Home food business guide · Last reviewed October 2026
Cottage Food Laws in Colorado
Colorado caps home food sales at $10,000 a year; $150,000 from 2027. Getting started: Food safety course; CDPHE registration from 2027. A limited set of refrigerated foods is allowed, with conditions. Of the 40 common products in our finder, 10 can be made in a home kitchen in Colorado, many with conditions.
Limited sources. The detailed rules for Colorado rely on a secondary summary from the National Agricultural Law Center. They may be out of date or incomplete, so confirm with the state agency before relying on them.
Quick facts
Sales cap
$10,000 a year; $150,000 from 2027
Permit or registration
Food safety course; CDPHE registration from 2027
Online & shipping
Not confirmed
Sell through stores
No
Refrigerated & TCS foods
From Jan 2027, one type of TCS food with registration
Quick facts are summarized from 50-state trackers (Ardent Seller, reviewed October 1, 2026, cross-checked with PermitDeck and Food Business Pros). Where the details below differ, follow the state sources listed at the bottom of this page and confirm with the agency.
Colorado ranks 45th of 51 in our Cottage Food State Rankings, with a score of 40 out of 100 (provisional, because some of the state's rules couldn't be confirmed or aren't addressed).
How 40 common products are treated in Colorado, with the condition or reason for each. Items marked "general rule" weren't specifically addressed in the state's guidance.
Allowed from a home kitchen
Sourdough bread. Shelf-stable baked goods are cottage foods.
Garlic or herb-infused oil. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Garlic or herbs in oil carry a botulism risk and need a validated commercial process.
Home-cooked meals. From January 2027, one type of prepared TCS food is allowed per producer. Until then, meals need a commercial kitchen.
Kombucha. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Fermented beverages need a commercial kitchen, and producers monitor alcohol, since at 0.5% ABV or more it is treated as an alcoholic beverage.
Regulated separately
Beef jerky. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Meat products need USDA or state meat inspection, regardless of kitchen.
Cheese & yogurt. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Dairy products are licensed separately, through the state's dairy program.
Cold-pressed juice. General rule, not specifically addressed in this state's guidance; ask the agency to confirm. Juices aren't home-kitchen foods. Wholesale juice needs a Juice HACCP plan with a 5-log pathogen reduction.
Ask the agency first
Cake with buttercream. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Macarons. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Fruit tamales. Shelf-stable fruit fillings may qualify now. From 2027, tamales can be your one TCS food.
Marshmallows. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Nut butter. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Infused honey. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Vanilla extract. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Fruit-infused vinegar. Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
Mustard (no egg). Not clearly addressed in the state's guidance; ask the agency.
How to start selling from home
Check that the product doesn't need refrigeration (jams, honey, pickles, dried produce, flour, tortillas, baked goods, and similar).
Complete a food safety course.
Sell directly to informed consumers in Colorado, within the current $10,000 yearly limit.
From January 1, 2027, register yearly with CDPHE before selling. You'll be able to sell one type of TCS food (with up to five variations), and the cap rises to $150,000.
Label every product (see the checklist below).
Legal paths
Cottage foods
Where
Your home kitchen
Sell
Directly to informed consumers in Colorado
Sales cap
$10,000 a year until Dec 31, 2026; $150,000 from 2027, inflation-adjusted
Paperwork
Food safety course now; yearly CDPHE registration from 2027
Commercial kitchen
Where
A licensed commercial kitchen
Sell
TCS foods, wholesale, and anything outside cottage rules
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
Local retail license or CDPHE registration; usually FDA registration
Commercial canning
Where
Licensed commercial facility
Sell
Salsas, sauces, and canned foods
Sales cap
None
Paperwork
Process authority review, FDA scheduled-process filing
Label requirements
Colorado cottage food labels must disclose that the food was made in an uninspected home kitchen. From January 2027 they also need these registration details. Confirm current wording with CDPHE.
Home-kitchen disclosure statement. That the product was made in a home kitchen not subject to state licensure or inspection, which may also process common allergens.
From 2027: your CDPHE registration number
From 2027: county where the food was made. Replaces your home address.
From 2027: CDPHE website for reporting illness and checking registration
Product name and ingredients
Turning a recipe into a product?
Mendocino Food Consulting helps food entrepreneurs with food science, formulation, and process questions. We are food scientists, not attorneys, and we don't provide legal advice.