Cottage food laws/Indiana
Very permissive

Indiana cottage food laws

No sales cap, no permit, online and in-state mail delivery allowed.

Indiana expanded its Home Based Vendor (HBV) law in 2022 (HEA 1149). Producers can sell homemade non-TCS food without a license, registration, or sales cap, and now sell online and ship within Indiana via mail or third-party carriers. Indiana law preempts local governments from layering their own homemade food rules on top.

Last verified May 2, 2026•Indiana Home Based Vendor Law (Indiana Code 16-42-5.3)
At a glance

Indiana cottage food, quick facts.

📋
Permit
Not required
💰
Sales cap
None
🌐
Online sales
Allowed (since 2022)
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed by mail or third-party carrier within Indiana
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not protected by state law (federal interstate commerce rules apply)
🎓
Training
Not required by state law
🏠
Inspection
Not required
How it works

How the Indiana cottage food law actually works.

Indiana governs home-based food sales under Indiana Code 16-42-5.3, the Home Based Vendor (HBV) law. The 2022 expansion (House Enrolled Act 1149) was the most important change in years. Before HEA 1149, an Indiana home baker could only sell at farmers markets and roadside stands. After, they can sell online, deliver, ship within the state via mail or third-party carriers, and reach customers anywhere in Indiana.

There is no permit, license, or annual registration required. There is no state sales cap. Indiana law preempts local governments from imposing their own permits, inspections, or restrictions on Home Based Vendors, although county health departments still respond to complaints and foodborne illness investigations.

Producers must label every product with the required statement, including a 'NOT FOR RESALE' marker. They must also post the same label on their website for any product offered online. The Indiana State Department of Health (now the Indiana Department of Health, IDOH) publishes the canonical reference, and Purdue Extension keeps updated guidance.

Indiana law allows a few specific perishable items under the HBV exemption (such as eggs from your own poultry, certain personally-raised poultry under federal exemptions, rabbit) but those have additional rules. Most home bakers stick to non-TCS shelf-stable products.

What you can sell

Allowed and prohibited foods.

✓Allowed
  • Cookies, brownies, bars, biscotti
  • Cakes, cupcakes, muffins, breads, rolls, pastries
  • Fruit pies and other shelf-stable pies
  • Candies, fudge, caramels, chocolates
  • Jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters
  • Honey
  • Roasted coffee, dry teas, dry mixes
  • Pickles and acidified foods (per recipe rules)
  • Granola, granola bars, popcorn, snack mixes
  • Whole shell eggs from the producer's own poultry (per state and federal rules)
  • Personally raised poultry under the federal 1,000-bird exemption
  • Personally raised rabbit (per state and federal rules)
✕Prohibited
  • Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods that need refrigeration to stay safe
  • Cream pies, custard pies, cream cheese frostings, cheesecakes
  • Raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw dairy
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Low-acid canned vegetables and salsas
  • Alcoholic beverages

Indiana's HBV law allows a small number of perishable items (own-flock eggs, federal-exemption poultry, rabbit) that most cottage food laws prohibit. Stick to non-TCS shelf-stable products for the simplest path.

Where you can sell

Sales channels for Indiana cottage bakers.

🤝
In-person / pickup
Allowed statewide. Home pickup, delivery, farmers markets, festivals, fairs, pop-ups, roadside stands.
🌐
Online sales
Allowed since 2022. Take orders by website, social, email, or phone.
📦
Shipping in-state
Allowed via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or any carrier within Indiana.
✈️
Shipping out-of-state
Not protected by state law. Out-of-state sales fall under federal interstate commerce rules.
🥕
Farmers markets
Allowed. No special state HBV permit required.
🏪
Retail stores
Not allowed. HBV products may not be sold at wholesale or to retail outlets for resale.
🍽️
Restaurants
Not allowed. Restaurants may not resell HBV products and may not use them as menu ingredients.
  • All sales must be direct to the end consumer.
  • Local governments are preempted from layering their own permits, inspections, or restrictions on Home Based Vendors.
  • If you offer products online, the same label must be posted with each product listing on your website.
Labels

Label every product, exactly like this.

01
Producer name and address
02
Date the food was processed
03
Common name of the product
04
Net weight or volume
05
Ingredients in descending order by weight
06
Allergen statement
Identify the major allergens present (milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame).
07
Required disclaimer
Verbatim text below in 10-point or larger font.
Required disclaimer (copy verbatim)
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
  • All required text must be in at least 10-point font.
  • Online listings must include the same label content posted with each product.
  • Indiana's label uniquely calls out 'NOT FOR RESALE' as part of the required statement, reinforcing that HBV products are direct-to-consumer only.
Sales cap

How much can you earn under Indiana cottage law?

Indiana imposes no annual sales cap on Home Based Vendors. There is no cliff to plan around. Ordinary sales tax and income tax obligations apply once you scale.

Training

Food safety training in Indiana

Indiana does not require state-issued food handler training for HBVs. Older guidance referenced food handler certification but the 2022 expansion did not codify that requirement at the state level. Some counties or markets still ask for a food handler card. ServSafe Food Handler is the most common low-cost option.

Registration

Registration, permits, and inspections in Indiana

There is no state HBV registration. Indiana law preempts local governments from imposing their own permits or registration on Home Based Vendors. You may still need a county or city business license or to register for sales tax with the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Step-by-step

How to start a cottage bakery in Indiana.

  1. 01
    Confirm your products are non-TCS
    Stay shelf-stable. The HBV law also allows a small number of personally-raised animal products under federal exemptions, but those add complexity.
    Indiana Code 16-42-5.3 (HBV statute) →
  2. 02
    Build a label template
    Producer name and address, processing date, product name, net weight, ingredients by weight, allergen statement, and the required NOT FOR RESALE disclaimer in 10-point or larger font.
  3. 03
    Choose your sales channels
    Direct sales, online, in-state mail, farmers markets, and roadside stands are all allowed. Retail stores, restaurants, and out-of-state shipping are not.
  4. 04
    Set up your storefront
    Cakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add menu, prices, lead times, and pickup or delivery zones.
    Create a free Cakery page →
  5. 05
    Register for state sales tax
    Register with the Indiana Department of Revenue for a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate before you start selling taxable items.
    Indiana Department of Revenue: Sales Tax →
  6. 06
    Post your labels online
    If you offer products online, post the full label content (including the disclaimer) on each product page. Indiana law requires it.
Worth knowing

A few things Indiana bakers should know.

  • The 2022 HEA 1149 expansion was the major change. Older Indiana cottage food guides may still describe a 'farmers market only' regime; that is outdated.
  • Indiana law preempts local governments from imposing their own homemade food permits or restrictions on HBVs.
  • The required label includes 'NOT FOR RESALE' as part of the disclaimer. Cottage products are direct-to-consumer only.
  • Online listings require the same label content posted with each product page.
  • Indiana allows a small number of perishable products (own-flock eggs, federal-exemption poultry, rabbit) under HBV. Most home bakers stay shelf-stable.
Resources

Bookmark these for Indiana baking.

Official agency resources

Indiana Department of Health: Home Based Vendor
Official IDOH guidance on the HBV law, allowed foods, and labeling.
→
Purdue Extension: Indiana Home-Based Vendor Food Product Labeling Overview
Plain-English Extension publication with label examples.
→
Purdue Department of Food Science: Home-Based Vendors
Purdue's HBV resource hub with food safety best practices.
→
Indiana Department of Revenue: Sales Tax
Register for a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate to collect and remit Indiana sales tax.
→

Statute and rules text

Indiana Code 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products)
→
Indiana Code 16-42-5.3-5 (Labeling Requirements)
→
HEA 1149 (2022): Indiana HBV expansion
→

Helpful resources for bakers

Forrager: Indiana guide
Plain-English summary of Indiana HBV rules with updates.
→
Institute for Justice: Selling Homemade Food in Indiana
Advocacy overview of Indiana homemade food rules and the 2022 expansion.
→
Indiana Home Based Vendors (Facebook group)
Active community of Indiana HBVs swapping label, market, and pricing tips.
→
McNeely Law: Indiana Cottage Food Laws explainer
Indiana attorney-written summary of HBV rules and growth strategies.
→
Cakery Pricing Guide for Cottage Bakers
How Cakery handles your storefront, orders, and customer leads.
→
Recent changes

Recent and upcoming changes in Indiana.

  • July 1, 2022HEA 1149 expanded the Home Based Vendor program. Online sales, in-state mail and third-party carrier shipping, and broader sales venues became legal. Local governments were preempted from imposing their own HBV rules.
FAQ

Indiana cottage food FAQ.

Do Indiana home bakers need a permit?
No. The Home Based Vendor law exempts producers from state licensing, registration, and inspection. Local governments are preempted from imposing their own HBV permits.
Is there a sales cap?
No. Indiana imposes no annual revenue cap on Home Based Vendors. Ordinary sales tax and income tax obligations still apply.
Can I sell online and ship?
Yes within Indiana. The 2022 HEA 1149 expansion legalized online sales and in-state shipping by mail or third-party carrier. Out-of-state shipping is not protected by state law.
What is the required label disclaimer?
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE. The text must be in 10-point or larger font.
Can I sell to grocery stores or coffee shops?
No. HBV sales must be direct-to-consumer. The 'NOT FOR RESALE' line in the required disclaimer makes that explicit.
Do I need food safety training?
Not by current state law. Some markets and counties still ask for a food handler card; ServSafe Food Handler is the most common low-cost option.
Can I sell eggs or chicken from my own farm?
Indiana's HBV law allows whole shell eggs from your own poultry and personally-raised poultry under the federal 1,000-bird exemption, plus rabbit. Each has additional rules; most home bakers stick to non-TCS shelf-stable foods.
Run your Indiana bakery on Cakery

You bake. We handle the tech.

Get your own bakery link, take custom orders without the DM chaos, and get found by customers in Indiana searching for local bakers.

Create your free bakery pageSee pricing
Your link will look like cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery
Last verified May 2, 2026. This page is a plain-English summary of Indiana cottage food laws and is not legal advice. Cottage food rules change, and local health departments often add their own requirements. Always confirm the current rules with the Indiana agency listed in the official resources above before you sell, ship, or label a product.