Apply for a modification of premises of a marijuana business online

On Feb. 1, 2022, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses hosted a webinar . It showed existing marijuana business licensees how to apply for a marijuana business license modification 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 online. Watch the webinar on our YouTube channel. Refer to the Required forms accordion at the bottom of this page (including the floor plan requirements document(PDF, 291KB)) to prepare to submit your modification of premises application.
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Effective Nov. 11, 2021, anyone who applies for a modification of premises must transition all licenses at the location to Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center

To assist with the transition there are online training videos with helpful and detailed overviews of the application processes. The videos for marijuana licenses are on the Online Training Videos webpage. There are videos showing 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. Watch the videos to assist with the application process.

After transitioning your licenses, you can submit your modification of premises application online.

A marijuana license modification of premises application must be submitted when you:

  • Change the square footage of the building or the licensed premises.
  • Alter the layout of the facility. This includes modifying doorways, changing some room uses, and adding or removing walls.
  • Conduct any action that would need a building permit.
  • Add, alter or remove extraction equipment. This includes any extraction ventilation system components.
  • Add, alter or remove any enrichment system(s).
  • Update your video surveillance system to add or remove cameras. A fee and inspections are not required when a modification of premises application is submitted to update a video surveillance system or to add or remove cameras. A fee and inspections are required for all other modifications.

Submit a modification of premises application

Step 1.Watch our online training videos

Online training videos provide helpful and detailed overviews of the application processes. The 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.Zoning use permit

This license requires a zoning use permit.

A zoning use permit grants the applicant/owner of a lot, building, or structure permission for the requested use of the land. "Use" can be any activity, occupation, business, or operation in a building or on a lot/tract of land.

If you currently do not have a zone use permit, you may apply instead with a Acknowledgement of Zone Use Permit(PDF, 87KB). This will allow you to begin your application while you secure a proper zone use permit. Your license will not issue until a proper zone use permit has submitted. Applications that fail to provide a zone use permit will not issue or be eligible for a refund.

  1. Before contacting Zoning, email CPD Records to ask if there's an existing zoning use permit for your address. Allow up to 10 business days for a response to your inquiry.
  2. If they respond that there isn't a zoning use permit for your address, then email Zoning to apply for a permit. They will tell you if you're zoned for the use. Allow up to 10 business days for a response to your inquiry.

Email

cpd.permitrecords@denvergov.org

zoning.review@denvergov.org

Step 3.Log in to your online account

Log in to your Denver Online Permitting and Licensing Center account for the specific location you want to modify. Use the email and password that you used to create the account when you transitioned your licenses online.

Step 4.Gather all required documents

Applications for modification of premises must be complete and include all required documents. (See the required documents 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 included must be properly signed and executed.
  • All materials must be legible.
  • Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Step 5.Navigate to the Online Permitting and Licensing System

In Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing Center:

  • 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 modification of your licensed establishment, find the "License Type" column. Find the row with the Licensed Establishment, Record Name and Address that you want to modify. In the right column, click "Amendment."
  • Then, select "Modify Premises" and click "Continue Application."
  • Read the introduction page and click "Continue."

This will begin and guide you through the application process.

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 6.Submit the application online

You will be required to submit a complete application for:

  • A licensed establishment modification of premises record. This will capture information about where your business operates and the details of your modification.

Step 7.Pay any required fees

After submitting your complete application package, a city licensing technician will do a quality control review. The licensing technician will determine whether more information, fees and inspections are required. The quality control review could take 20 business days. It could take longer depending on the volume of applications pending before the Department.

If no fee or additional information is required, a licensing technician will update your record with the new floor plan. They will note the modification of premises has been completed.

If a fee and inspection are required, you will receive an email that notifies you a record is "Pending Payment." 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 8.City application review and Inspections

When the licensing technician's review is complete and required fees are paid, you will receive a notice to complete the required inspections. For more information on inspections, refer to the inspection process information below.

Step 9.Email Excise and Licenses

After you complete the required city inspections, email EXLApplications@denvergov.org with:

  • The amendment record ID(s) for the modification of premises.
  • Proof of state approval for the modification of premises. If no state application is required, provide email from a representative of the Marijuana Enforcement Division who can confirm no state application is required.
  • A request to close the amendment record ID(s) for the modification of premises.

Step 10.License issuance

A licensing technician will update your record with the new floor plan and note that the modification of premises has been completed.

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

Applications must be complete and include all required documents. Legal documents must be signed and executed. All materials must be legible. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

  • A valid zoning use permit that reflects changes that might be made during the modification; or
  • Copies of current and proposed floor plans (combined in a single PDF; you can use a free, online tool to merge documents into a single file). The current copy must be legibly labeled "CURRENT FLOOR PLAN." And the proposed copy must be legibly labeled "PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN." (See the requirements below.)

Floor plan requirements

Provide a floor plan, or several floor plans, drawn to scale on a standard 8 1/2-inch-by-11-inch piece of paper. It is preferred and strongly recommended that you submit plans that have been prepared digitally by a design professional. Floor plans must be labeled with the business name and complete address, including unit and suite numbers. Separate floors must be shown on separate pieces of paper and clearly identified. For example, the basement, first floor, etc. Your floor plan must be complete and accurate. The submission must include:

  • The physical layout of the establishment with the legibly labeled principal uses of each room that includes but is not limited to all walls and doors.
  • The legible identification of all security cameras and DVR locations.
  • The intended licensed premises must be contiguous and outlined in red.
  • The intended limited access areas must be contiguous and outlined in green.
  • A legend or key must define the features on the map. This includes but is not limited to the red and green lines. And any symbol or marker used to identify security cameras.
  • Stores only: Each room that is a restricted access area must be clearly labeled as such. Each point-of-sale station and sale counter location must be identified.
  • Modification of premises applications only: Copies of current and proposed floor plans must be included in the application. It must be combined in a single PDF. You can use a free, online tool to merge documents into a single file. The current copy must be legibly labeled "CURRENT FLOOR PLAN." And the proposed copy must be legibly labeled "PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN."
  • If you submit several floor plans to satisfy all requirements outlined above, the physical layout and room uses must be identical for each floor plan showing the same section of the premises.

Definitions

  • Licensed premises: The premises in possession of the licensee. It's where the licensee can cultivate, manufacture, distribute, sell, store, transport, or test marijuana.
  • Limited access area: The building, room, or other contiguous area upon the licensed premises. It's where regulated marijuana and regulated marijuana products are grown, cultivated, manufactured, stored, weighed, packaged, sold, possessed for sale, transferred, or processed for transfer, under control of the licensee, with access limited to only those persons licensed by the State Licensing Authority and those visitors escorted by a person licensed by the State Licensing Authority. All areas of ingress or egress to limited access areas must be clearly identified as such by a sign as designated by the State Licensing Authority.
  • Restricted access area: A designated and secure area within a licensed premises in a medical marijuana store where medical marijuana is sold to patients or their caregiver, possessed for sale, and displayed for sale, and where no one without a valid patient registry card or that patient's caregiver is permitted. Also, in a retail marijuana store or a retail marijuana hospitality and sales business where retail marijuana is sold to consumers, possessed for sale, and displayed for sale, and where no one younger than 21 years old is permitted.

See examples of floor plans(PDF, 291KB) that show "current" and "proposed" floor plans for a modification of premises application.

Visit the fees for marijuana License, permit and amendment applications webpage for more information about fees.

Inspection statuses

Check your inspection status in the Online Permitting and Licensing Center.

Inspection process and information

When a licensing technician's review of your modification of premises application is complete, they will provide you with an inspection notice to complete the required inspections. It's recommended you engage professionals to ensure you're in compliance with building, zoning, public health and fire prevention requirements. Review the non-comprehensive guide to common marijuana business license inspection requirements.

Inspecting agencies will digitally pass or fail your inspections. All inspecting agencies must pass your inspections before the Department can close your modification of premises records.

As of Sept. 12, 2019, marijuana license modification of premises applications will only require a zoning and neighborhood inspection for one of the following reasons:

  • You have applied for a modification of premises for a marijuana center or store in an I-B zone use district.
  • You have applied for a modification of premises for a cultivation in a zone use district other than an I-A, I-B, OS-B, I-O, I-1, I-2, OS-1, or OS-2 zone use district.
  • You indicated on your marijuana license modification of premises application that your modification will result in the addition of an extraction room or an expansion of extraction space.
  • You have applied for a modification of premises that will result in an address change (for example, through the expansion or removal of units).

Except for the zoning and neighborhood inspection, which is only required for the reasons outlined above, the following inspections are required for all modification of premises applications:

Community Planning & Development: Zoning and neighborhood inspections

Community Planning & Development: Building Inspections Division

Fire prevention

Public Health & Environment:Public Health Inspections Division

  • Inspection is required only for stores, manufacturing, hospitality, testing, transporter, and off-premises storage facilities.
  • Schedule an inspection by calling 311 (if outside of Denver, call (720) 913-1311)

Public Health & Environment:Environmental quality

  • Inspection required for only cultivation, manufacturing and hospitality facilities.
  • Schedule an inspection by calling 311 (if outside of Denver, call (720) 913-1311)

Excise and Licenses

  • Schedule an inspection by calling 311 (if outside of Denver, call (720) 913-1311)

Apply and pay

 

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Contact Excise and Licenses

Department of Excise and License
201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 206
Denver, CO 80202
MarijuanaInfo@Denvergov.org

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