Indiana Department of Health (IDOH)

Cottage Food Label Requirements in Indiana

What Indiana legally requires on your cottage food label — the required statement, sales cap, registration rules, and what you can (and can't) sell.

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This is not legal advice.

Cottage food laws change frequently and vary by county or local health department. Always confirm current requirements with Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) or a local food safety professional before printing labels or selling product. View the official source. Last verified: 2026-08.

Required Label Statement

Exact wording Indiana requires

“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 statement above must appear in at least 10-point type (IC 16-42-5.3-5). The label (for packaged food) or sign (for unpackaged food) must also include the producer's name and address, the product's common name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight/volume, and the date the product was processed. If you sell through a website, the same label information must also be posted there.

Sales Cap & Registration

Annual Sales Cap

No annual gross sales cap.

Registration & Permitting

No state permit, license, or registration is required — IC 16-42-5.3-12 explicitly bars local governments from requiring licensure, certification, or inspection of home based vendor (HBV) foods. HBVs are only subject to sampling or inspection if the state department determines a product is misbranded or adulterated, or after a consumer complaint.

Food Safety Course

Yes — every HBV must obtain a food handler certificate from a certificate issuer accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and provide a copy on request to the state department, local health department, or an end consumer. IDOH's handbook notes these certificates are typically valid for three years.

What You Can (and Can't) Sell

Allowed

Non-time/temperature-control-for-safety (non-TCS) foods made at the vendor's primary residence: breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries (icings must be commercially prepared and shelf-stable, or from a lab-tested non-TCS recipe followed exactly); jams, jellies, preserves, and high-acid fruit curds; non-perishable candy; roasted, toasted, or candied nuts and nut butters; dried herbs, spices, and teas; dry baking mixes; dried pasta; popcorn; honey (including infused honey); and roasted whole coffee beans.

Not Allowed

TCS (time/temperature-control-for-safety) foods, cheesecake, raw or cooked animal protein and rendered fats, dairy products (other than as a shelf-stable ingredient), raw milk, prepared foods like casseroles or fruit salads, anything containing cut leafy greens, homemade buttercream made with non-shelf-stable ingredients, homemade vanilla extract, from-scratch barbecue or hot sauce, kombucha, and fresh-pressed juice (which falls under separate regulations).

Selling something that needs a full Nutrition Facts panel (like packaged prepared meals) instead of a cottage food disclosure? See our meal prep labeling guide →

Official Source

This page summarizes guidance published by Indiana Department of Health – Home Based Vendor Handbook.

Last verified: 2026-08

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly must an Indiana home-based vendor label say?

In at least 10-point type: "This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE." Plus your name and address, the product's common name, ingredients by weight, net weight/volume, and the date processed (IC 16-42-5.3-5).

Do I need a license to sell food as an Indiana home-based vendor?

No. State law affirmatively prohibits local governments from requiring a license, certification, or inspection for home based vendors. You do still need an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate.

Is there a sales cap for Indiana home-based vendors?

No — Indiana Code 16-42-5.3 does not impose any annual gross sales limit.

Can I ship my Indiana home-based vendor products out of state?

No. Products may only be sold and delivered to end consumers located within Indiana, and you must keep a record of each delivery address for at least one year.

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