Public hearings
The Department of Excise and Licenses has adopted new Rules Governing Hearings Before the Department. The rules apply to needs and desires hearings, disciplinary hearings, denial appeal hearings, and hearings associated with administrative citations. The rules were adopted after a public hearing on Dec. 8, 2023. You can watch that meeting here. The rules a effective Feb. 1, 2024. On Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, the Department held a virtual information session to review the new rules and answer questions from the public. You can watch that meeting here.
The Department holds many types of public hearings. Some of these hearings address applications for liquor, cabaret, or marijuana business licenses. Sometimes a hearing is required if a liquor or marijuana business wants to move or sell to a new owner. If an application is denied, an applicant could also request an appeal hearing. The Department can hold disciplinary hearings, called "show cause" hearings, when licensees are suspected of violating the law.
Many of the hearings are open to the public. A public hearing schedule is available below.
Read the final department hearing rules(PDF, 324KB)
View the schedule of public hearings for liquor and marijuana licenses
Hearing policies and procedures
All hearings are governed by the Department's Hearing Policies and Procedures. These policies and procedures supplement state statutes, municipal ordinances, and agency rules. They are meant to be a guide to help applicants and members of the public navigate public hearings.
The Hearing Policies and Procedures contain important information about:
- How to contact the Department and request certain records;
- Standard procedures to follow before, during, and after hearings;
- Procedures and deadlines for needs and desires hearings;
- License-specific information for liquor, cabaret, and marijuana license hearings;
- How to request an appeal hearing if your license application is denied; and
- Standard protocol for disciplinary ("show cause") hearings.
The Department made some changes to the Hearing Policies and Procedures. These include:
- Provisions allowing for virtual participation in hearings;
- Revised deadlines to increase flexibility for parties in interest;
- New sections addressing common consumption area licenses; and
- Adding hospitality licenses to Article XIV - Hearings for new medical and retail marijuana store licenses, retail hospitality licenses and retail hospitality and store licenses.
The two memos make changes to Articles 1 and 2 of the Hearing Policies and Procedures. These changes override the original provisions in the Hearing Policies and Procedures. If you are preparing for a hearing for a new medical and retail marijuana store license, a retail hospitality license or a retail hospitality and store license, please be sure the read all three documents.
Frequently asked questions about hearings
My license application was denied. How can I request an appeal hearing?
Any applicant whose application has been denied can make a written request for a hearing to appeal the decision. The applicant has 10 calendar days from the date the order was mailed to request a hearing. If the Department of Excise and Licenses does not receive the request within 10 calendar days, the denial order is final, subject to judicial review.
Can I object to the hearing officer's recommended decision?
Yes. The applicant, licensee, or a party in interest can file written objections to the recommended decision within ten business days. You must submit objections via e-mail to EXLApplications@denvergov.org. You must send objections to all parties that received the recommended decision.
Can I respond to objections to the hearing officer's recommended decision?
Yes. The applicant, licensee, or a party in interest can respond to objections to the recommended decision within five business days of receiving the objections. You must submit responses via email to EXLApplications@denvergov.org. You must send responses to objections to all parties that received the recommended decision.
Are all hearings virtual, or can I attend in person?
Hearings are held virtually on Microsoft Teams unless otherwise determined by the director. You can request to attend a hearing in person by sending an email to EXLApplications@denvergov.org at least one business day before the hearing.
Hearing participation
To take part in a needs and desires hearing for a liquor, cabaret, or marijuana license, you must be at least 21 years old, or 18 for a medical marijuana license, and live or own/manage a business in the designated area around the business. You can choose one of the following ways to take part in a needs and desires hearing:
Sign a circulated petition
- Petitions can be circulated in opposition to or support for a license.
- You can only sign one petition for the same license application.
- See Section 2.1.7 of the Hearing Policies and Procedures for more information.
Submit a neighborhood witness affidavit
- A neighborhood witness affidavit allows you to explain your position on a license in more detail than a petition.
- The neighborhood witness affidavit must be notarized and submitted to EXLApplications@denvergov.org at least seven days before the hearing.
Speak at the needs and desires hearing
- Three neighborhood witnesses can testify at length in support of the license. Three neighborhood witnesses can testify at length in opposition to the license.
- More neighborhood witnesses will have an opportunity to say whether they support or oppose the license. They cannot testify at the hearing.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I attend a virtual hearing?
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- Use the link provided in the hearing notice packet or call the phone number listed on the hearing posting to request the link.
- How do I know if my residence or business is in the designated area?
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- See the map of the designated area that is included in the hearing notice packet and posted at the proposed location of the business.
- How can I request an evening hearing?
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- To request an evening hearing, email a request to EXLApplications@denvergov.org with at least five signatures of parties in interest. This can include residents or business owners/managers in the designated area. Include each individual's address and phone number. Submit the request at least five days before the hearing date.
- How can I request a foreign language or sign language interpreter?
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- To request a foreign language interpreter, email EXLApplications@denvergov.org at least five days before the hearing. Include the name, address, and preferred language of the person who requires interpretation services, the license number, and whether the recommended and final decisions require translation. If you need a sign language interpreter or real-time captioning via CART Services, contact SignLanguageServices@denvergov.org at least three business days before the hearing. For other public accommodation requests/concerns related to a disability, contact DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org.