Hero Image

Food Vendor Regulations

Resources for Vendors

Food Vendor Regulations

Please note that this website is for informational purposes only, intended to educate prospective food vendors. The Madison County Health Department is the authority which sets and enforces these regulations.

Full details and applications for the MCHD permitting process can be found here.

Contact Information

If you have any questions after reading the information below regarding permitting, food safety training, or have general questions regarding selling food at temporary events, please contact:

Madison County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

101 East Edwardsville Road Wood River, Illinois 62095

E-mail: eh@madisoncountyil.gov

Phone: (618) 296-6079

Cottage Food Vendors

If you will be selling food that has been made in your home kitchen directly to consumers, you are considered a COTTAGE FOOD VENDOR.

For full details, please see the IL Dept. of Public Health Cottage Food Info Page and the 2024 IL Cottage Food Guide.

  • A cottage food license from the Madison County Health Dept. is required (cost: $25 per year)
  • You must take a certified food manager course and submit your certificate of completion at the first market you attend
  • You may not sell products containing certain ingredients such as dairy or meat (see the Cottage Food Guide for a full list of ingredients that are not allowed)

Commercial Kitchen Vendors

If you will be selling food that has been made in a commercial kitchen which has been inspected and permitted by the Madison County Health Department:

  • You may sell products containing some ingredients that are not allowed as a Cottage Food Vendor (dairy, meat, etc.)
  • A certified food manager certificate is not required
  • Please contact the Madison County Health Department to see if you will need any additional permits/forms

Food Sanitation Permit Holders

If you hold a Food Sanitation Permit with Madison County Health Department:

Temporary Food Service Establishments

If you will be selling food that is made at the market, you are considered a TEMPORARY FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT:

  • A temporary event permit from the Madison County Health Dept. is required (cost: $75 per year)
  • A commercial kitchen is not required
  • No ingredients can be prepared at home in advance; everything must be cooked on-site
  • A certified food manager certificate is not required, but you will need to adhere to all of the rules stated in the Temporary Food Service Guidelines

Sampling

If you would like to provide samples of your edible product at the market:

A sampling license from the State of Illinois is required. For full details, click here.

Egg Producers

The State egg inspector has advised that we keep a copy of everyone's egg license on file, so please include a copy with your registration form.

The complete Illinois regulatory guidelines for foods often found at farmers markets can be found here.

*Please note that food safety information is sourced from this page: Food Vendor Regulation. All credit for this information goes to the Alton Main Street organization.