Eggs

Chicken, duck, goose, turkey and guinea eggs

$15 / $50Limited / Full egg license

≤ 45°FStorage & transport

On-farmLicense-exempt pickup sales

New cartonsReused cartons barred at markets

1What’s covered & what needs more

Covered under this path

Nest-run eggs from your own flock, sold to household consumers on the premises where the flock lives (no license)
Off-farm sales — markets, retail, delivery — with an Illinois Egg License, washed, candled, graded and labeled
Eggs from chicken, turkey, duck, goose or guinea

Needs a different path

Any off-premises sale (farmers market, roadside off the flock premises, delivery) without a license → prohibited
Ungraded / uncandled eggs at markets → must be candled and graded
Cottage food: eggs are prohibited except as an ingredient in non-hazardous foods or non-raw frostings
Reused or unlabeled cartons at markets

2Three steps to compliant sales

Decide where you’ll sell

Selling nest-run eggs from your own flock to households on your premises — no license. Anything off that premises (markets, stores, delivery) requires an Illinois Egg License from IDOA: Limited ($15) for your own eggs, Full ($50) if you also sell other producers’ eggs.

Equip for inspection

IDOA’s pre-inspection list: candling light, scale, new cartons, refrigeration at 45°F or less (storage and transport), approved cleaner/sanitizer, and wash water at 90°F minimum.

Label & hold cold

Cartons show grade, size, pack/sell-by date, your name and address, and license number. Grade AA: 30 days; Grade A: 45 days from candle/pack date. Hold at 45°F or below at market and in the vehicle.

3Quick-reference table

Item	Rule	Regulator
On-farm exemption	Nest-run eggs from your own flock to household consumers, on the premises, personal use — no license; consumer picks up where the flock is.	IDOA Egg Inspection
Limited producer-dealer license	Your own flock’s graded eggs sold off-premises. $15/yr.	IDOA
Full license	Your eggs + eggs from others. $50/yr. Also grading stations, distributors, brokers.	IDOA
Grading & temp	Candled, graded for size, held ≤ 45°F; nest-run held ≤ 60°F. Wash water ≥ 90°F.	IDOA
Cartons	New cartons for off-farm sales; used consumer cartons prohibited at markets.	IL Farmers Market Guide
Contact	(217) 524-1550 · agr.eggs@illinois.gov	IDOA

4Frequently asked

Can I sell eggs at the farmers market?

Yes — with an Illinois Egg License, and eggs must be washed, candled, graded, labeled and kept at 45°F or below.

Can someone pick up eggs at my farm?

Yes, without a license: nest-run eggs from your own flock, sold to household consumers on the premises where the flock is housed.

Does Illinois require cage-free eggs?

I found no enacted statewide cage-free mandate: the 2024 bill (SB 3655) expired in January 2025. Individual retailers and markets may set their own standards.

Do cartons need the federal safe-handling statement?

Federal rules (21 CFR 101.17(h)) generally require it on shell-egg cartons; check whether your flock size qualifies for the small-producer exception.

Printable checklist

Decide: on-premises only, or off-premises with license
Apply for Limited ($15) or Full ($50) license
Candling light, scale, new cartons, ≤ 45°F refrigeration, sanitizer
Wash water ≥ 90°F
Cartons: grade, size, pack/sell-by, name/address, license #
Post license at your place of business
Register with IDOR; grocery tax by delivery address
No eggs in cottage products except permitted uses

Sales tax: Groceries: Illinois’ 1% state grocery tax ended Jan 1, 2026, but many cities and counties (Chicago included) now levy their own 1% local grocery tax — check the rate for each delivery address. Register with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) through MyTax Illinois.