Cottage Food Law /US
A structured reference to state cottage food rules

Guide · Selling from home

Can I sell candy & confections from home in Indiana?

Informational only, not legal advice.

Yes — candy & confections is allowed under Indiana cottage food law.

Indiana's allowed list names candy & confections items, and its prohibited list does not.

What Indiana's food lists say about candy & confections

On the allowed list

  • Candy (e.g., hard candy, cotton candy, candy apples, caramel apples), fudge, and chocolates (e.g., truffles, ganache, hot chocolate bombs)
  • Dehydrated and dried fruits (all varieties except melons); freeze-dried fruits and confectionery items no larger than a small marble

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook (Summer 2025) · Verified Oct 21, 2026

How Indiana reads its lists

The statute has no list of allowed foods: a home-based vendor may prepare and sell only food that is not a time temperature control for safety food (Ind. Code § 16-42-5.3-4(2), as amended by P.L.151-2024). The examples are from IDOH's handbook, which says its list "is neither complete nor all-inclusive"; for an unlisted product, contact the local health department or Purdue University Extension FEMI. Some products need pH or water activity testing.

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook (Summer 2025) · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Selling candy & confections in Indiana: permit, cost, and where to sell

Do I need a permit to sell candy & confections from home in Indiana?

Indiana does not require a state-issued permit for cottage food.

Source: Ind. Code ch. 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products), Indiana Code 2026, §§ 16-42-5.3-3, 16-42-5.3-12 · Verified Oct 21, 2026

The program is run by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Division of Food Protection; enforced by local health departments.

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook (Summer 2025) · Verified Oct 21, 2026

How much does a Indiana cottage food license cost?

Indiana does not charge a state cottage food license fee.

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook (Summer 2025), FAQ · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Is there a limit on how much I can sell in Indiana?

Indiana sets no overall annual sales cap for cottage food.

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Farm and Homestead Food Sales memorandum to local health departments (May 26, 2026) · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Where can I sell candy & confections in Indiana?

In person: Yes; farmers markets: Yes; online orders within Indiana: Yes; shipping to other states: No; delivery within Indiana: Yes; sales to stores or for resale: No.

Source: Ind. Code ch. 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products), Indiana Code 2026, §§ 16-42-5.3-4, 16-42-5.3-6 · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Food must be sold in person, by telephone, or through the Internet, and delivered to the end consumer in person, by mail, or by a third party carrier. A home-based vendor may not ship or deliver to an end consumer outside Indiana. Products may not be resold: no sales to a warehouse, retail food establishment, wholesaler, or anyone who will distribute them further. IDOH lists farmers markets, events, and roadside stands as HBV sale locations; a farmers market cannot require a food license but may ask for the food handler certificate, and event organizers may bar HBV goods. IDOH says the producer must make in-person sales themselves (products cannot be sold on their behalf) and may sell from another business only while physically present. Shipped or delivered food must be in a tamper-evident sealed package, and the vendor must keep each customer's shipping or delivery address for at least one year.

Source: Ind. Code ch. 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products), Indiana Code 2026, §§ 16-42-5.3-4, 16-42-5.3-6 · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Do I need training or a kitchen inspection in Indiana?

Indiana requires food safety training.

Source: Ind. Code ch. 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products), Indiana Code 2026, § 16-42-5.3-7 · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Indiana does not require a home kitchen inspection.

Source: Indiana Department of Health — Indiana Home-Based Vendor Handbook (Summer 2025) · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Labeling candy & confections in Indiana

Indiana's cited labeling rules list 8 requirements. The full list is in the Indiana labeling guide.

Source: Ind. Code ch. 16-42-5.3 (Home Based Food Products), Indiana Code 2026, § 16-42-5.3-5 · Verified Oct 21, 2026

Other foods in Indiana