FAQ & About TrueCottage

TrueCottage is the toolkit for home food makers: a compliant label maker, product listings, and your own storefront page at truecottage.com/your-name, for one flat monthly subscription.

Shoppers can browse local makers (cookies, jams, breads, granola, and more) and order directly from them. Payment happens between maker and customer; TrueCottage never takes a cut of a sale.

Etsy ships crafts across the country. TrueCottage connects you with producers in your own zip code. Fresh food shouldn't travel 2,000 miles.

There are no franchise fees, no corporate recipes, and no identical product served to 500 cities. Just your neighbor's chocolate chip cookies, baked this morning, available three blocks away.

Seller signups are open in Colorado today, with Texas and Florida label templates already researched and more states on the way. Our goal is to support home food makers nationwide; we add states as we verify each one's label and legal requirements.

If you're outside Colorado and want to be notified the moment we open in your state, join the waitlist.

The Tamale Act (HB26-1033) is a bipartisan Colorado law that expands the Cottage Food Act to let home cooks legally sell refrigerated foods and meat-based dishes like tamales, burritos, and tortas. It also raises the revenue cap to $150,000 a year, requires annual registration with CDPHE, requires a food safety course covering time and temperature control, and authorizes inspections and fines.

It was sponsored by Rep. Monica Duran (D-Wheat Ridge) and Rep. Ryan Gonzalez (R-Greeley) in the House, and by Sen. Byron Pelton and Sen. Robert Rodriguez in the Senate. Governor Polis signed it into law on June 4, 2026, and its cottage food provisions take effect January 1, 2027.

It's signed, but not active yet. Governor Polis signed the Tamale Act into law on June 4, 2026. The provisions specific to the Cottage Foods Act, including the new foods and the higher cap, take effect January 1, 2027. CDPHE is writing the registration, training, and inspection rules in the meantime.

Until January 1, 2027, current cottage food law still applies. Refrigerated foods, meat-based dishes, and similar perishable items cannot be sold under the cottage food exemption yet. The smart move now is to get set up on shelf-stable products and be ready the day the new categories open.

Starting January 1, 2027, the biggest changes are:

• Refrigerated foods allowed (cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, dairy desserts, salsas)
• Meat-based dishes allowed (tamales, burritos, tortas). A producer may sell one type of these temperature-controlled foods, with up to five variations of that type.
• Higher revenue cap. The old $10,000-per-product cap is replaced by a single cap of $150,000 in net revenue per producer, per year, adjusted annually for inflation. (Some news coverage describes this as gross revenue; the enrolled bill and the Governor's office say net. Confirm the precise figure with CDPHE.)
• Annual registration with CDPHE required before selling
• A food safety course covering time and temperature control, with proof kept on file
• Transport limits on perishable foods: no more than once, no longer than two hours
• Inspections and fines by state or local health agencies

What does not change: in-Colorado-only sales, the required label disclosure, the prohibition on selling to retail stores or wholesalers, and the exclusion of raw milk and alcohol.

Yes. As CDPHE's rules come into place ahead of the January 1, 2027 start, we plan to add new product categories for refrigerated and meat-based foods, update seller onboarding to capture CDPHE registration numbers and the new safety certifications, and provide guidance that reflects the new transport and holding-temperature rules.

We'll communicate updates to existing sellers as the rulemaking process unfolds. Until January 1, 2027, our seller catalog remains focused on the foods Colorado law currently permits.

Colorado's Cottage Food Act allows individuals to prepare and sell certain foods from their home kitchen without needing a commercial kitchen license or state food manufacturing license.

Colorado's law is one of the most seller-friendly in the country, and the 2026 Tamale Act made it more so. Through the end of 2026, you can earn up to $10,000 per product, per year (each distinct product gets its own cap). From January 1, 2027, that becomes a single cap of $150,000 in net revenue per producer, per year, and refrigerated and meat foods become eligible.

It depends on the date, because the Tamale Act changes the structure.

Examples of distinct products under the current (through-2026) per-product rule:

• Classic chocolate chip cookies ($10k cap)
• Chocolate chip walnut cookies ($10k cap, separate product)
• Double chocolate cookies ($10k cap, separate product)
• Strawberry jam ($10k cap)
• Blueberry jam ($10k cap, separate product)

Always confirm the specific definitions and the net-versus-gross detail with the CDPHE or a legal advisor for your situation. Interpretations can vary.

Today, Colorado allows a broad range of non-hazardous, shelf-stable foods. Generally allowed:

• Baked goods (cookies, breads, cakes, muffins, pies with non-dairy filling)
• Candy and confections
• Jams, jellies, and preserves
• Dried herbs and herb blends
• Roasted coffee and tea
• Granola and cereals
• Nut butters
• Dried pasta
• Honey

Not allowed yet under the current cottage food exemption (through the end of 2026):

• Products requiring refrigeration (cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, most dairy)
• Meat and meat-based dishes
• Canned vegetables, pickles, or low-acid preserved foods (require separate licensing)
• Alcoholic products

When in doubt, check the official CDPHE list. Regulations can change.

Colorado does not require a full commercial food license for cottage food operations. That's the whole point of the law. However, some requirements do apply:

• Food safety training: Colorado requires cottage food producers to complete an approved food handler safety course. The CSU Cottage Food Safety Training is one approved option.
• Registration: Some counties or municipalities may require local business registration. Check with your county.
• Labeling: Products sold must carry specific labels. See the labeling question below.

You do not need a commercial kitchen, state food manufacturer license, or health department inspection under the cottage food exemption.

Colorado requires all cottage food products to be labeled with:

• Product name
• Your name and home address
• Net weight or volume
• Ingredient list (in descending order by weight)
• Allergen information (if applicable)
• The statement: "This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not inspected by the Department of Public Health and Environment or local health agency."

See CDPHE labeling requirements for the full official guidance.

Yes. Colorado's Cottage Food Act allows direct sales including home delivery, as long as the sale remains within Colorado. You can sell at farmers markets, from your home, or through delivery. The law does not restrict the sales channel for direct-to-consumer transactions.

On TrueCottage, sellers set their own service radius and decide whether they offer pickup, delivery, or both.

Here's how:

• Create an account at truecottage.com/signup
• Select "Seller" during setup
• Enter your business info, cottage food license/certification, and service radius
• Choose a plan (from $10/month, no commissions)
• List your products, print compliant labels, and share your storefront page

The whole setup takes about 10 minutes.

TrueCottage is a flat monthly subscription: $10/month Basic or $20/month Premium (Premium removes the small "Made with TrueCottage" mark from your labels). See pricing.

No commissions, ever. Your customers pay you directly, however you choose to collect, and you keep 100% of every sale. There are no transaction fees and no listing fees.

Cancel anytime; your plan stays active through the end of the billing period.

Yes. That's explicitly covered by Colorado's Cottage Food Act. Home kitchens used for cottage food production are not required to be inspected by state or local health departments. This is one of the key features of the law.

This does not mean you can ignore food safety. You're still responsible for maintaining a clean, safe kitchen and following good food handling practices. The required food safety training course covers these standards.

Cottage food products sold directly to consumers in Colorado are generally exempt from state sales tax as food for home consumption. However, tax rules can be nuanced; items sold at events or certain packaged goods may be treated differently.

We recommend consulting a tax advisor or CPA familiar with Colorado food sales rules. TrueCottage does not currently collect or remit sales tax on transactions.

Colorado's Cottage Food Act covers non-hazardous, shelf-stable foods: items that don't require refrigeration and have a long safety track record (baked goods, jams, candy, dried goods). These foods carry very low food safety risk compared to temperature-controlled products like meat or dairy.

All Colorado cottage food sellers are required by law to complete food safety training and to label their products with allergen information. Sellers on TrueCottage agree to our Terms of Service and represent that their products comply with Colorado law.

TrueCottage does not inspect seller kitchens. If you have questions about a specific product (ingredients, allergens, or preparation), contact the seller directly through the platform before purchasing.

Enter your zip code on the browse page. TrueCottage will show you all active products from sellers within your service area. You'll see the seller's general area (city/neighborhood) and can view their full product listings.

Sellers are required to list allergen information on every product. You'll find this information on each product page.

If you have a serious allergy, we strongly recommend contacting the seller directly before ordering to confirm ingredients and cross-contamination risks. Home kitchens may handle multiple allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten) and are not subject to the same allergen controls as commercial facilities.

It depends on the seller. Some sellers offer delivery within their radius; others are pickup only. You'll see the fulfillment options available on each seller's products before you order.