Why this matters
What Colorado actually allows — and what it doesn't.
C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 (Colorado Cottage Foods Act, 2012)
Unique Per-Product Cap Structure:
$10,000 NET revenue per product/flavor annually
Each product variant (e.g., blueberry muffins vs. chocolate chip muffins) counts as separate product with its own $10K cap
Annual revenue cap
$10,000 a year.
Annual gross cap
$10,000
Required label language
Every package carries a statutory disclaimer.
The disclaimer below must appear on every package, in the exact casing the statute specifies:
Required on every label
This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale.
— C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 (Colorado Cottage Foods Act, 2012)
Sales channels
Where you can sell in Colorado — and where you can't.
Online ordering
YesYesShipping
YesYesSeller delivery
YesYesThird-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
ConditionalConditionalInterstate sales
NoNoWholesale to retail stores
NoNoLicense, permit & registration
Colorado does not require state registration.
Do you need a cottage food license or permit in Colorado? For basic cottage foods, Colorado does not require a separate license or permit — but other rules can still apply.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
Foods the basic cottage food rules usually do not cover.
- Tcs
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Cut Produce
- Cream Custard Meringue
- Beverages
- Sauces
- Pumpkin Pie
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Cannabis Cbd
How to start
Steps to a legal first sale in Colorado.
Confirm your products qualify
Compare your menu against Colorado's cottage food rules. Temperature-controlled, meat, seafood, and low-acid canned items often require a different path; check the state-specific food categories above.
Complete food safety certification
Colorado requires food safety training before you can sell cottage food. Type: ansi accredited.
Label every product correctly
Every label must include your name (or registered ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the statute-required disclaimer verbatim.
Start taking orders
Colorado allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery. Route orders through your own channels.
Frequently asked
Colorado cottage food — your questions answered.
What is the new cottage food law in Colorado?
Colorado's Cottage Foods Act (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614) is the governing law, and it keeps a $10,000 per-product annual sales cap. No permit or registration is required to start selling shelf-stable foods; the cap is counted per product, so tracking each item's sales matters.
What can and can't I sell under Colorado's cottage food law?
Colorado's program is built for shelf-stable baked goods — the per-product cap even uses blueberry versus chocolate-chip muffins as its example — plus two notable allowances: whole eggs, up to 250 dozen a month with special labeling, and buttercream made with ghee or vegetable oil. What is prohibited is specific: butter-based buttercream, cream, custard, and meringue fillings, pumpkin and sweet potato pie, meat, most dairy, beverages, sauces, and condiments. Each product also carries its own $10,000 net annual cap.
What training do I need to sell cottage food in Colorado?
Colorado requires no permit, registration, or home inspection, but you must complete one food safety course — the CSU Extension course ($50, valid three years), a Food Handler Card, or Safe Food Handler Colorado. Sales are direct-to-consumer only, so no wholesale to stores or restaurants.
Can I sell meat, refrigerated, or prepared foods in Colorado?
Not currently — Colorado's cottage food law is direct-to-consumer and shelf-stable only, with no "home chef" tier for temperature-controlled items. A 2026 bill, HB26-1033, would add TCS foods like refrigerated products and meat, remove the $10,000 cap, and authorize county inspections; an earlier 2025 attempt, HB25-1190, failed in committee.
Colorado cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Colorado does not require state registration for basic cottage food sales. The annual gross sales cap is $10,000. Colorado allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers.
Do I need a cottage food license or permit in Colorado?
Not for the basic cottage food path, based on the state sources cited on this page. Colorado may still have label, food-category, local zoning, or other business rules, so check the official source before you sell.
What foods can I sell from home in Colorado?
Colorado's cottage food rules mainly cover foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.