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Cottage food laws

Indiana Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Indiana? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Home Based Vendor
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsRoadside standsHome pickupOnline (with in-person delivery)
Registration / to start
No state license; ANSI-accredited food-handler certificate (valid 3 yrs) filed with county health dept; no state inspection of home
Allowed foods
Non-TCS baked goods, candy/confections, high-acid full-sugar jams/jellies/preserves, honey (with infant warning), maple syrup, sorghum
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Selling TCS foods, wholesale, or beyond home-based-vendor scope requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) · Ind. Code § 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Vendor)

Source: Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

No income cap; production area not inspected by state; food-handler certificate required.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Indiana food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Indiana?
Yes. Indiana has a cottage food framework (Home Based Vendor) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. There is no sales cap. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).
What foods can I sell under Indiana's cottage food law?
Non-TCS baked goods, candy/confections, high-acid full-sugar jams/jellies/preserves, honey (with infant warning), maple syrup, sorghum Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Indiana?
Selling TCS foods, wholesale, or beyond home-based-vendor scope requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Indiana?
No state license; ANSI-accredited food-handler certificate (valid 3 yrs) filed with county health dept; no state inspection of home
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