Illinois' Cottage Food and Home Kitchen Operations Act (410 ILCS 625/4) allows Evanston residents to sell certain homemade food products directly to consumers without a food service license. Cottage food operators may sell up to $75,000 annually (as of 2024 amendment) in non-potentially hazardous baked goods, candies, jams, and other shelf-stable items. Products must be labeled with the operator's name, address, and the statement 'Made in a home kitchen.'
Illinois' Cottage Food and Home Kitchen Operations Act permits residents to prepare and sell specified food products from their home kitchen without a commercial food license. Eligible products include baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes without cream fillings), candy, granola, dried herbs, roasted nuts, jams, jellies, fruit butter, popcorn, and other non-potentially-hazardous shelf-stable foods. Potentially hazardous foods requiring refrigeration (such as cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, meat products, dairy products, and fermented foods) are not permitted under cottage food. The annual sales cap was raised to $75,000 under recent amendments. Products must be sold directly to the end consumer through farmers markets, craft fairs, or from the home. Sales through retail stores, restaurants, or online delivery services to consumers you have not met are restricted. All products must be labeled with the producer's name, address, ingredients list, allergen warnings, date of production, and the statement 'Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection.' Evanston's zoning requirements for home occupations also apply, meaning cottage food operations must comply with traffic, noise, and signage rules for home businesses. Farmers market sales require compliance with that market's vendor requirements.
Operating a cottage food business without proper labeling may result in Illinois Department of Public Health enforcement action. Exceeding the annual sales cap requires obtaining a food service license. Selling prohibited foods (potentially hazardous items) as cottage food products can result in cease-and-desist orders and fines from the health department. Local zoning violations for excessive traffic or signage carry separate fines of $100-$500.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Evanston, IL
Evanston City Code Title 9 prohibits dogs from barking, howling, or making noise continuously for 15 or more minutes, or intermittently for 30 or more minute...
Evanston, IL
Evanston restricts leaf blower use to the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. Both gas and electric leaf ...
Evanston, IL
Evanston regulates noise from commercial and industrial operations near residential areas. The city's noise ordinance sets limits on sound levels that may be...
Evanston, IL
Evanston permits construction activity from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and city-recognized holidays. S...
Evanston, IL
Evanston enforces extensive street parking regulations including residential permit zones, time limits of 2 to 4 hours in most areas, and seasonal snow emerg...
Evanston, IL
Evanston regulates driveway construction, width, materials, and use. Driveways require a permit and must be constructed of approved hard surfaces. Parking on...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how other cities in Cook County handle cottage food operations.
See how Evanston's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.