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Peddlers Description

Food Peddlers

Pushcart Vendor

Mobile Food Units

Additional Information


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I. Peddlers - D.R.M.C. §47-16 et seq.

A. A “peddler” is an individual who engages in the itinerate or transient sale or bartering of any goods, merchandise, or services directly to the consuming public.

B. Peddlers must obtain a peddler’s license from the Department of Excise and Licenses (application fee $25.00; license fee $50.00).

C. Peddlers may sell at public events if given permission by the event coordinators.

D. Goods for sale are to be carried by the peddler.

E. Peddlers must keep moving and may not obstruct, impede, or interfere with the public’s use of public streets, ways, or places (D.R.M.C. §47-18[e]). Peddlers may stop to make a sale.

F. Peddlers may, in very limited circumstances, be able to set up on private property but only with approval of the Zoning Department. (Generally, only food, garden supplies, and flowers can be sold on private property at a location adjacent to a business that sells the same product.)

G. Any peddler employing individuals under the age of 18 years must obtain a sponsor’s license (application fee $25.00; license fee $500.00).

H. No person under the age of 18 shall be permitted to engage in peddling unless s(he):

1. is sponsored by a licensed sponsor;

2. has obtained an individual license;

3. wears a clearly visible badge or easily readable identification which identifies both the sponsor and the individual;

4. peddles only the following:
• prepackaged items not requiring refrigeration;
• household and novelty items;
• hand-crafted items or items prepared by members or beneficiaries of the sponsor;
• magazine subscriptions

5. peddles between 3:00 p.m. and one-half hour after sunset on school days; otherwise from 8:00 a.m. until one-half hour after sunset.

6. no peddling by juveniles is allowed within Denver in the following areas: commencing at the intersection of Larimer Street and 20th Street; thence proceeding southwesterly on Larimer Street to Speer Boulevard; thence southerly on Speer Boulevard to 13th Street; thence southeasterly on 13th Street to Colfax Avenue to Lincoln Street; thence northerly on Lincoln Street to 20th Street; thence northwesterly on 20th Street to the intersection of 20th Street and Larimer Street.


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II. Food Peddlers - D.R.M.C. §23-40 et seq.

A. A food peddler is a mobile food vendor not operating from a mobile food unit or pushcart. Generally, a vendor of prepackaged, non-hazardous food is required to obtain a peddler license rather than a food peddler license.

B. A food peddler shall provide only single-service articles (intended for one-time, one-person use and then discarded) and must operate only from an approved commissary.

C. Food peddlers may sell at public events if given permission by the event coordinators.

D. The food peddler must obtain a license from Excise and Licenses after approval from the Department of Environment Health (application fee $25.00; license fee $50.00).

E. Licenses must be displayed and be visible at all times.

F. Food peddlers may set up on private property only in very limited circumstances subject to approval of the Zoning Department.


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III. Pushcart Vendors, food and non-food - D.R.M.C. §23-40 and §49-539 et seq.

A. Pushcarts and food pushcarts are non-motorized vehicles designed to be moved by hand.

B. They must provide only single service articles for use.

C. Pushcart vendors, both food and non-food, may not set up at a particular location on the public right of way unless they receive a public right-of-way permit for a specific location from Public Works Permit Operations (fees may vary dependent upon the proposed location of the permit). The pushcart vendor must remain at the location identified in the permit. The permit must be kept with the pushcart at all times.

D. No license is required from Excise and Licenses for site-specific pushcart vendors of non-food items, but a stand-up restaurant license is required for food pushcart vendors and approval is required by the Department of Environment Health (application fee $95.00; license fee $75.00)

E. PLEASE NOTE: A site -specific right-of-way pushcart permit cannot be obtained for the following areas in Denver pursuant to policies of the Public Works Department, Engineering Division:

1. in the area immediately surrounding Coors Field, in an area including Market Street on the south to the east side of 19th Street and the west side of Park Avenue West to Wynkoop Street on the north;

2. the area surrounding the Federal Court House bounded by 18th Street on the west, 20th Street on the east, Stout Street on the south and Champa Street on the north;

3. within parks or recreational facilities;

4. in the immediate area around Invesco Field at Mile High and The Pepsi Center.

F. Vending pushcarts and kiosks are allowed on the 16th Street Mall at a specific location if the person or organization operating same obtains a permit at Downtown Denver Partnership Business Improvement District from Public Works Permit Operations. Permit fees are based on the current Schedule of Fees for the 16th Street Mall and are located at www.denvergov.org/PWPermits. The application requires a cart design review. No peddling is allowed on the Mall other than from site-specific vending devices.

G. Pushcart vendors may set up on private property only in very limited circumstances and only with the approval of the Zoning Department.

 

 

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IV. Mobile Food Units - D.R.M.C. §23-40 et seq.

A. Mobile food units are vehicle-mounted food service establishments.

B. These vendors must provide only single-service articles for use.

C. Vendors must have approved water distribution and waste retention systems and hand washing facilities unless they sell only prepackaged foods or beverages. Some may need chemical refrigeration.

D. Vendors must obtain a license from Excise and Licenses after approval by the Department of Environment Health and must clearly display the license (application fee $95.00; license fee $75.00).

E. Mobile food units and ice cream trucks are prohibited in the central Denver area defined in I(H)(6) hereinabove.

V. Flower Vending - D.R.M.C. §49-549 et seq.

A. Flower vending at a specific site is allowed only if the vendor obtains a permit to occupy the public right of way from the Public Works Department’s Right of Way Permits section. The permit is for a specific location for twelve months.

B. Flower vending is allowed both within and outside of the central business area; a permit is required for either and zoning requirements must be met. The Schedule of Fees is available at www.denvergov.org/PWPermits.

C. A permit holder may not own, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, interests in more than two other such permits in the central city area.

D. No license is required from Excise and Licenses.

E. The spacing and location requirements differ for permits for the central city area from those outside of this area.

VI. Ice Cream Vendors - D.R.M.C. § 23-54 and 54-672 et seq.

A. Sale of ice cream and related products, on foot or by vehicle, requires an ice cream vendor’s license from Excise and Licenses (application fee $50.00; license fee $25.00). Mobile and pushcart ice cream vendors must get both a stand-up restaurant (application fee $95.00; license fee $75.00) and an ice cream vendor’s license.

B. The ice cream vendor’s license is required in addition to required mobile restaurant or pushcart licenses. A food peddler license is not required for an ice cream vendor operating as a food peddler; however, he or she must operate from an approved commissary and may serve only foods pre-approved by the Department of Environmental Health.

C. The license(s) must be prominently displayed and visible at all times.

D. The driving record and any criminal records of an applicant are reviewed prior to the issuance of a license. A license may be denied for alcohol or drug related driving offenses or a pattern of traffic violation convictions.

E. An ice cream vendor shall make no sale or offer for sale between sunset and 10:00 a.m.

F. No sale or offer for sale may be made from a mobile food unit unless each side of the vehicle is marked with the name and address of the mobile food unit licensee in markings at least three inches in height.

G. No sales are allowed from a mobile ice cream vendor in the central city area unless the street, alley or right of way is closed to traffic. No sales are allowed on any arterial street, collector street or highway as defined in §54-1 of the D.R.M.C.

H. Mobile ice cream vendors (trucks or vehicles) are subject to the same regulations as mobile food units, including inspection by the Department of Environmental Health. There are specific requirements as to locations where sales can be made within the city. (See D.R.M.C. §54-675.) Customers are not allowed to obstruct the public right of way.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

It is a violation of the Denver Revised Municipal Code for any person engaged in the sale of newspapers, magazines or other goods or merchandise to make any unnecessary sound or noise; to obstruct any sidewalk or other place of a public nature; or to disturb or impede other persons. (See D.R.M.C. § 38-95.)

There are specific requirements that must be satisfied before the permits mentioned above will issue and certain types of products may be subject to additional regulation. Call the appropriate agency for more detailed information.

Excise and Licenses: Dial 311

Public Works Permit Operations: Dial 311
Zoning:  Dial 311

Environmental Health:  Dial 311 

Downtown Denver Partnership:  Dial 311