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
NoNoRegistration & permits
Colorado does not require state registration.
- Registration
Not required
- Labeling standard
Standard
- Inspection
None
- Food safety certification
Required
Type: ansi accredited
- Address privacy
Not available
Food categories
What usually sits outside this cottage food lane.
- 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 lane. 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.
How does Colorado's $10,000 cap work?
Colorado's cap under C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 is unusual: it's $10,000 NET revenue per product or flavor annually, not a single total cap. Blueberry muffins and chocolate chip muffins each count as separate products, each with their own $10K ceiling. That means if you diversify your product line, your total revenue can exceed $10K significantly.
Do I need to register or get a permit?
No registration or permit required with the state. You do need food safety training — you can choose one of: CSU Extension course ($50, valid 3 years), a Food Handler Card, or Safe Food Handler Colorado. No home inspection.
Can I sell to restaurants or grocery stores?
No. Colorado cottage food is direct-to-consumer only — farmers' markets, your home, online to end buyers. Wholesale to restaurants or stores is not permitted. Interstate sales are also prohibited; in-state only.
Can I sell eggs and buttercream frosting?
Eggs yes, up to 250 dozen per month with specific labeling (address, packaging date, safe-handling instructions, and a "not from government-approved source" statement). Buttercream is where it gets specific: buttercream made with ghee or vegetable oil is allowed, but butter-based buttercream is prohibited under current Colorado cottage food rules.
Are there bills pending that would change this?
Yes. HB26-1033 (introduced January 2026) would expand Colorado to allow TCS foods (refrigerated items, meat products), remove the $10K per-product cap entirely, and authorize county health inspections. A similar bill last year (HB25-1190) was postponed indefinitely in committee in March 2025. Watch this space.
Colorado cottage food laws: what is the short version?
Colorado does not require state registration for the cottage food lane. The annual gross sales cap is $10,000. Colorado allows online orders, in-state shipping, seller delivery for cottage food sellers in the current data.
Do I need a cottage food license in Colorado?
Not for the cottage food lane in the current data. 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 lane is mainly for foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Common no-go categories include tcs, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs.