warebythe colorado cottage food law, in plain english
what you can sell from your home kitchen in colorado, who you register with, where you can sell, and what the label has to say. checked against the state’s own pages on october 14, 2026.
on this page
1at a glance2what you can sell3how to start4where you can sell5labels6what’s changed7good to know8questions9sourcesyes, you can sell homemade food from your home kitchen in colorado under the cottage foods act. through december 31, 2026, you don’t register, but you must take a food safety course, sell only shelf-stable foods, and keep each product under $10,000 in net revenue a year. sell straight to customers in colorado, in person or online, with the required label and a sign where you sell. starting january 1, 2027, the tamale act adds yearly state registration, a $150,000 total cap, and one type of perishable food, like tamales.
colorado cottage food rules at a glance
| the law | colorado cottage foods act (colorado revised statutes, section 25-4-1614 (amended by hb26-1033, the “tamale act,” starting january 1, 2027)) |
|---|---|
| who runs it | colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe) |
| registration | no no state registration |
| kitchen inspection | no |
| training | yesa food safety course with basic food handling, like csu extension’s cottage food course, a food handler card or a local health agency class; keep it current |
| yearly sales cap | $10,000 a year in net revenue per product (through december 31, 2026) |
| selling from your home | yescheck your hoa and local zoning |
| selling at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets, roadside stands and csas; you or your representative must be there |
| selling online orders | yescolorado buyers only; show the required sign on your site |
| selling delivering it yourself | yesyou or your designated representative, inside colorado |
| selling shipping within the state | yescdphe lets you and the buyer pick the delivery method, as long as it stays in colorado |
| selling shipping to other states | nosales and shipping outside colorado aren’t allowed |
| selling to stores, cafes and restaurants | nonot to restaurants or grocery stores; a gift shop can sell for you only as your designated representative |
what can you sell from home in colorado?
you can sell
- breads, muffins, cookies, cakes and fruit pies
- candy, fudge and cotton candy
- jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters
- honey
- pickled fruits and vegetables with a ph of 4.6 or lower
- roasted coffee beans, spices and teas
- dehydrated and freeze-dried produce
- up to 250 dozen whole eggs a month
you can’t sell
- meat, poultry and fish, including jerky
- cream, custard or meringue fillings and toppings
- buttercream made with butter, and cream cheese frosting
- pumpkin, sweet potato and cream pies
- sauces, salsa and condiments like ketchup
- drinks and juices
- cbd or thc products
these are examples, not the full list. check the colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe) before you sell something new.
how do you start a cottage food business in colorado?
- no state registration. colorado doesn’t ask cottage food sellers to register with the state. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
- take the training: a food safety course with basic food handling, like csu extension’s cottage food course, a food handler card or a local health agency class; keep it current.
- label everything the way the law asks (below).
- start selling in the ways colorado allows, and keep track of your sales if there’s a cap.
where and how can you sell in colorado?
| from your home | yescheck your hoa and local zoning |
|---|---|
| at farmers markets and events | yesfarmers markets, roadside stands and csas; you or your representative must be there |
| online orders | yescolorado buyers only; show the required sign on your site |
| delivering it yourself | yesyou or your designated representative, inside colorado |
| shipping within the state | yescdphe lets you and the buyer pick the delivery method, as long as it stays in colorado |
| shipping to other states | nosales and shipping outside colorado aren’t allowed |
| to stores, cafes and restaurants | nonot to restaurants or grocery stores; a gift shop can sell for you only as your designated representative |
on wareby, food is always pickup or delivery by the shop, never a courier and never shipped, which fits the rules in every state. how to sell food online from home.
what goes on a cottage food label in colorado?
“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.”
the statement colorado requires on your label
the label also needs:
- product name
- your name
- the address where the food was made
- your phone number or email
- the date it was made
- a complete ingredient list
what’s changed in colorado, and what’s coming?
| when | what |
|---|---|
| january 1, 2027 | you must register with cdphe every year before selling and put your registration number on your labels (coming) |
| january 1, 2027 | the cap becomes $150,000 in total gross sales a year, adjusted for inflation, instead of $10,000 per product (coming) |
| january 1, 2027 | you can sell one type of perishable food, like tamales or burritos, in up to five variations, with meat from inspected sources (coming) |
| january 1, 2027 | labels list the county where the food was made instead of your address, plus the cdphe cottage food website (coming) |
| january 1, 2027 | health agencies can fine you up to $100 for a violation and charge up to $1,000 for investigation costs (coming) |
| june 4, 2026 | the tamale act (hb26-1033) became law; its main changes start january 1, 2027 |
what else should you know in colorado?
- each product has its own $10,000 limit, and each flavor counts as a separate product (blueberry and banana muffins are two).
- post a sign wherever you sell, including your website, saying the food was made in a home kitchen not subject to state licensure or inspection and isn’t meant for resale.
- you owe income and sales tax on your sales, and some towns require a local license.
- cdphe offers free ph testing for pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut and similar products while funding lasts.
- pet treats: pet treats aren’t cottage foods; the colorado department of agriculture regulates them
questions people ask
do i need a license to sell baked goods from home in colorado?
no state registration is needed for cottage food in colorado. check your city or county for local rules, like zoning or a business license.
can i sell cottage food online in colorado?
yes. colorado buyers only; show the required sign on your site.
can i ship cottage food in colorado?
yes, within colorado: cdphe lets you and the buyer pick the delivery method, as long as it stays in colorado. you can’t ship to other states. sales and shipping outside colorado aren’t allowed.
how much can i sell from home in colorado?
up to $10,000 a year in net revenue per product (through december 31, 2026).
can i sell to stores or coffee shops in colorado?
no. not to restaurants or grocery stores; a gift shop can sell for you only as your designated representative.
what can’t i sell from home in colorado?
the usual no’s: meat, poultry and fish, including jerky, cream, custard or meringue fillings and toppings, buttercream made with butter, and cream cheese frosting, pumpkin, sweet potato and cream pies, sauces, salsa and condiments like ketchup. check with the colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe) before you sell something new.
sources
- colorado department of public health and environment: cottage foods act
- cdphe: 2027 tamale act
- cdphe: colorado cottage food act updates
- cdphe: tamale act food eligibility
- cdphe: tamale act labeling
- cdphe: tamale act frequently asked questions
- colorado general assembly: hb26-1033, expanding the colorado cottage foods act
- colorado general assembly: hb26-1033 signed act
- colorado legislative council: hb26-1033 final fiscal note
- cdphe: cottage foods checklist
- cdphe: cottage food label example
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. we checked it against colorado’s own pages on october 14, 2026, and laws change, so confirm with the colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe) (and your city or county) before you sell. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com.
we sold cinnamon rolls from home as minnesota cottage food producers before we opened a licensed kitchen and built wareby. our story