When deciding whether to sell food on Shef, it's important for you to understand the laws in your city and state. As a marketplace, we do not provide legal advice, but we want to provide useful links and information that may help you better understand laws and regulations in Illinois. This list is not exhaustive and there may be additional requirements or considerations based on your individual circumstances.

Illinois has several key laws that authorize the sale of certain home cooked foods, commonly known as “Cottage Foods”. The Cottage Food Operation Law became effective in January 2012 and allows certain foods made in home kitchens to be sold at Illinois farmers’ markets with limited regulation. In 2021, Illinois amended the Home Kitchen Operations law to authorize most types of direct sales of cottage foods prepared in homes throughout the state and creating a paid registration process. The state maintains specific regulations governing the sale of food in Illinois. If you would like to sell food items that are not covered by these laws, you are required to cook out of a commercial kitchen or other legal facility.

If you determine you need commercial kitchen space based on the regulations in your jurisdiction and your menu, there are many spaces for rent including but not limited to a list we maintain here for your convenience. Please note, we can't verify they'll meet your specific needs so be sure to do your own diligence before partnering with any location.

Shef will determine whether sales tax is applicable, and will collect and remit those sales taxes on behalf of cooks and consumers. The sale of prepared food items in Illinois - including prepared meals sold through the Shef platform - are subject to a state sales tax.

Additionally, shefs should consult a tax professional regarding their own personal income or other taxes. Cooks may need to obtain a business registration depending on where they live and should check their local city or county website for additional information.

Maintaining the safety of the Shef community is our number one priority. All cooks are required to pass an accredited food safety certification exam, a food quality assessment, and must maintain minimum quality ratings. More information for cooks on food safety licenses and training can be found here.