Why this matters
What Indiana actually allows — and what it doesn't.
IC 16-42-5.3 (Home-Based Vendor Law), as significantly expanded by HB 1149 effective July 1, 2022
Annual revenue cap
Indiana sets no cap on cottage food revenue.
Annual gross cap
Unlimited
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
— IC 16-42-5.3 (Home-Based Vendor Law, as amended by HB 1149, effective July 1, 2022)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Indiana — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
YesYesInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoRegistration & permits
Indiana does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- Tcs
- Acidified Foods
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Low Acid Canned Goods
- Pickles
- Salsas
- Fermented Foods
- Kombucha
- Garlic In Oil
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Indiana.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Indiana's cottage food lane. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Complete food safety certification
Indiana requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: ansi accredited.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Indiana allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Indiana cottage food — your questions answered.
Do I need to register or get a permit in Indiana?
No. Under IC 16-42-5.3 (the Home-Based Vendor Law, as expanded by HB 1149 effective July 1, 2022), Indiana requires no registration, no fees, no permits, and no inspections. You do need an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate — something like ServSafe Food Handler, 360training, Learn2Serve, or StateFoodSafety ($7–$15, valid 3 years). Provide a copy to your local health department.
Is there a revenue cap?
No. HB 1149 removed all sales caps. Indiana has one of the strongest state-preemption provisions in the country — local governments are explicitly prohibited from adding restrictions or prohibiting homemade food sales.
Can I use DoorDash or ship through carriers?
Yes to both. Indiana explicitly permits third-party delivery services, and in-state shipping via carriers like DoorDash, UPS, and FedEx is allowed. You must use tamper-evident packaging OR keep shipping records for 1 year. Interstate sales remain prohibited.
Can I sell pickles or hot sauce?
No. Acidified foods are specifically prohibited under the Home-Based Vendor Law — pickles, salsas, sauces, chutneys, and infused oils are off the list. Traditional fermented pickles are allowed only if NOT stored in oxygen-sealed containers. Most TCS, low-acid, and pressure-canned foods are also prohibited.
What online sales channels can I use?
You can sell through your own website, social media, and online marketplaces — all allowed. Because the statute imposes no registration and strong preemption, you can start and scale without navigating state or local gates beyond the one-time food handler certificate.
Indiana cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Indiana does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. There is no state revenue cap in the current data. Indiana allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Indiana?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. Indiana may still have label, food-category, local zoning, or other business rules, so check the official source before you sell.
What foods can I sell from home in Indiana?
Indiana's cottage food lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, acidified foods, meat, poultry, fish.