Apply for a transfer of location of a marijuana business online

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses hosted a webinar to show existing marijuana business licensees how to apply for a marijuana business license change of location 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, and refer to the Required Forms accordion at the bottom of this page to prepare to submit your change of location application.
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Effective Nov. 11, 2021, anyone applying for a transfer of location, must first transition all licenses that will be affected 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 for marijuana licenses can be found 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. It is recommended you watch the videos to assist with the application process. 

After you have transitioned your licenses to the online center, you can submit your transfer of location application online.  

Overview of requirements 

Marijuana businesses are required to submit a marijuana license transfer of location application, complete hearing and inspection requirements, and obtain state approval for the transfer of location before changing location. (A public needs and desires hearing is required only for marijuana stores, marijuana hospitality businesses, and retail marijuana hospitality and sales businesses that apply to transfer location.)  

Review zoning and location requirements for marijuana businesses in the Marijuana Facility Location Guide, and refer to the Denver Revised Municipal Code, Chapter 6 Article V for rules regarding transfers of location. In particular, review Sec. 6-220 of the D.R.M.C. for some provisions applicable to transfers of location for marijuana businesses.

Submit a Marijuana License Change of Location 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 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 transfers of location 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 system 

In Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing System:  

  • 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 transfer of location of your licensed establishment, look at the “License Type” column. Find the row that has the licensed establishment, record name and address that you want to transfer. In the right column, click “Amendment.”
  • Select “Initiate Transfer of Location” 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 5.Submit the application online 

You must submit a complete application for:  

  • A licensed establishment transfer of location record, which will capture information about where your business plans to operate (the new location) and which licenses you want to transfer.

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 and inspections 

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. After the city’s application review is complete, applicants must: 

  • Complete a public needs and desires hearing (not required for all licenses): Marijuana stores, marijuana hospitality businesses, and retail marijuana hospitality and sales businesses must complete a public needs and desires hearing for a transfer of location. It might take an additional 30 to 60 business days after the city application review for a public hearing to be scheduled and to occur. A licensing technician will notify the applicant when the hearing will be scheduled and provide the applicant with relevant hearing materials. The posting notice for the hearing must be posted for 30 days before the hearing. Read the posting notice instructions for guidance on the posting notice. A hearing officer will make a recommended decision after the hearing occurs.   
  • Complete inspections and obtain state approval: When the licensing technician’s review is complete and if a required needs and desires hearing results in a recommended approval of the transfer of location, you will receive an inspection notice to complete the required inspections. For more information on inspections, refer to the inspection process information below.  The Department will also require proof of state approval for the transfer of location before it approves the transfer of location and issues a new city license. 

Step 8.After you complete the required city inspections

Email EXLApplications@denvergov.org with:

  • The Amendment Record ID(s) for the transfer of location.
  • Proof of state approval for the transfer of location.
  • A request to close the Amendment Record ID(s) for the transfer of location.

Step 9.Excise and Licenses will update your record

A licensing technician will update your record with the new location and you will receive an email with a new Certificate of Licensure (reflecting the new location). 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.

 

The following forms and documents are required. Applications must be complete and include all required documents. Legal documents included as part of the application must be properly signed and executed. All materials must be legible. Incomplete applications will be rejected. You must provide: 

  • A burglar alarm monitoring contract for the new location;
  • burglar alarm permit for the new location;
  • A copy of the city sales tax license for the new location (required only for stores and hospitality and sales businesses)
  • A complete Social Impact Plan(PDF, 40KB) for the new location (must be on the city's provided template); required for every license (every license type, medical and retail)
  • Proof of legal possession of the premises for the new location. Only one of the following must be submitted:
    • A complete possession of property certificate(PDF, 161KB); 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.
  • A valid zoning use permit for the new location; or
    • An acknowledgement of zoning use permit(PDF, 109KB). An acknowledgement of zoning use permit can be used to submit a transfer of location application. A transfer of location will not be approved and licenses will not be issued if the applicant does not provide a valid zoning use permit for the new location.
  • A floor plan of the proposed premises. (see the requirements below) 
  • Information for an onsite manager, including their name, date of birth, home address, and contact information. (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.)

Floor Plan Requirements

Provide a floor plan, or multiple floor plans, drawn to scale on a standard 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper. It is preferred and strongly recommended that you submit plans that have been prepared digitally of plans prepared by a design professional. Separate floors must be shown on separate pieces of paper and clearly identified (i.e. 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 in the premises.
  • The legible identification of all security cameras and DVR locations.
  • The intended Licenses 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, including but not limited to the red and green lines, and any symbol or marker used to identify security cameras.
  • Stores only: Each room that is Restricted Access Area must be clearly labeled as such and must identify point-of-sale stations and sales counter locations.
  • Modification of Premises applications only: Copies of current and proposed floor plans must be included in the application (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 choose to submit multiple floor plans to satisfy all of the 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 and within which the Licensee is authorized to cultivate, manufacture, distribute, sell, store, transport, or test marijuana.
  • Limited Access Area: The contiguous area within the Licensed Premises where marijuana is grown, cultivated, stored, weighed, packaged, or processed.
  • Restricted Access Area: The area within the Licensed Premises where marijuana is sold, possessed for sale, or displayed for sale.

Take a look at examples of floor plans(PDF, 291KB).

Inspection Status 

Check your inspection status in theonline Permitting and Licensing Center.  

Inspection process and information 

When a licensing technician’s review of your transfer of location 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(PDF, 860KB) 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 change of location records.  

Public Health and Environmental Quality inspect only certain license types. Otherwise, the following inspections are required for most change of location applications:

Community Planning & Development: Zoning and neighborhood inspections  

Community Planning & Development: Building Inspections Division  

Fire prevention  

Public Health & Environment: Public Health Inspections Division

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

Excise and Licenses (this cannot be scheduled until all other inspections have passed)  

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