If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your homemade baked goods, jams, or other culinary creations into a small business, the Cottage Food Program in Illinois might be your perfect starting point. In DuPage County, the Health Department offers clear guidelines and resources to help you operate legally and safely from your own kitchen.
DuPage County has also made it a priority to provide accessible avenues for individuals to initiate food service businesses affordably. When this program began, there were only 12 cottage food operators in DuPage County. In 2023, that number rose to 93!
What Is the Cottage Food Program?
The Cottage Food Program allows entrepreneurs to prepare and sell low-risk foods from their home kitchens without needing a commercial facility. This is a fantastic opportunity for hobbyists, bakers, and small-scale food producers to test the waters of their business ideas while keeping costs low.
What Can You Sell?
As of January 1, 2022, all food and drink are permitted, except for what is specifically prohibited in the law outlined below:
- Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or shellfish; Dairy, except as an ingredient in a non-potentially hazardous baked good or candy; or as an ingredient in a baked good frosting, such as buttercream
- Eggs, except as an ingredient in a non-potentially hazardous food, including dry noodles, or as an ingredient in a baked good frosting such as buttercream, if the eggs are not raw
- Pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, cheesecakes, custard pies, cream pies, and pastries with potentially hazardous fillings or toppings
- Garlic-in-oil or oil infused with garlic, except if the garlic oil is acidified
- Low-acid canned foods
- Sprouts
- Cut leafy greens, except for cut leafy greens that are dehydrated, acidified or blanched and frozen
- Cut or pureed fresh tomato or melon
- Dehydrated tomato or melon
- Frozen cut melon; wild-harvested, non-cultivated mushrooms
- Alcoholic beverages
- Kombucha
Some products also require additional specifications. View this list at: dupagehealth.org/205/Cottage-Food-Operation-Laws.
How to Get Started
To start your cottage food business in DuPage County:
- Register with the DuPage County Health Department – Submit an application and pay a small fee.
- Understand labeling requirements – Include all required information on your labels, such as ingredients and allergen warnings.
- Adhere to food safety guidelines – Ensure your kitchen and processes comply with Illinois food safety standards.
Market at approved locations – Cottage foods can only be sold at farmers' markets or directly to consumers.
Why Join the Program?
The Cottage Food Program is an excellent way to explore entrepreneurship while sharing your passion for food with your community. It’s also a steppingstone toward potentially growing into a larger operation. If you have any questions, please contact us at cottagefood@dupagehealth.org and provide the town the food is prepared in.
Learn More
Want to learn more about starting or running a home business? Join us virtually on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM for How to Run a Successful Home-Based Business, presented by SCORE Business Mentoring. Register online at addisonlibrary.org/events or call us at (630) 543-3617.