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Cottage food laws

Colorado Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Colorado? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Colorado Cottage Foods Act
Annual sales cap
$10,000 per product/flavor (per-item, not total)
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupRoadside stands
Registration / to start
No license, but food-safety training (ANAB-accredited or state-recognized) required before selling
Allowed foods
Non-TCS baked goods, candies, tortillas/empanadas, jams/jellies, pickled fruits/veg (pH ≤4.6), spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, honey, flour, fermented foods
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat; indirect/wholesale sales
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Exceeding the per-product $10,000, selling TCS foods, or wholesale/retail requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) · Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-4-1614

Source: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

HB26-1033 ('Tamale Act', signed June 4, 2026) restructures the law effective Jan 1, 2027 to a single $150,000 gross annual cap across all products; current law caps $10,000 per product/flavor.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Colorado food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado has a cottage food framework (Colorado Cottage Foods Act) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. Annual sales are capped at $10,000 per product/flavor (per-item, not total). You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).
What foods can I sell under Colorado's cottage food law?
Non-TCS baked goods, candies, tortillas/empanadas, jams/jellies, pickled fruits/veg (pH ≤4.6), spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, honey, flour, fermented foods Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat; indirect/wholesale sales
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Colorado?
Exceeding the per-product $10,000, selling TCS foods, or wholesale/retail requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Colorado?
No license, but food-safety training (ANAB-accredited or state-recognized) required before selling
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