen Operations Act (Public Act 100-0580, amended by PA 102-0633) allows Oak Lawn residents to sell certain homemade shelf-stable foods directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen. Annual gross sales are capped at $75,000. Required labeling applies, and Oak Lawn home occupation rules still restrict signage and customer traffic.
View full Oak Lawn rules →Tinley Park, IL
Cook County
Illinois's Cottage Food and Home Kitchen Operations Act (Public Act 100-0580, amended by PA 102-0633) allows Tinley Park residents to sell certain homemade shelf-stable foods directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen. Annual gross sales are capped at $75,000. Required labeling applies, and Tinley Park home occupation rules still restrict signage and customer traffic.
View full Tinley Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Oak Lawn | Tinley Park |
|---|---|---|
| State Law | IL Cottage Food Act | - |
| Revenue Cap | $75,000/year | $75,000/year |
| Registration | Cook County Health | Cook or Will County Health |
| Sales Channels | Direct to consumer only | - |
| Labeling | Required on all products | Required on all products |
| Home Kitchen Cap | - | $50,000/year |
| Sales Method | - | Direct to consumer |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Oak Lawn FAQ
Can I sell homemade baked goods from my Oak Lawn home?
Yes. The Illinois Cottage Food Act allows sale of shelf-stable baked goods and other approved products up to $75,000/year in gross sales, with direct sales to consumers and proper labeling.
Do I need to register to sell cottage foods?
Yes. Registration with the Cook County Department of Public Health is required before selling cottage food products.
Can I sell my cottage foods at a farmers market?
Yes. Farmers markets are a common direct-to-consumer channel for cottage food operations and work well given Oak Lawn's restrictions on on-premises sales.
Tinley Park FAQ
Can I sell homemade food from my home in Tinley Park?
Yes. Illinois's Cottage Food Act allows sale of approved shelf-stable foods directly to consumers with annual gross sales up to $75,000. Required labeling and county health registration are needed.
What foods can I sell under the cottage food law?
Shelf-stable baked goods without cream fillings, jams, jellies, candy, dried herbs, roasted coffee, popcorn, and granola. Potentially hazardous foods require a home kitchen operation license.
Can customers pick up food at my Tinley Park home?
Technically yes under state law, but Tinley Park's home occupation rules restrict customer traffic. Selling through the Tinley Park Farmers Market or direct delivery is the preferred route.
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