Food License Types

Denver's Department of Excise and Licenses issues all food licenses for the City and County of Denver and employs inspectors to check for compliance of the Denver Revised Municipal Code and Colorado State Statutes. The department provides step by step instructions, forms and training videos for new applications and renewals. 

All food licenses must be submitted and processed online. After July 2023, current license holders will apply for a "new" license (not a "renewal" license), as the new system will not have a record of their current license. During this transition, the one-time application fee for new applications will be waived for existing licensees, but the license fee will still apply.

Retail & Wholesale Licenses

Food peddler

Prepared and pre-packaged food that includes items like tamales, burritos, tortas, smoothies and sandwiches. This is for sales that are made on foot out of a hard sided cooler.

Permits for Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens

Learn how to apply for permits for new restaurants and commercial kitchens, and renovations or remodels of existing restaurants.

Retail food

Any retailer selling food directly to consumers at a brick and mortar location. Examples include restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations.

Retail food caterer

An individual or company that provides a contracted, prearranged number of meals and/or food products that are prepared at a licensed retail food establishment for service and consumed at the same or another prearranged offsite location and not available for individual purchase.

Retail food mobile license - food truck or food cart

Information on how to submit an application for a retail food mobile - food truck, trailer or food cart license.

Wholesale food

Any retailer selling food directly to other businesses that operates either out of their own licensed kitchen facilities or out of a licensed commissary.

Events

Denver is proud to have fun, creative events that showcase diversity across our neighborhoods throughout the city. Events open to the public, held on public property, must compete a Special Event Application. Vendors at any special event must be licensed, and event organizers are responsible for ensuring compliance with Office of Special Events Permit (OSEP) requirements. 

Special Events

These Special Event Guidelines will help event organizers understand, navigate and comply with the City and County of Denver's permitting processes.

Serving, Selling, Vendors

Event requirements information related to Serving, Selling and Vendor Info including Admission Based Events, Sales Tax Requirements, Selling or Serving Alcohol, Food Vendor Approval and Licensing, Tattoos and Body Piercing Licensing, Marijuana Related Guidelines

Special Events Calendar

See what festivals, community events, markets, runs and rides are happening in neighborhoods throughout the Mile High City.