Sell Homemade Food in Colorado — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Colorado — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.
$10,000 net per product
Revenue Limit
Annual limit under cottage food law
In-Person Only
Online Sales
Direct sales at markets and events
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
moderately regulated
Regulation Level
Colorado is considered moderately regulated for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Colorado is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability explains everything you need to know about the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (HB 12-1027, amended through HB 25-1190).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
Colorado requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Colorado requires below.
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Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Colorado
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
dried herbs
fruit pies
spice blends
popcorn
granola
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned low-acid foods
fermented foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability before you start, just to be safe.
Colorado Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Colorado under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (HB 12-1027, amended through HB 25-1190)
No Permit Needed
Colorado does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Colorado allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Colorado wants on it — copy this list.
Producer's name and address
Producer's phone number or email
Product name
Date produced
Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight
Allergen disclosure
"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"
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Colorado requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Colorado
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Colorado. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
dried herbs
fruit pies
spice blends
popcorn
granola
Ship within Colorado only
Colorado cottage food sales must be direct from the producer to an end consumer within Colorado — typically face-to-face at farmers markets, roadside stands, or your home. Mail-order shipping isn't authorized.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
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FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Colorado
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Colorado
Online Sales (website)
Not permitted under Colorado cottage food law
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Colorado
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Colorado cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Colorado
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Colorado
Colorado allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in Colorado
A Taste of Colorado
Free Labor Day weekend food festival in Civic Center Park with 50+ vendors.
Visit WebsiteDenver Food + Wine Festival
Week-long celebration of Colorado's food and drink scene.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Three-day arts and food festival in Cherry Creek North with local food vendors.
Home Food Business Types in Colorado
Start any of these home food businesses under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (HB 12-1027, amended through HB 25-1190)
Start Your Colorado Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (HB 12-1027, amended through HB 25-1190) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Colorado? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.