Cottage food rules
New Cottage Food Laws in Indiana: What Changed
What changed in Indiana cottage food rules, and what to check before you sell.
On this page
What to remember
- Indiana has no dollar cap on cottage food sales.
- The state food code is now 410 IAC 7-26, and it replaces 410 IAC 7-24.
- Whole, uncut produce came out of the Home-Based Vendor rules in July 2023.
- Eggs sold by an individual vendor at a farmers market or roadside stand that meet IC 16-42-11 are exempt from food establishment requirements.
If you bake from your home kitchen in Indiana and sell what you make, the rules you work under have moved in the last few years. Some of the change is about what counts as a cottage food product. Some of it is about the food code itself, which is the set of rules the state uses for food businesses. Read the current version before you print labels or say yes to a big order, because the rules you may have heard about from another baker are not always the ones in force now.
What changed in the Indiana food code
The Indiana Department of Health updated the state Food Code to 410 IAC 7-26. That code is based on the 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration model food code, and the state’s stated aim is to promote uniform inspection programs across Indiana. The new code officially replaces the previous one, 410 IAC 7-24. If you have an old printout in your recipe binder, or a note saved on your phone, that cites 410 IAC 7-24, it is out of date. Our Indiana cottage food law guide covers the basics if you are starting from scratch.
A separate change came in July 2023, when whole, uncut produce stopped being regulated as a Home-Based Vendor product. That does not mean produce cannot be sold. It can still be sold under the separate farmers market and roadside stand rules. For a baker this matters mostly at the edges, for example if you also sell jam or you share a table with someone selling tomatoes. Those two sets of rules are not the same.
What this means for the bakes you sell
Indiana sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. That is the headline for anyone who wants to grow. The ceiling on your business is your own kitchen and your own hours, not a statutory cap that stops you at a set number. It also means the decisions about how much you take on are yours, so price your work with care instead of treating a busy week as a windfall.
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture notes that the home-based vendor legislation applies to homestead vendors and small farm operators. If you sell eggs alongside your bakes, Indiana Code 16-42-5-29 provides that an individual vendor at a farmers market or roadside stand who sells eggs meeting the requirements under IC 16-42-11 is not considered a food establishment and is exempt from food establishment requirements. Keep that separate in your head from the rules for your baked goods.
Labels, lists, and keeping orders straight
Two things trip up home bakers more than anything else: knowing what you are allowed to sell, and labelling it correctly. Start with our list of what Indiana home bakers can sell so you are not guessing about a particular item. Then check the Indiana cottage food label requirements before you print a new batch of stickers, since a label that was fine two years ago may not carry everything the current rules ask for.
Once the rules side is settled, the practical side is keeping track. Write down what each recipe costs you, packaging included, so a busy market week does not leave you guessing about profit. Brevl keeps recipes with real costing, ingredient inventory, and a weekly planner, and your shop carries your own photos, your own colors, and your own web address.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
- Indiana cottage food law: what home bakers need to know
- What Indiana home bakers can sell
- Indiana cottage food label requirements
- Indiana cottage food laws in July: what changed
Common questions
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Indiana?
No. Indiana sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales, so the limit is your own kitchen capacity and your own time.
What is the current Indiana food code?
410 IAC 7-26. It replaced 410 IAC 7-24 and is based on the 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration model food code.
Can I still sell whole produce in Indiana?
Whole, uncut produce stopped being regulated as a Home-Based Vendor product in July 2023, but it can still be sold under the separate farmers market and roadside stand rules.
Do I need to be a food establishment to sell eggs?
Indiana Code 16-42-5-29 provides that an individual vendor at a farmers market or roadside stand who sells eggs meeting the requirements under IC 16-42-11 is not considered a food establishment and is exempt from food establishment requirements.
Where can I find more guidance on the current rules?
Purdue University's College of Agriculture notes that the Indiana Department of Health has released additional guidance on home-based vendor regulation. Read that guidance alongside the current code.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Food rules change, so confirm the current requirements with the Indiana Department of Health before you sell.