Apply online for an entity amendment of a marijuana business license

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses hosted a webinar to show existing marijuana business licensees how to apply for a transfer of ownership or entity amendment of a marijuana business license in Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center. The webinar includes a short presentation and a step-by-step demonstration that shows licensees how to apply for a transfer of ownership or entity amendment online. Watch the webinar on our YouTube channel. Please note: Transfers of ownership are different from entity amendments. Learn more about when to submit an entity amendment below. Learn more about when to submit a transfer of ownership on our marijuana transfer of ownership webpage.
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Effective Nov. 11, 2021, to apply for an ownership structure change, all licenses that will be affected must transition to Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing Center.  

To assist with the transition, there are online training videos that provide helpful and detailed overviews of the application processes. The videos can be found on the Online Training Videos webpage. There are videos that show how to register for an account, how to complete licensed establishment and entity registration records, and how to apply for new business licenses or amendments. It is recommended you watch the videos to assist with the application process. 

After transitioning your licenses to the online center, you can submit your ownership structure change application online.  

Overview of requirements 

An entity amendment update must be submitted for:

  • The reallocation of owner interests among existing owner licensees
  • The removal of an owner licensee
  • Any change involving an owner licensee (licensed by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division), including a change of executive officer or change of member of board of directors
  • A change of legal name
  • A change of entity type

Submit an Ownership Structure Change Application

Step 1.Watch our online training videos 

Our online training videos provide helpful and detailed overviews of the application processes. Online training videos for marijuana licenses are on our Online Training Videos webpage. The training videos show how to register for an account, how to complete Licensed Establishment and Entity Registration records, and how to apply for new business licenses or amendments.

Step 2.Log in to your online account 

Log in to Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing Center. Use the username (email address) and password you used to transition your licenses online.

Step 3.Gather all required documents 

Applications for ownership structure change must be complete and include all required documents. (See required documents for each license type below.) Remember:  

  • All materials must be digital files and saved as a .pdf or .jpg file. Do not include any other file types. The Department of Excise and Licenses will not be able to accept other file types.
  • Legal documents must be properly signed and executed.
  • All materials must be legible.
  • Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Step 4.Navigate to Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center

In Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing Center, the seller must:  

  • Under Business, Short-Term Rental, and Occupational Licensing, click "Renew or Manage." This will take you to the “My Records” page.
  • To submit an amendment or ownership structure change of your entity registration, look at the “License Type” column. Find the row that has the entity registration, record name and ownership structure that you want to amend. In the right column, click on “Amendment.”
  • Select “Update Current Ownership Structure, Entity Name/Type, or General Business Contact Information” and click “Continue Application.”
  • Read the introduction page and click “Continue.”
  • Select the updates that you will be making on your entity and click “Continue Application.”
  • This will begin to guide you through the application process. Be sure to read each page carefully.

Any time during the process, you can save and resume your application within 30 days. After 30 days, you will need to start again.  

Revisit the Online Training Videos webpage to help guide you through the application.

Step 5.Submit the application online 

You must submit a complete application for:  

  • An entity registration ownership structure change, which will capture information about the ownership structure of the licenses attached to that entity registration. 

Step 6.Pay the required fees   

After submitting your complete application package, you must pay the required application fees online. (Visit the Fees for Marijuana License, Permit and Amendment Applications webpage for more information.)  

The fees will be listed in your account under the “My Records” tab. In the right column, there is a link to “Pay Fees Due.” Click there and it will take you to the online payment screen.  

  • You can pay fees online with a Discover, Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
  • You can pay online from a bank account. To do so, you must have a routing number, account number, the account holder’s name, and the account type. 

If you can only pay in cash, email EXLApplications@Denvergov.org, and request an invoice for your fees. A licensing technician will provide an invoice for you to pay in cash, in person.  

Print a copy of the payment screen. A receipt will not be emailed or mailed to you. 

Step 7.City application review 

The Department will review the city application and all required documents. The review could take 20 business days but might take longer depending on the volume of applications pending before the Department. You will be notified if additional information is required.

Incomplete applications or applications with multiple deficiencies or errors will take longer to process. Check to be sure all required documents are valid, legible and accurate prior to applying.

Applicants will receive status updates regarding their applications. Please do not contact the Department to request a status update unless 15 business days have passed, and you have received no communication.

You must correct all application deficiencies before attempting to close your transfer of ownership. Your transfer of ownership will not be approved if you have not provided other additional required information (including documents that may be included in the organization documents or purchase agreement, such as signed guaranty agreements, signed assignment and assumption agreements, signed promissory notes etc.).

Step 8.Email Excise and Licenses 

After receiving state approval, email EXLApplications@denvergov.org with:  

  • The amendment record ID(s) for the entity amendment. 
  • Proof of state approval for the ownership structure change.
  • A request to close the amendment record ID(s) for the ownership structure change. 

Step 9.License issuance 

A licensing technician will update your record with the new ownership information, and you will receive an email with a new Certificate of Licensure (reflecting the new ownership). This is your business license. The Certificate of Licensure is also available in your online account. 

All applications will be administratively closed if they are not completed within 12 months.

If you are reallocating owner interests among existing owner licensees, removing an owner licensee, or making any change involving an owner licensee (licensed by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division), including a change of executive officer or change of member of board of directors, you will be required to provide:

  • Information for every owner licensee (natural person and entity licensed by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division) associated with the license; this includes the name, home address, date of birth (or the date of incorporation of the entity), position, phone number, email address, percentage owned, state owner license number, relevant social equity qualification information, and voluntary demographic information for every owner.
  • A copy of organizational documents or corporate governance documents (articles of incorporation, by-laws, operating or partnership agreement).
  • A copy of a valid government-issued identification for each owner licensee (natural person) associated with the license, directly or through an entity.
  • A copy of the asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, sales contract or any other document necessary to effectuate the change of owner.

For marijuana business licenses only, if you are changing the legal name (True Name) or type of your entity, you will be required to provide:

  • A copy of new Burglar Alarm Monitoring Contracts in the new entity’s name for all locations held under the ENTITY record. (Ex. If your entity holds licenses at 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard, you must provide valid Burglar Alarm Monitoring Contracts for 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard.)
  • A copy of new Burglar Alarm Permits in the new entity’s name for all locations held under the ENTITY record. (Ex. If your entity holds licenses at 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard, you must provide valid Burglar Alarm Permits for 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard.)
  • Proof of legal possession of the premises in the new entity’s name for all locations held under the ENTITY record. (Ex. If your entity holds licenses at 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard, you must provide valid proof of possession of premises for 201 W Colfax Avenue and 1200 N Federal Boulevard.) Only one of the following must be submitted for each location:
    • A complete possession of property certificate(PDF, 130KB); or
    • A deed; or
    • A complete, unredacted lease, including all lease amendments. If leased, the owner must provide written consent to lease the property to a marijuana facility, and the lease must be valid for at least 90 days from the date a complete application is submitted.

Finally, if your change of ownership information constitutes a change in Social Equity Applicant status, you must also provide:

 

Please note: No documents are required and no fee will be charged if you are only updating your general contact information.

 

*The City of Denver is committed to continuous improvement of its policies, processes, and communications. By voluntarily reporting ethnicity, race, and gender information, applicants help inform our data-driven approach to improvement. Applicants are not required to provide information about their ethnicity, race, or gender. An applicant's choice to provide or decline to provide this information has no impact on the outcome of their application. The information an applicant chooses to provide has no impact on the outcome of their application.

  • Main contact: You will need to provide the first name, last name, email address and phone number for the main contact for the licensed establishment and business. This contact will receive all emails regarding the location and the business’s licenses and applications. This information will be used by city agencies to contact the business. 
  • Mailing address: You will need to provide a mailing address for this licensed establishment and company. 
  • Onsite manager: You will need to provide the first name, last name, date of birth, home address, email address and phone number for the onsite manager for the licensed establishment and business. An onsite manager is any individual who has the authority to make decisions regarding the licensed establishment and must have access to and control of the licensed establishment at all times.)
  • General contact: This information could be shared in an open data catalog or upon request. The information should allow member of the public to contact your business regarding licenses or licensed establishments. A telephone number and an email address are needed.