Lake County, IN Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)
Key Facts
- License needed
- No, for listed foods
- Statute
- IC 16-42-5.3
- Where made
- Vendor's primary residence
- Hazardous foods
- Not allowed
- Local treatment
- Home occupation (UDO 154-9-090)
Summary
Indiana lets home based vendors sell non-hazardous homemade foods without a license under IC 16-42-5.3, exempt from food-establishment rules. Every product needs a label with the producer's name and address, ingredients, and the state's home-produced disclaimer. Lake County treats such sales as a home occupation.
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 Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.".
Full Breakdown
IC 16-42-5.3-3 exempts a home based vendor's food from food-establishment requirements. Under IC 16-42-5.3-4 the food must be made at the vendor's primary residence, be non-potentially-hazardous, not resold, and sold in person, by phone or online. IC 16-42-5.3-5 requires a label (or sign for unpackaged food) with the producer's name/address, common name, ingredients by weight, net weight, processing date, and a 10-point disclaimer. In unincorporated Lake County the selling activity is subject to the home-occupation regulations of UDO 154-9-090.
Violations & Fines
Selling misbranded home based vendor food or violating the labeling rules can bring enforcement by the Indiana Department of Health; unpermitted sales activity is also a county zoning matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell homemade food?
What must the label say?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Indiana home business overview
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