Indiana's Home Based Vendor law (IC 16-42-5-29) lets Indianapolis residents sell shelf-stable homemade foods directly to consumers without a license; only a food-handler certification and proper labeling are required.
Indiana law authorizes Home Based Vendors statewide; there is no license, no permit, no fee, and no health-inspection requirement at the state or Marion County level. Allowed products include baked goods, candies, tree nuts, legumes, honey, high-acid fruit preserves, and dry goods. Traditional jams and jellies are the only home-canned items permitted. Each operator must hold a current food-handler certificate (e.g., ServSafe or Purdue Extension) and label every product with the operator's name and address, product name, ingredient list, net weight, production date, and the statement that the food was made in an uninspected kitchen. Sales must be direct-to-consumer at farmers markets, roadside stands, or via in-state delivery or shipping.
Mislabeled or prohibited foods (meat, dairy, low-acid canned goods) can trigger Indiana State Department of Health enforcement and product seizure under IC 16-42.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis uses a plainly-audible standard combined with a 115 dB amplifier cap under Rev. Code Ch. 391, Article III rather than zone-based dBA limits.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis does not impose specific leaf blower hours, but Revised Code Sec. 391-302 prohibits operating any blower or power fan in a way that makes unreas...
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Revised Code Chapter 391, Article III prohibits unreasonable noise from amplified sources and caps sound-producing instruments at 115 decibels m...
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis adopts the Indiana Residential Code under Rev. Code Ch. 536, which requires a minimum 48-inch barrier around residential pools 24 inches deep or...
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis does not require a fence permit, but Rev. Code Sec. 744-510 caps front-yard fences at 42 inches and rear/side-yard fences at 6 feet and a separa...
Indianapolis, IN
Marion County Rev. Code Sec. 591-421 and Indiana Code 22-11-18-3.5 require working smoke detectors in every Indianapolis dwelling, with landlords responsible...
See how Indianapolis's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.