The Department of Excise and Licenses issues all of the business licenses for the City and County of Denver except those concerning motor vehicles and building/development. The Department of Excise and Licenses determines the qualifications of applicants, conducts background checks, determines which licenses should be issued, collects fees, grants, renews, and denies applications. The Department also ensures compliance with and enforces the ordinances concerning the licenses. The Department holds hearings regarding applications and violations as appropriate. The Department may suspend or revoke a license as appropriate. The Department serves as the City 's licensing authority for administering the Colorado Liquor and Beer Codes. The department processes and issues all liquor licenses. The city also enforces the liquor code requirements. For additional information contact the Department of Excise & Licenses at (720) 865-2740. The following licenses/permits are available through the Denver Department of Excise & Licenses are available for non-profit organizations only and are required if alcohol is to be sold on premises that do not hold a liquor license. Special Event Cabaret Permits Special Event Cabaret permits are required if a liquor licensee desires to have entertainment or dancing on the premises on a limited or one-time basis. Art Gallery Permits Art Galleries are authorized to offer to the public, on a limited basis, complimentary wine and other liquors on their premises under an Art Gallery Liquor Permit. Temporary Retail Food Establishments Temporary Retail Food Establishments are retail food establishments, other than a mobile food establishment or a pushcart, that is not permanent or in one location for more than 14 consecutive days. (Denver Environmental Health guidelines must be met prior to receiving the permit from Excise & Licenses). Temporary Amusement Facility This license is required for a short-term show, exhibition or special event for which a charge for admission or participation is imposed. Temporary Body Art Establishments Body art is defined as the practice of physical body adornment by establishments and artists utilizing but not limited to body piercing and tattooing. Temporary Body Artists A license is required for any person who performs body art on another human being. Excise & Licenses: www.denvergov.org/exciseandlicenses
In order to provide alcohol beverages at a public event, either for sale or otherwise, a special event liquor permit is required. These permits are issued only to nonprofit organizations. Application for this permit should be made to the Department of Excise and Licenses, 201 West Colfax Avenue, Dept. 206, Denver, Colorado, at least 60 days prior to the first day of the event. Public notice by way of posting a sign on the proposed permitted premises as well as a public hearing is required by law. (If dancing, entertainment and/or live music will be offered with a Special Event Liquor Permit, then a Special Event Cabaret Permit is also required-see below). Applicant Responsibilities: Applicant must submit an application to the Department of Excise and Licenses, 201 West Colfax Avenue, Dept. 206, together with: Proof of possession of the site (lease, deed, contract, letter from owner, street occupancy permit, park confirmation, etc.); 8 l/2 x 11 site plan indicating bar location(s), where the alcohol will be consumed (licensed boundaries), how the alcohol consumption will be controlled, and the location of the posting sign; A current (within the current year) certificate of good standing from the Colorado Secretary of State s Office; A current State Sales Tax License Check to the Manager of Finance for $100 + $25 per event day for a beer, wine, and liquor permit or $10 per day for a 3.2% beer permit. Once filed, the Department of Excise and Licenses will provide information for posting the public notice which offers the public an opportunity to protest or object to the application. Failure to properly post notice of an application will result in denial of the application. The local licensing authority shall cause a hearing to be held IF, after investigation and upon review of the contents of any protest filed by affected persons; sufficient grounds appear to exist for denial of a permit. Protests must be filed within eleven (11) days after the initial posting. Any hearing held shall be held at least eleven (11) days after the initial posting of the notice, AND notice thereof shall be provided to the applicant AND any person who has filed a protest. NO hearing will be held if no one protested the permit or the agency s investigation did NOT disclose other sufficient grounds to deny it. Special Event Cabaret Permits If dancing, entertainment, and/or live music will be offered with a Special Event Liquor Permit, then a Special Event Cabaret Permit is also required. Applications may be submitted at the same time as the Special Event Liquor Permit application No fee is required for non-profit organizations. Contact Information: Business Licensing Certificate of Good Standing: Colorado Secretary of State
Obtaining a Special Event Liquor Permit Diagram of event site with required indications of area to be licensed including but not limited to serving locations, and posting (sign) location. Event Coordinator Submit Liquor Permit application (Note submission dates) Proof of site possession: permit, lease, contract, deed Certificate of Good Standing Submit and pay City fee (30 days prior to the event) Post Hearing Notice Permits will be received via email from Excise and Licenses Additional Liquor License facts: Catering companies do not have liquor licenses. Liquor licenses are issued for the premise only. Special Event Liquor Licenses are only available for non-profit organization at all times. Not for Profit form must be completed and returned prior to permitting your event.
Temporary Retail Food Licenses Pursuant to the Denver Revised Municipal Code, a temporary retail food establishment means, a retail food establishment, other than a licensed mobile retail food establishment or pushcart, that is not intended to be permanent and that operates at a fixed location for a period of time of not more than fourteen (14) consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration. Permit Guidelines The license holder will contact the event coordinator to establish participating parameters and the total number of days for the event prior to menu review and licensing. All food vendors are required to have a menu review completed by the Denver Department of Environmental Health at (720) 865-5401, located at 200 W. 14th Avenue. No license shall be issued unless the food vendor obtains the approval from the Denver Department of Environmental Health. Please refer to the Department of Environmental Health regarding their requirements for approval as a temporary retail food establishment (see EH section) All food vendors must obtain a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses before operating a temporary retail food establishment. A remittance of $100 must be made to the Department of Excise and Licenses on an annual basis along with the additional $10 required per day maximum of 5 days per event. The remittance must be made payable to the Manager of Finance. Please refer to the Denver Fire Department requirements regarding the use of any propane gases (see SA section). Excise & Licenses: www.denvergov.org/exciseandlicenses
Temporary Amusements This license is required for a short-term show, exhibition, or special event for which a charge for admission or participation is imposed. This includes things such as circuses, carnivals, rodeos, festivals, fairs, bazaars, haunted houses, Christmas shows, petting zoos, stock shows, automotive shows, collector shows, touring exhibits and similar shows as well as concerts, dances, music performances, dramatic or comedy performances. A license is not required for those events operated by a school, college or university, not for profit organization, or the city. Vendor Responsibilities Applications should be submitted at least 60 days in advance of the event to ensure that all of the requirements are met. Please contact the Department of Excise and Licenses at (720) 865-2740 for a list of the requirements. Temporary amusement fees are: $100 application fee and $75 license fee per event. Fees must be payable to the Manager of Finance. Temporary Body Art Establishments and Temporary Body Artists: There is also a temporary body artist establishment license which is any booth, building, room, shop, store, structure, or portion thereof, where body art procedures are temporarily performed during a trade show, product demonstration, educational seminar, or special event, for a period of time not more than fourteen (14) days. Vendors/Establishment Responsibilities: Must make application to the Department of Excise and Licenses, 201 West Colfax Avenue, Dept. 206 at least 60 days prior to the event. A $100 application fee and $100 license fee must be made payable to Manager of Finance and submitted with the application to the Department of Excise and Licenses. A background investigation is required for all applicants of temporary body art establishments. Approvals from the Departments of Zoning, Fire, Public Safety, and Environmental Health are required. Artists Responsibilities Must make application to the Department of Excise and Licenses, 201 West Colfax Avenue, Dept. 206 at least 30 days prior to the event. A $25 application fee and $25 license fee must be made payable to Manager of Finance and submitted with the application to the Department of Excise and Licenses. Certification that a blood pathogen course has been successfully completed must also be submitted with the application. For any event throughout the year, a temporary body artist must pay a $25 fee per each event. Approval from the Department of Environmental Health is required. Excise & Licenses: www.denvergov.org/businesslicensing