Honey

Raw honey, comb honey, creamed honey and infused honey

< 500 galExempt threshold per year

No added sweetenersOr it can’t be called honey

Federal labelFDA honey labeling applies

1What’s covered & what needs more

Covered under this path

Raw honey and honey in the comb — exempt from inspection when you pack/sell under 500 gallons a year
Creamed or whipped honey with no additives (still an agricultural product)
Honey at farmers markets without a food permit (raw, unadulterated)
Honey infused or flavored → processed: cottage food or licensed kitchen

Needs a different path

Adding any sweetener → can’t be labeled ‘honey’
Adding flavor or ingredients → cottage registration (or licensed kitchen)
Producing over 500 gallons/year → may be regulated by IDPH (Sanitary Food Preparation Act)
Unregistered colonies → every keeper of 1+ colony must register with IDOA each year

2Three steps to compliant sales

Register your bees

The Bees and Apiaries Act requires anyone keeping one or more colonies to register annually with IDOA (Bees & Apiaries Program, 217-782-6297).

Pick raw vs. infused

Raw or creamed honey with nothing added is a raw agricultural product: no cottage registration needed. Add cinnamon, fruit, hot peppers or flavoring and it becomes a cottage food (CFPM + registration) or a licensed-kitchen product.

Label to federal standard

Follow FDA honey-labeling guidance: product name, net weight, your name and address. Don’t add sweeteners to a product labeled ‘honey’. Watch the 500-gallon line.

3Quick-reference table

Item	Rule	Regulator
Colony registration	Annual, every keeper of 1+ colony (510 ILCS 20).	IDOA Bees & Apiaries
Raw honey exemption	Comb or extracted, unadulterated honey exempt from inspection (410 ILCS 620/27) when < 500 gal/yr packed or sold.	IDPH / IDOA
Creamed/whipped honey	No additives → still exempt; ‘air isn’t an ingredient’.	IDPH
Infused honey	Home kitchen = cottage food; otherwise licensed facility.	IDPH
Labeling	Federal honey labeling rules apply.	FDA

4Frequently asked

Do I need a cottage-food registration for raw honey?

No. Honey is treated as a raw agricultural commodity. Registration is needed only when you infuse, flavor or add ingredients.

Can I call it ‘honey’ if I add sugar?

No. If any sweetener is added, it may not be called honey.

What if I produce a lot?

Firms processing more than 500 gallons of Illinois honey a year may be regulated by IDPH under the Sanitary Food Preparation Act.

Can I sample honey at a market?

Sampling generally requires an IDPH sampler certificate or local permit — raw honey sold unsampled is exempt from local fees in many markets; ask your local health department.

Printable checklist

Apiary registered with IDOA this year
Raw/creamed honey SKUs separate from infused SKUs
Infused SKUs: CFPM + cottage registration
Never add sweeteners to product labeled ‘honey’
Label: name, net weight, name & address (FDA rules)
Track annual volume vs. 500-gallon line
Register with IDOR; grocery tax by delivery address
Sampler certificate before sampling

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.