Selling at and running markets in Colorado.
In Colorado, special event sellers need a Department of Revenue Special Event License unless the organizer's license covers them, and organizers send the department a seller list within ten days. Local public health agencies license most food vendors, and home producers sell eligible foods under the Cottage Foods Act without a license.
Updated
Sales tax.
Colorado Special Event License
Sellers need a special event license unless the event organizer has a license to collect tax for participating sellers. Apply with form DR 0589 plus government-issued photo ID by mail, and keep the copy as a temporary license until the official one arrives.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Colorado Department of Revenue
- When
- Retail sales at a special sales event: more than three sellers at a location other than their normal business location, held no more than three times a year at the same location. Events held three or more times a year need a regular Retail Sales Tax License instead.
- Fee
- Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
Selling homemade food (cottage food).
At a glance: no registration or permit. Compare all 50 states.
Colorado Cottage Foods Act
No license or inspection is needed, but producers must complete a food safety training course, package and label products with the required disclaimer, and sell directly to the informed end consumer (including at multiple events) rather than to restaurants, stores or caterers. Eligible foods include baked goods, jams, candies, honey and dehydrated produce; meat, cream fillings, sauces and beverages are excluded. The page says a producer may earn up to $10,000 for each type of product.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- When
- Producers selling eligible non-potentially hazardous foods made in a home kitchen directly to consumers in Colorado
Temporary food permits.
Local public health agency retail food licensing
CDPHE says it licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile food units and grocery or convenience stores directly only in Clear Creek, Dolores, Gilpin, Moffat, Ouray, Park, Pitkin (except Aspen), Rio Blanco and San Juan counties; elsewhere vendors contact the local public health agency. The page does not describe temporary event licenses, so ask the local agency for its event process and fees.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Local public health agencies; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment licenses directly only in listed counties
- When
- Food vendors operating in Colorado, including at events
Business registration.
Secretary of State filing, state tax registration and local licenses
The Secretary of State's checklist says to register the business with its office, obtain tax accounts from the Department of Revenue, and contact the city hall or county clerk for local business licenses and the state or local health department if serving food. It also notes that DORA licenses certain state-regulated entities.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Colorado Secretary of State and Colorado Department of Revenue
- When
- Starting a business in Colorado
What the state asks of market organizers.
Colorado requires an event organizer to tell each participating seller which taxes and rates apply, and to give the Department of Revenue the names, addresses and special event license numbers of the sellers within 10 days after the event. An organizer with its own special event license can collect and remit tax for vendors. Official page
City and county permits in Colorado.
Event permits, vendor licenses and food permits are mostly local. Pick your city or county:
Collect the paperwork with each application.
Ask vendors for their sales tax registration, cottage food registration or food permit and insurance certificate as required documents on your application form, and check them before you approve anyone.
Where the sources are unclear.
- tax.colorado.gov returns an access challenge to command-line fetches; the special event license and organizer pages were read through a fetch tool as of 2026-10-11. Reconfirm fees at tax.colorado.gov before publishing.
- Blocked: https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/DisplayRule.do?action=ruleinfo&ruleId=2423&deptID=16&agencyID=143&deptName=1000+Public+Health+and+Environment&agencyName=1010+Consumer+Protection+Division&seriesNum=6+CCR+1010-2 (Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules; the Secretary of State rules site returned errors), so the state rule on temporary event applications could not be read. Ask the local public health agency or CDPHE at 303-692-3645.
- No state-level Colorado Department of Agriculture farmers market rules page could be confirmed; ask the Department of Agriculture. Colorado's Cottage Foods Act page states a 'Tamale Act' (HB26-1033) begins January 1, 2027.
- Colorado's Secretary of State checklist does not say whether a general state business license exists; it points to the Secretary of State filing and local and DORA licenses.
Common questions.
Do I need a sales tax permit to sell at a craft fair in Colorado?
Colorado Special Event License (Colorado Department of Revenue): Sellers need a special event license unless the event organizer has a license to collect tax for participating sellers. Apply with form DR 0589 plus government-issued photo ID by mail, and keep the copy as a temporary license until the official one arrives.
Can I sell homemade food at a farmers market in Colorado?
Colorado Cottage Foods Act (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment): No license or inspection is needed, but producers must complete a food safety training course, package and label products with the required disclaimer, and sell directly to the informed end consumer (including at multiple events) rather than to restaurants, stores or caterers. Eligible foods include baked goods, jams, candies, honey and dehydrated produce; meat, cream fillings, sauces and beverages are excluded. The page says a producer may earn up to $10,000 for each type of product.
Who issues temporary food permits for events in Colorado?
Local public health agency retail food licensing (Local public health agencies; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment licenses directly only in listed counties): CDPHE says it licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile food units and grocery or convenience stores directly only in Clear Creek, Dolores, Gilpin, Moffat, Ouray, Park, Pitkin (except Aspen), Rio Blanco and San Juan counties; elsewhere vendors contact the local public health agency. The page does not describe temporary event licenses, so ask the local agency for its event process and fees.
What does Colorado require of market and event organizers?
Colorado requires an event organizer to tell each participating seller which taxes and rates apply, and to give the Department of Revenue the names, addresses and special event license numbers of the sellers within 10 days after the event. An organizer with its own special event license can collect and remit tax for vendors.
Do I need a state business license to be a vendor in Colorado?
Secretary of State filing, state tax registration and local licenses (Colorado Secretary of State and Colorado Department of Revenue): The Secretary of State's checklist says to register the business with its office, obtain tax accounts from the Department of Revenue, and contact the city hall or county clerk for local business licenses and the state or local health department if serving food. It also notes that DORA licenses certain state-regulated entities.
Sources.
This page summarizes official state sources and isn't legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with each agency.
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-11. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
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