Indiana: the home-kitchen movement
Food freedom Cottage food law · Homestead vendor law
Effective July 1, 2026, HEA 1424 (Public Law 163-2026) created 'homestead vendor' and 'small farm' categories (IC 16-42-5.4): anyone selling up to $1,500,000/year directly to consumers from their property or a farmers market is exempt from state and local licensing, certification, and inspection beyond federal law — preempting all local health-department rules. The older home-based vendor law (IC 16-42-5.3, non-TCS foods, ANSI food handler certificate) remains in effect alongside it. There is no MEHKO/microenterprise program and no separate food freedom act.
Where it stands
2024 — P.L.151-2024 added the statutory definition of 'time temperature control for safety food' (IC 16-18-2-351.7), tightening the older home-based vendor framework. 2025 — HB 1562, the predecessor 'homestead vendor' bill, passed the Indiana House but died in the Senate (did not become law). 2026 — HEA 1424 signed as Public Law 163-2026 (final action March 12, 2026), effective July 1, 2026: created IC 16-42-5.4 ('Regulation of Community Producers') with homestead vendor and small farm categories, a $1,500,000 annual gross-sales cap, and state preemption — IDOH, local governments, Marion County's health corporation, and local health departments may not impose any rules, certifications, or licensing beyond federal law; they may only investigate foodborne-illness complaints. It also exempts homestead vendors from IDOH time-temperature-control rules, adds meat-refrigeration requirements, farm-stand building/fire-code exemptions, and a $1.5M cap. The older home-based vendor law (IC 16-42-5.3, HEA 1149 of 2022) was kept in parallel — both regimes remain in effect. 2027 — Indiana Farm Bureau expects a cleanup bill to clarify the HBV vs. homestead vendor overlap; no bill number could be verified from a primary source yet.
Residents can find and support local kitchens through the Indiana hub — browse kitchens, read the law guide, and see what is cooking near you.
How we got here
- 2024 — Cottage food law
2024 — P.L.151-2024 added the statutory definition of 'time temperature control for safety food' (IC 16-18-2-351.7), tightening the older home-based vendor framework. Source - 2025 — Cottage food law
2025 — HB 1562, the predecessor 'homestead vendor' bill, passed the Indiana House but died in the Senate (did not become law). Source - 2026 — Cottage food law
2026 — HEA 1424 signed as Public Law 163-2026 (final action March 12, 2026), effective July 1, 2026: created IC 16-42-5.4 ('Regulation of Community Producers') with homestead vendor and small farm categories, a $1,500,000 annual gross-sales cap, and state preemption — IDOH, local governments, Marion County's health corporation, and local health departments may not impose any rules, certifications, or licensing beyond Source - — Cottage food law
It also exempts homestead vendors from IDOH time-temperature-control rules, adds meat-refrigeration requirements, farm-stand building/fire-code exemptions, and a $1.5M cap. Source
Supporters
On the public record supporting home kitchens in Indiana.
Hunter Smith
State Representative; author of HEA 1424 (2026), the homestead vendor law
Source: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1424/details
Mike Braun
Governor; signed HEA 1424 (Public Law 163, March 12, 2026) and celebrated it publicly with the author
Source: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/934041048/rep-smith-hosts-g
Institute for Justice
Lists Indiana among the states where its Food Freedom Initiative has helped secure homemade-food reforms
Source: https://ij.org/press-release/new-report-grades-each-states-laws-
Opposition
No on-record opposition has been verified for this state yet.
The deciders
Governor
Mike Braun
Contact the deciders
A pre-written letter in Indiana's own terminology. The buttons open it in your email — addressed by you to the office above. Nothing sends until you press send.