If your office is located in the City and County of Denver, a zone use permit is required before obtaining a Body Art Establishment business license. Please note: If the temporary body art establishment event is at an event center, ex. Pepsi Center, Convention Center, we will not require a zone use permit.

A use permit is a document granting the applicant/owner of a lot, building, or structure permission for the requested use of the land. "Use" can be defined as any activity, occupation, business or operation transacted in a building or on a lot/tract of land.

You can use the resources on the Internet to plan ahead before you lease or buy property and before you apply for your business license.  Follow the steps below to learn more about the approved zone uses for the address where you want to locate your business.  Start on the  Find Your Zoning page.

1. Enter the desired address.  Click Search.
2. Note the Zone District.
3. Click on the + to Expand for more information. 
4. Note the Neighborhood Context.
5. Click on the link for the Zoning Code or in Former Chapter 59.
6. Click on the Article # for the Neighborhood Context noted above.
7. Open the document and scroll to the "Use" tables at the bottom of the document.
8. Find the "Use" category in the left column and the Zone District in the columns to the right.
9. The code in the intersecting square represents the permitted use.  (There is a key to the codes at the top of every page.)

Ultimately, the zone use permit for your business license must be approved and issued by the Zoning department.  Learn more about the Denver Zoning Code or visit the Zoning Office.

 

Applying for a Zone Use Permit

 

Office Hours and Location

General Hours:  8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Webb Municipal Office Building

201 W. Colfax Avenue, 2nd Floor

 

Phone

All City Services:  (720) 913-1311

General:  (720) 865-3000

 

Email

zoning.review@denvergov.org

 

For Body Art Establishment

• Application for Body Art Establishment
• Applicant Criminal History Form 
• Right of Possession Document (Lease or Deed)
• Affidavit of Lawful Presence  accompanied by
• Secure and Verifiable Identification (if business is an individual or sole proprietor)
• Photo ID
• Full set of fingerprints. Fingerprinting will be conducted by the Department of Excise and Licenses. Fingerprints taken by a private fingerprinting company will not be accepted.  If the applicant resides out-of-state, he or she may submit a fingerprint card taken by the local police authority in his or her place of residence on a FBI fingerprint card (FD-258). The applicant may also be required to submit a letter of clearance and criminal history record from his or her local police authority.
• Zone Use Permit

 

 

For Temporary Body Art Establishment

• Application for Body Art Establishment
• Applicant Criminal History Form 
• Right of Possession Document (Lease or Deed)
• Affidavit of Lawful Presence  accompanied by
• Secure and Verifiable Identification (if business is an individual or sole proprietor)
• Photo ID
• Full set of fingerprints. Fingerprinting will be conducted by the Department of Excise and Licenses. Fingerprints taken by a private fingerprinting company will not be accepted.  If the applicant resides out-of-state, he or she may submit a fingerprint card taken by the local police authority in his or her place of residence on a FBI fingerprint card (FD-258). The applicant may also be required to submit a letter of clearance and criminal history record from his or her local police authority.  
• Zone Use Permit 

 

For Body Art Mobile Vehicles

• Application for Body Art Establishment
• Applicant Criminal History Form
• Full set of fingerprints. Fingerprinting will be conducted by the Department of Excise and Licenses. Fingerprints taken by a private fingerprinting company will not be accepted.  If the applicant resides out-of-state, he or she may submit a fingerprint card taken by the local police authority in his or her place of residence on a FBI fingerprint card (FD-258). The applicant may also be required to submit a letter of clearance and criminal history record from his or her local police authority.
• Colorado Motor Vehicle Record
• Affidavit of Lawful Presence  accompanied by
• Secure and Verifiable Identification (if business is an individual or sole proprietor)
• Photo ID

Body Art Estabishment

Application Fee:  $200.00

License Fee:  $200.00

CBI Background Check:  $16.50

 

Temporary Body Art Establishment

Application Fee: $100.00

Permit:  $100.00 per event

CBI Background Check: $16.50

 

Body Art Mobile Vehicle

Applicaton Fee:  $200.00

License Fee:  $200.00

CBI Background Check $16.50

Fees can be paid with cash, check,  money order or credit card.  Checks should be made payable to Manager of Finance. 

Body Art Establishment

• Development Services (720) 865-2982
• Denver Fire Department (720) 913-3474
• Department of Public Health and Environment (720) 865-5401

 

Temporary Body Art Establishment

• Development Services (720) 865-2982
• Denver Fire Department (720) 913-3474
• Department of Public Health and Environment (720) 865-5401

 

Body Art Mobile Vehicle

• Development Services (720) 865-2982
• Denver Fire Department (720) 913-3474
• Department of Public Health and Environment (720) 865-5401

 

Once your inspections are completed, return to the Department of Excise and Licenses office.  Your license will be issued when the following actions are taken: 

1. All documents required for the license are complete and submitted to the office.
2. The background check is accepted and approved.
3. Fees are paid in full.
4. All required inspections are passed.

Renew in Person
Come to the Department of Excise and Licenses office.

Request a renewal for your business license.

You will be issued a payment voucher.

Take the payment voucher to the cashier and pay the renewal license fee.

Return to the Department of Excise and Licenses office with your receipt for payment.

Your business license will be printed.

 

Renew by Mail
You can mail in your license renewal along with a check made payable to the Manager of Finance for the total city fees due. Be sure to include your Business File Number (BFN) on your check.

Office Hours and Location
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Webb Municipal Office Building
201 W. Colfax Avenue, 2nd Floor

Mailing Information
Department of Excise and Licenses
201 W. Colfax Ave Dept. 206
Denver, CO 80202

For Body Art Establishment

• None

 

For Body Art Mobile Vehicle

• Current Colorado Motor Vehicle Record

Body Art Estabishment

License Fee:  $200.00

 

Body Art Mobile Vehicle

License Fee:  $200.00

• Department of Excise and Licenses inspectors will attempt to locate and notify business license holders of the approaching expiration date.  However, failure of an inspector to notify a delinquent licensee that its license has expired does not excuse the licensee from any applicable late penalty.

Licenses must be renewed on or before the expiration date to avoid penalty fees.

90 Day Grace Period

There is a 90 day grace period from the expiration date during which licenses can be renewed by paying the license fee and the penalty fee.

First 30 days of grace period:  20% penalty fee

Days 31 - 90:  50% penalty fee

After 90 days:  Licensees will be required to apply for a new license