Indiana · Cottage Food
Part of our walk-through for all 50 US states — see every state.
Answer a few plain-English questions about what you make and how you want to sell it. We sort your plan into Indiana's older HBV path or the newer July 2026 homestead path, flag the choices that change the answer, and build you a personalized checklist and printable label draft.
Built from current Indiana guidance, Purdue HBV materials, and state-published homestead-vendor guidance. Not legal advice and not state approval — rules can change, so verify final requirements with the current Indiana guidance before selling.
Often no, but Indiana now has two different direct-to-consumer paths. The older HBV path still covers non-TCS foods from a primary residence. As of July 1, 2026, Indiana also has a broader homestead/small-farm path for direct-to-consumer sales of prepared foods, baked goods, candy, produce, natural sweeteners, fruit spreads, and certain meat products. The trick is picking the right path and staying inside its shipping, sales, and labeling rules.
Indiana rule review
The page is built from Purdue Food Science — Home-Based Vendors (IC 16-42-5.3) and the cited official sources below, then turns those rules into a practical pre-sale review.
Final wording should be checked against Purdue Food Science — Home-Based Vendors (IC 16-42-5.3) before printing.
Needs extra review
HBV is still in force. It is limited to non-TCS foods prepared in a primary residence and sold directly to the end consumer within Indiana.
Needs extra review
Indiana's 2026 homestead path is broader than HBV and can include prepared foods, meat products, produce, natural sweeteners, and fruit spreads, but it uses its own location, labeling, shipping, and gross-sales rules.
Usually blocks the cottage food path
Both Indiana paths are direct-to-end-consumer only and do not allow resale inventory.
Usually blocks the cottage food path
Neither Indiana path allows shipping or delivery to an end consumer outside Indiana.
Needs extra review
This blocks the HBV path. It may still fit the newer homestead path, but only if you also satisfy the newer handling, packaging, and any applicable federal requirements.
Needs extra review
This category is part of Indiana's new homestead/small-farm path, not the older HBV path. Some prepared foods can still trigger federal regulation depending on ingredients and process.
Indiana permit prep
Use this order when you prepare the permit packet, label, and direct-sales plan.
Step 1
Start with the product category and shelf-stability questions. The wizard flags foods that usually need refrigeration, separate licensing, or extra official review in Indiana.
Step 2
Choose every sales channel you expect to use. The result calls out direct-sale limits, shipping issues, wholesale/resale limits, and other channel rules that matter before you take orders.
Step 3
Enter the product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, producer information, and any Indiana-specific disclosure or permit field requested by the form.
Step 4
A plain-English helper for Indiana home food sellers navigating HBV and the newer homestead path. Not legal advice and not state approval.
Indiana FAQ
Short answers to the questions people usually ask before they start the wizard.
Often no, but Indiana now has two different direct-to-consumer paths. The older HBV path still covers non-TCS foods from a primary residence. As of July 1, 2026, Indiana also has a broader homestead/small-farm path for direct-to-consumer sales of prepared foods, baked goods, candy, produce, natural sweeteners, fruit spreads, and certain meat products. The trick is picking the right path and staying inside its shipping, sales, and labeling rules.
It walks through the state-specific blockers, then produces a printable checklist and a label draft using the answers you entered.
Verify your product category, sales channel, annual limit or registration requirement, and label wording against Purdue Food Science — Home-Based Vendors (IC 16-42-5.3) before relying on the checklist.
No. It is an informational draft based on the page sources. Check final wording with Purdue Food Science — Home-Based Vendors (IC 16-42-5.3) or the responsible local agency before printing labels.