Colorado Cottage Food Laws

Colorado's per-product cap is unusual and worth tracking carefully in your bookkeeping, because it's measured by net revenue per product type.

Fast facts

Permit
Food safety course required, no license
Annual sales cap
$10,000 per product type/yr
Online sales
Limited
Shipping
Not allowed

What makes Colorado different

  • The cap is per product, not total — $10,000 of cookies and $10,000 of bread is fine
  • A food safety training certificate is mandatory
  • Colorado allows some whole eggs and certain pickled produce

Where you can sell in Colorado

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Roadside stands
  • Home pickup

What you can and can't make

Colorado follows the standard cottage food logic: shelf-stable items are in, anything needing refrigeration is out. Check the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment product list for state-specific exceptions.

Generally allowed

  • Breads, rolls, biscuits and buns
  • Cakes, cupcakes and brownies (without cream-cheese or custard fillings)
  • Cookies, bars and biscotti
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candy, brittle, fudge and chocolate-covered items
  • Dry mixes, granola, popcorn and roasted nuts
  • Jams, jellies and preserves made from high-acid fruit

Generally prohibited

  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese frostings or fillings
  • Custard, meringue, pudding and Bavarian-cream pies
  • Anything containing meat, poultry or seafood
  • Fresh-dairy items, ice cream and buttercream that requires refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, salsas and other low-acid canned goods
  • Garlic-in-oil, pickled goods and fermented foods (in most states)
  • Kombucha, juices and other beverages requiring a process authority

Colorado labeling requirements

  1. The name and physical address of your home kitchen business
  2. The common name of the product
  3. A full ingredient list in descending order by weight
  4. Allergen declaration for the major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
  5. Net weight or volume
  6. A cottage food disclosure such as "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine state inspection"

Official source for Colorado

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment administers cottage food rules in Colorado.

Last verified:

Visit Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Not legal advice. This summary is for general education. Confirm with Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment before you start selling.

Cottage food laws in other states