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

The Colorado Cottage Foods Act, codified at CRS 25-4-1614 and administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), authorizes the sale of certain non-potentially-hazardous foods produced in a private home kitchen directly to consumers without state licensing, permitting, or routine inspection. Allowed products include: baked goods (breads, cookies, pastries, fruit empanadas, tortillas), candies and confections, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, honey, spices, teas, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, flour, granola, and whole eggs up to 250 dozen per producer per month. Prohibited categories include meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, cut leafy greens, low-acid canned goods, cream pies, cheesecakes, and any temperature-controlled-for-safety products. Two state-level requirements must be satisfied before the first sale: (1) the producer must complete an approved food safety training course (CDPHE-recognized; sources include ServSafe, the Colorado State University Extension Cottage Foods training, and several online providers), and the certificate must be retained; (2) every product must be labeled with the product name; ingredient list in descending order by weight (with sub-ingredients); net weight in U.S. and metric units; producer's name and full physical address; major allergen declarations; the date the product was produced; and the verbatim disclaimer required by CRS 25-4-1614(2)(c): '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 such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale.' Sales must be direct-to-consumer in Colorado - permitted venues include the producer's home, farmers markets, roadside stands, festivals, pop-up events, and in-person delivery. Internet ordering is allowed but the product must be physically handed to the consumer (no shipment via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or other carriers). Wholesale, restaurant supply, retail placement, and out-of-state commerce require a separate licensed commercial kitchen. Each individual product is capped at $10,000 in net sales per calendar year; once a product crosses $10K, sales of that specific product must stop for the rest of the year or move to a commercial kitchen. On the local side, Loveland UDC Division 18.02.06 home occupation standards still apply - no outdoor storage, no off-premises nuisance, no commercial signage, and the operation must remain clearly incidental to residential use.