Colorado Cottage Food Laws
Income Limit
$10,000 per product
Online Sales
Yes
Current Law Details
Unique per-product sales limit ($10,000/year per product, not total cap). Allows pickled items with pH ≤4.6 and testing. Food safety course required. Direct sales only within Colorado. Free pH testing offered by state lab (limited funding, first-come first-served, up to 5 products). HB25-1190 to allow refrigerated foods defeated in 2025.
Registration & Training
📋Registration
- Required
- No
🎓Training
- Required
- Yes
- Type
- Food safety course comparable to CSU Extension or local health agency courses
- Cost
- $7-$35 (varies by provider)
Labeling Requirements
Required Statement
"This product is homemade"
Additional Label Elements
- ✓Name and address of producer
- ✓Product name
- ✓Ingredients in descending order by weight
- ✓Allergen disclosure
- ✓Net weight or volume
- ✓Production date or use-by date
Allowed Sales Venues
Direct-to-consumer sales only. No wholesale to retail stores or restaurants. All transactions must occur within Colorado.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Options
- In-State
- Allowed
- Out-of-State
- Not Allowed
Delivery Methods
- Commercial Carriers
- Allowed
- Third-Party Delivery
- Allowed
In-state shipping via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or personal delivery. No interstate commerce. Online sales allowed but in-state only.
Allowed Foods
Pickled items allowed if pH ≤4.6 with testing. Baked goods, candies, jams/jellies, roasted coffee, dried herbs/spices, popcorn, granola, dried pasta. NO potentially hazardous foods, dairy, meat, low-acid canned goods, acidified foods without pH testing.
Recent Legislative Updates
HB25-1190
Effective: N/A
Bill to expand cottage food law to include refrigerated foods and increase sales limits was defeated in legislature
Important Warnings & Notes
- ⚠️Per-product limit: each product can earn $10,000/year (not total sales cap)
- ⚠️In-state sales only - no interstate commerce
- ⚠️Direct sales only - no wholesale or retail sales
- ⚠️Pickled items require pH testing (≤4.6)
- ⚠️Free pH testing available from state lab but limited funding (first-come, first-served, up to 5 products)
Research Sources
This information was compiled from the following sources (Last updated: 2025-10-06):
- •Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-4-1614
- •Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- •Colorado State University Extension
- •Forrager.com - Colorado
Important Legal Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Cottage food laws change frequently and vary by local jurisdiction. Always verify current regulations with your state and local health departments before starting your business.
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