Colorado cottage food makers

License or permit: No state license or registration is needed through Dec. 31, 2026, but producers must first complete a food safety course and stay in good standing with it.

Sales cap: Through Dec. 31, 2026, the law applies only to producers who earn $10,000 or less in net revenue a year from each eligible food product.

How you can sell: Cottage foods must be sold and delivered directly by the producer or a designated representative to an informed end consumer, and only in Colorado.

What you cannot sell: Through Dec. 31, 2026, Colorado does not allow cottage foods that need refrigeration or a special process for safety, including any meat, poultry, fish or shellfish product, even as an ingredient or topping.

What you can sell: Producers may sell foods that do not need refrigeration for safety, including baked goods such as muffins, fruit pies, cookies and cakes; candies such as cotton candy and fudge; honey, jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butter; pickled fruits and vegetables with a finished equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below; dry spices and teas; dehydrated and freeze-dried produce; nuts and seeds; flour, fruit empanadas and tortillas; and roasted coffee beans.