Longmont, CO Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Colorado state law preempts local regulation of home-baked and home-prepared foods through the Colorado Cottage Foods Act, codified at C.R.S. § 25-4-1614. The statute exempts producers from the standard Food Protection Act licensing and inspection requirements (C.R.S. §§ 25-4-1604 to 25-4-1613) when they (1) produce only non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require refrigeration for safety — such as breads, jams, jellies, candies, dried herbs, fruit butters, honey, spices, teas, and whole eggs from poultry; (2) sell only directly to the end consumer at their home, roadside stands, farmer's markets, CSAs, or similar venues; and (3) earn no more than $10,000 in net revenue per eligible product per calendar year. Each container must be labeled with the producer's name, address, registration number, production date, and the statutory disclaimer that the product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to state inspection. Producers must complete an approved food safety course. Longmont may not impose additional health-department licensing or inspections beyond what state law allows, but the operation still counts as a home occupation under LMC Title 15 — meaning a Home Occupation Affidavit is required and the customer-traffic, signage, and employee limits described in the LDC apply.