Cottage Food Operations: Boulder vs Longmont
How do cottage food operations rules compare between Boulder, CO and Longmont, CO?
Boulder and Longmont have similar restriction levels.
Boulder, CO
Boulder County
Boulder permits certain homemade food products to be sold directly to consumers under cottage food laws. Products must be non-potentially hazardous and properly labeled.
View full Boulder rules →Longmont, CO
Boulder County
Cottage food sales in Longmont are governed by the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614), which preempts local licensing requirements for direct-to-consumer sales of non-potentially hazardous foods up to $10,000 per product annually. Longmont does not impose additional licensing on cottage food producers, but standard home occupation rules in LMC Title 15 still apply.
View full Longmont rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed | Baked goods, jams, candy | - |
| Revenue Cap | Varies by state | - |
| Labeling | Required with allergens | - |
| Inspection | Generally not required | - |
| Governing Law | - | Colorado Cottage Foods Act — C.R.S. § 25-4-1614 (state preemption) |
| Annual Sales Cap | - | $10,000 net revenue per product |
| Allowed Foods | - | Non-potentially hazardous (breads, jams, jellies, candies, dried herbs, honey, spices, teas, whole eggs) |
| Sales Venues | - | Direct to end consumer only — home, roadside, farmer's market, CSA |
| Required Training | - | Approved food safety course |
| Local License | - | Not required (state preempts) — Home Occupation Affidavit still applies |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Boulder FAQ
Can I sell homemade baked goods from my home?
Yes, under cottage food laws in most areas. Boulder allows certain shelf-stable foods sold directly to consumers with proper labeling.
Do I need a commercial kitchen?
No, cottage food laws allow production in your home kitchen without commercial inspection, within revenue limits.
Longmont FAQ
Can I sell home-baked goods from my Longmont home?
Yes, under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614). The state law preempts local licensing for non-potentially hazardous foods sold directly to consumers, up to $10,000 net per product annually. You must complete an approved food safety course, label each item with the required cottage food disclaimer, and sell only at your home, roadside stand, farmer's market, or CSA. Longmont still requires a Home Occupation Affidavit under Title 15.
Can Longmont require me to get a city license for my cottage food business?
No. The Colorado Cottage Foods Act (C.R.S. § 25-4-1614) explicitly exempts cottage food producers from the state Food Protection Act's licensing and inspection requirements, and that preemption extends to local health licensing. Longmont can apply general home occupation zoning rules (signage, customer traffic, employee limits) but cannot require a separate cottage food permit or health inspection.
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