Cottage food laws · IN

Selling homemade food in Indiana

Indiana's home-food law was renamed from the "Home Based Vendor" law to the "Homestead Vendor" law and substantially expanded by House Enrolled Act 1424, effective July 1, 2026 — it now also covers "small farm" vendors and permits sale of certain refrigerated meat products from the vendor's own livestock. Because this change is very recent, confirm the exact current scope with the Indiana Department of Health before relying on edge-case details.

Program

Indiana Homestead Vendor Law (formerly the Home Based Vendor Law; renamed and expanded by House Enrolled Act 1424, effective July 1, 2026)

Registration

No state permit, license, certification, or registration required beyond what federal law mandates; homestead/small farm vendors selling meat from their own livestock must keep it properly refrigerated

Annual sales cap

No practical cap for most home producers — the law defines a "homestead vendor" as one with under $1.5 million in annual gross sales

Online sales

Allowed (see notes)

You can sell

Baked goods without cream/custard fillings
Jams, jellies, preserves
Candy & chocolate
Dry mixes & granola
Popcorn
Produce & prepared foods
Meat products from the vendor's own livestock, if properly refrigerated (newly allowed by HEA 1424)

You can't sell

Potentially hazardous/perishable foods not covered by the new refrigeration provisions
Dairy-based products
Home-canned low-acid vegetables

Where you can sell

Direct in-person sales from home or the vendor's property
Farmers markets
Roadside stands

Selling online

Online ordering is allowed, with delivery by mail or third-party carrier permitted within Indiana; no shipping across state lines

What your labels must include

Business name & address
"This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE." statement in at least 10-point type (per IC 16-42-5.3-5)
Ingredient list
Allergen declaration
Net weight