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
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Indiana does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Indiana? For basic cottage foods, Indiana does not require a separate license or permit — but other rules can still apply.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- 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 rules. 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.
What is the new home-based vendor law in Indiana?
Indiana's home-based vendor law (IC 16-42-5.3, updated by HB 1149 in 2022) lets you sell shelf-stable homemade foods with no license and no revenue cap, including online and shipped in-state. Acidified foods like pickles and salsas, and temperature-controlled items, stay outside it.
How do I get a permit to sell food in Indiana?
For basic home-based vendor foods you do not need a permit — Indiana lets you sell shelf-stable items without a license. A retail food permit only comes into play if you move to a commercial kitchen or sell foods outside the home-based vendor list.
Can I sell pickles or hot sauce from home in Indiana?
Not under the basic home-based vendor path — acidified foods like pickles, salsas, and hot sauce are excluded because pH control matters for safety. There is one exception: traditional fermented pickles are allowed as long as they aren't stored in oxygen-sealed containers. For acidified recipes, the path to yes is a tested recipe through a processing authority and a commercial or licensed setup. Breads, cookies, candies, and dry mixes you can sell freely.
Do I need food-safety training to sell in Indiana?
Indiana skips registration, fees, and inspections, but it does require one credential: an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate from an ANAB provider like ServSafe or Learn2Serve. It costs about $7 to $15, stays valid for three years, and you give a copy to your local health department. The state also preempts local governments from adding their own restrictions, so the statewide rules are what apply.
Can I ship my products or use delivery apps in Indiana?
Indiana allows online sales and in-state shipping through third-party carriers such as DoorDash, UPS, and FedEx, and third-party delivery services are explicitly permitted. For each shipment you either use tamper-evident packaging or keep shipping records for one year. Everything has to stay inside Indiana — interstate sales are prohibited.
Indiana cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Indiana does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The cited state sources do not list a revenue cap. Indiana allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Indiana?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. 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 rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, acidified foods, meat, poultry, fish.