Last verified 2026-09-12. Regulator: Indiana Department of Health, Division of Food Protection. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Indiana?
A Indiana cottage food label must show these 6 items:
- The name and address of the producer of the food product
- The common or usual name of the food product
- The ingredients of the food product, in descending order by predominance by weight
- The net weight or volume of the food product by standard measure or numerical count
- The date on which the food product was processed
- The following statement in at least 10-point type: "This product is home produced and processed, and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE."
What disclaimer must a Indiana cottage food label have?
Yes. A Indiana cottage food label must carry this statement, word for word:
This product is home produced and processed, and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
Does Indiana require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
No. Indiana does not require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food. Federal rules also exempt most small producers, unless the label makes a nutrient or health claim. If you want to add one, the Nutrition Label Maker prints it in the FDA layout for free.
What foods can you sell under the Indiana cottage food law?
Only foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. The Indiana Department of Health handbook lists baked goods, breads, baking mixes, cakes and cupcakes with non-TCS icing, cookies, candy, jams and jellies, dried products, and similar shelf-stable items. Raw or cooked animal protein, prepared meals, dairy products, cut leafy greens, fermented foods, cheesecake, kombucha, cold brew coffee, fresh-pressed juice, and dietary supplements are not allowed. The handbook list is not complete, so ask your local health department about a product that is not on it.
Where can you sell cottage food in Indiana?
Direct to the end consumer only. The producer must sell in person, by telephone, or through the Internet, and may deliver in person, by mail, or by a third-party carrier. The producer must make the sale in person at events and markets, because no one may sell on the producer's behalf. Products may not be resold. A vendor may not ship or deliver to a consumer outside Indiana.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Indiana?
No license, permit, registration, or routine inspection. The vendor must hold a food handler certificate from a certificate issuer accredited by the American National Standards Institute, give a copy to the local health department for the county of residence, and show it to the state department or a customer on request.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Indiana?
None. IC 16-42-5.3 sets no limit on sales.
What else should you know about the Indiana rules?
Indiana requires the production date on every label. Most states do not. A vendor who sells online must also post the label of each food product on the vendor’s website. The address must be the primary residence address, because a PO box does not meet the requirement. Allergen labeling is not required, but the Indiana Department of Health encourages it. A local unit of government may not require a license, certificate, or inspection of a home-based vendor.
How accurate is this page?
The label items, the exact statement, the sales channels, and the food handler certificate rule were read from the text of IC 16-42-5.3 reprinted in the Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook on 2026-09-12. The Indiana Department of Health published that handbook and last updated it in Summer 2025. The allowed and prohibited food lists come from the same handbook. The Indiana General Assembly website is a JavaScript application, so the statute text on iga.in.gov could not be read with a plain fetch. The handbook prints the statement with “State Department of Health” in the labeling section and the sample label, and with “state department of health” in the statute appendix.