Cottage food rules
Colorado Cottage Food Law Label: What to Print
A clear way to check your Colorado cottage food label against the state page before you print.
On this page
What to remember
- Start with the CDPHE cottage food labeling page, not a template from another state.
- The Colorado Cottage Foods Act requires a food safety training course before you start.
- The revised Act raised the gross revenue limit to $150,000 or less per calendar year.
- A cottage food business in Colorado is subject to income and sales tax.
In 2012, the Colorado Legislature enacted the Colorado Cottage Foods Act allowing limited types of food products to be sold directly to consumers without licensing or inspection. That history matters when you look at a label, because the label is how you present that food to a customer. If you have been comparing label examples from other states, Alabama cottage food law labels and Virginia cottage food label requirements can show you how the question is framed elsewhere. Use them for comparison, then return to Colorado’s own page.
Start with the state page, not a template
CDPHE has a cottage food labeling page. Open it before you open a design app. The CDPHE cottage food website includes contact information for consumers to report food-borne illnesses, how to verify a producer’s active registration, and how to report issues regarding a producer’s product. That makes the state page the place to check both your label and the records behind it.
What the state rules mean for your label
The Colorado Cottage Foods Act requires producers to complete a food safety training course prior to starting a cottage foods business. Put that step before your first print run, not after. The training is part of the business you are presenting on the label, so keep the record where you can find it.
A cottage food business in Colorado is subject to income and sales tax. The revised Cottage Foods Act changed the gross revenue limit from $10,000 per product per year to a total of $150,000 or less per calendar year. If your label includes a price or a business detail, keep your sales records and your tax records consistent with what you print.
The revised Act now allows meat and meat products. If meat is part of your line, read the CDPHE labeling page for that product before you print. The same page is the place to check how customers can verify a producer’s active registration and report an issue.
A simple label checklist before you print
Open the CDPHE labeling page
Read the state page before you design anything. Do not start with a template from another state.
Finish your food safety training first
The Colorado Cottage Foods Act requires producers to complete a food safety training course prior to starting a cottage foods business.
Check your registration
The CDPHE cottage food website includes how to verify a producer’s active registration. Confirm yours before a new print run.
Match the label to the product
If meat is part of your line, check the CDPHE labeling page for that product. The revised Act now allows meat and meat products.
Save a copy of the print file
Keep the exact file you sent to print with your sales records. That way your label and your records tell the same story.
Where to get help and report a problem
The CDPHE cottage food website includes contact information for consumers to report food-borne illnesses, how to verify a producer’s active registration, and how to report issues regarding a producer’s product. Keep that page where you can find it when a customer asks. If you are still deciding whether Colorado is the right state for your home baking business, best cottage food law states can help you compare, and how to apply for a home bakery license covers the broader application question.
Common questions
What should I check first for a Colorado cottage food label?
Open the CDPHE cottage food labeling page first. Read it before you design or print, and use the state page as your final check.
Do I need food safety training before I sell cottage foods?
Yes. The Colorado Cottage Foods Act requires producers to complete a food safety training course prior to starting a cottage foods business.
Is the revenue limit per product?
No. The revised Cottage Foods Act changed the gross revenue limit from $10,000 per product per year to a total of $150,000 or less per calendar year.
Can a Colorado cottage food business sell meat?
The revised Act now allows meat and meat products. Check the CDPHE labeling page for your product before you print.
Does the Tamale Act change labels now?
The Tamale Act does not go into effect until January 1, 2027. CDPHE says its information on that page is provided for information purposes only.
Do I owe tax on cottage food sales?
A cottage food business in Colorado is subject to income and sales tax. Keep records that match your sales and talk to a tax professional about your situation.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check the CDPHE cottage food pages and a tax professional for your situation.