Colorado — the rules
Selling Food From Home in Colorado: Cottage Food Rules (2026)
Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in Colorado, under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act. Sales are capped at $10,000/year. Here is exactly what that means.
Colorado at a glance
| Home food sales | Allowed |
| Program | Colorado Cottage Foods Act |
| Annual sales cap | $10,000 |
| Sales channels | Direct to consumers (see details — many direct-only states still allow online orders with delivery) |
What foods are covered
Currently non-potentially-hazardous foods only (baked goods, jams, honey, dried goods, pickled vegetables, whole eggs), sold direct producer-to-consumer in Colorado; the $10,000 cap is per product type per year, not total revenue. MAJOR CHANGE IN PROGRESS: HB26-1033 ('Tamale Act'), signed June 4, 2026 and effective Aug 12, 2026 (registration/expansion provisions phasing in), removes the per-product cap in favor of $150,000 net annual revenue (inflation-adjusted), allows refrigerated foods and meat dishes (one temperature-controlled product type with up to 5 variations), and adds state health department registration.
Permits and registration
Under current law: no state license, registration, or inspection, but a recognized food safety course is required for producers. After HB26-1033 takes effect: registration with the state health department (electronic registry) required before selling, plus time/temperature food-handling training for temperature-controlled foods.
Going legal in Colorado: the plate-seller checklist
- Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
- Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
- Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
- Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
- Build the storefront — a menu page, order-ahead with cutoffs, your own business line. Our free guide covers the whole playbook.
Sources and verification
Verified 2026-07 against: leg.colorado.gov · cdphe.colorado.gov. Rules change — confirm with the primary source before acting; this guide is information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Is it legal to sell food from home in Colorado?
Yes — under Colorado Cottage Foods Act, with an annual sales cap of $10,000. Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.
How much can you sell under Colorado's cottage food law?
$10,000 per year under the current rules.
Do you need a permit to sell food from home in Colorado?
Under current law: no state license, registration, or inspection, but a recognized food safety course is required for producers. After HB26-1033 takes effect: registration with the state health department (electronic registry) required before selling, plus time/temperature food-h