In November 2016 Denver voters approved Initiative 300, granting businesses the ability to apply for a license to allow for adult marijuana consumption in designated areas.
Denver Excise & Licenses has adopted final rules and regulations that govern the issuance and enforcement of the city’s new Cannabis Consumption Establishment and Cannabis Consumption Special Event licenses.
Applications for Cannabis Consumption Establishments and Special Events are now being accepted Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Only complete applications will be accepted.
Please bring your completed application package and all required documents to Denver Excise & Licenses. Staff can answer your questions about licensing processes, but cannot provide legal or business advice. An overview of the licensing process as well as required fees and forms can be found below.
Please review this list of Frequently Asked Questions & Answers.
A Cannabis Consumption Establishment license allows for an existing business to designate part of its premises as an area where cannabis consumption is allowed. These licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance, and then must be renewed to stay in effect.
It is unlawful to operate a Cannabis Consumption Establishment without a license.
Designated consumption areas within establishments are known as DCAs. Only individuals 21 and older may enter DCAs.
Patrons must bring their own cannabis product; no sales or distribution of marijuana or marijuana products may take place on the licensed premises.
Cannabis Consumption Establishment Licenses are governed by Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code as well as the Rules Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas.
Be sure you read and understand the concepts outlined in Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, the Rules and Regulations Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas, the Signage Guidelines, and the Marijuana Facility Location Guide before applying.
Businesses wishing to obtain a new Cannabis Consumption Establishment License must follow these steps.
Be sure you read and understand the concepts outlined in Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, the Rules and Regulations Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas, the Signage Guidelines, the Health and Sanitation Plan Guidelines, and the Marijuana Facility Location Guide before applying.
1. Application Submission - Submit a completed Cannabis Consumption Establishment Application along with all supporting documents and fees to Denver Excise and Licenses.
2. Application Review - The department will review the application and all supplemental documents. It is the goal to have reviews complete within 30 days of receipt of complete application. If 30 days have passed and you would like to check on the status of your application review, please contact CAOExciseandLicense@denvergov.org
3. Public Hearing - Once the application review is completed and it is determined the application can proceed, Excise and Licenses will schedule a public hearing for your application. You will receive a scheduling order with additional instructions regarding your hearing.
4. Inspections – After the public hearing, if you receive a final decision allowing you to continue the application process, you will be issued an ‘inspection notice’ containing instructions for completing required inspections.
5. License Issuance - Return to Denver Excise and Licenses once your inspections are complete. A licensing technician will verify that each inspecting agency has electronically submitted an inspection approval for your proposed facility. A city license will then be issued for the new location. At this point (and not at any point prior) you may begin operating.
Please Note – all applications will be administratively closed if not completed within 12 months.
Upon submission of an application for a new Cannabis Consumption Establishment License, applicants will be required to pay a $1,000 application fee, and a $1,000 license fee. Checks should be made payable to the "Manager of Finance." The city also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and cash payments.
Please note - application fees are non-refundable. If an applicant does not successfully obtain a license, they may request a refund of the license fee by emailing a completed Refund Request Form to exlapplications@denvergov.org.
In addition to the required fees, applicants must submit a completed New Cannabis Consumption Establishment License Application, along with all required supporting documents. The required supporting documents are:
Proposed facility locations must comply with the restrictions laid out in the Denver Revised Municipal Code and the Rules and Regulations governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas.
The Marijuana Facility Location Guide has been put together to assist applicants in choosing an acceptable location.
A list of active Denver child care facility licenses can be found on the Denver Open Data Catalog.
A list of all licensed childcare facilities in Colorado, including preschools, can be found on the Colorado Office of Early Education website under Licensed Facility List.
A list of City-Owned Recreation Centers and Swimming Pools can be found on the Denver Open Data Catalog.
After a new cannabis consumption establishment application receives a final order of approval resulting from the public hearing, an inspection card will be issued that describes how to schedule inspections for all applicable agencies. Excise and Licenses will receive electronic proof from each of the inspecting agencies as the inspections are completed and approved. All five inspecting agencies must submit proof of successful inspection completion to Excise and Licenses before any license will be issued.
We recommend that you enlist the services of a professional to develop plans for the building, public health, and fire prevention elements of your building.
The following city agencies sign off on all cannabis consumption establishment inspection notices:
Community Planning & Development: Building Inspections Division
Public Health & Environment: Public Health Inspections Division
Public Health & Environment: Environmental Quality
Excise and Licenses
Fire Prevention
A brief guide including multi-agency common marijuana business inspection requirements can be found here.
Please review this list of Frequently Asked Questions & Answers.
A Cannabis Consumption Special Event license allows for a special event to designate part of its premises as an area where cannabis consumption is allowed. Cannabis Consumption Special Event Licenses may be granted for up to 10 days in a calendar year.
Special Event Applicants must submit a complete application at least 120 days before the first proposed event date.
It is unlawful to operate a Cannabis Consumption Special Event without a license.
Designated consumption areas within establishments are known as DCAs. Only individuals 21 and older may enter DCAs.
Patrons must bring their own cannabis product; no sales or distribution of marijuana or marijuana products may take place on the licensed premises.
Cannabis Consumption Special Event Licenses are governed by Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code as well as the Rules Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas.
Be sure to read and understand the concepts outlined in Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, the Rules and Regulations Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas, the Signage Guidelines, and the Marijuana Facility Location Guide before applying.
Events wishing to obtain a new Cannabis Consumption Special Event license must follow these steps.
Be sure to read and understand the concepts outlined in Chapter 6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, the Rules and Regulations Governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas, the Signage Guidelines, and the Marijuana Facility Location Guide before applying.
1. Application Submission - Submit a completed Cannabis Consumption Special Event Application along with all supporting documents and fees to Denver Excise and Licenses. Applications must be submitted at least 120 days before the first proposed event.
2. Initial Posting - Upon receipt of a complete application, the applicant will be required to post notice of the event for 30 days. It is during that time that parties of interest may request a hearing to be held. Denver Excise and Licenses will inspect the posting signage several times to ensure adequacy.
3. Application Review - Excise and Licenses and the Office of Special Events will review the application and all supplemental documents. It is the goal to have reviews completed within 30 days of receipt of a complete application.
4. Event Plan Reviews - During the application review process, and based upon the proposed event details, it will be determined which agencies will need to review and approve the event plan. For example, if the event intends to have large electric generators on-site, both the Denver Fire Department and the Electrical Division of Community Planning and Development will need to review and approve the event plan. Each applicant will receive a communication detailing the agencies that they must obtain plan review approvals from at this point in the process. All approvals must be obtained before a permit will be issued, yet the applicant may continue working through their hearing requirements detailed below while they work on their plan review requirements.
5. Public Hearing - If Excise and Licenses receives a request for a hearing for the proposed event, a public hearing may be scheduled and all parties of interest will be notified.
6. License Issuance - Once the applicant has received plan approvals from all indicated City agencies and has received an approved Final Decision from the Department a license will be granted for the special event.
Please Note – all applications will be administratively closed if not completed within 12 months.
Upon submission of an application for a new Cannabis Consumption Special Event License, applicants will be required to pay a $1,000 application fee, and a $1,000 license fee. Checks should be made payable to the "Manager of Finance." The city also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and cash payments.
Please note - application fees are non-refundable. If an applicant does not successfully obtain a license, they may request a refund of the license fee by emailing a completed Refund Request Form to exlapplications@denvergov.org.
In addition to the required fees, applicants must submit a completed New Cannabis Consumption Special Event License Application, along with all required supporting documents. The required supporting documents are:
Proposed facility locations must comply with the restrictions laid out in the Denver Revised Municipal Code and the Rules and Regulations governing Marijuana Designated Consumption Areas.
The Marijuana Facility Location Guide has been put together to assist applicants in choosing an acceptable location.
A list of active Denver child care facility licenses can be found on the Denver Open Data Catalog.
A list of all licensed childcare facilities in Colorado, including preschools, can be found on the Colorado Office of Early Education website under Licensed Facility List.
A list of City-Owned Recreation Centers and Swimming Pools can be found on the Denver Open Data Catalog.
Denver Excise and Licenses in conjunction with the Office of Special Events will review all event plans and determine which city agencies will need to review and approve the event plan. For example, if the event intends to have large electric generators on-site, both the Denver Fire Department and the Electrical Division of Community Planning and Development will need to review and approve the event plan. Applicants should receive a communication detailing the agencies that they must obtain plan review approvals from within 30 days of application submission.
The following city agencies may be listed as reveiwers of event plans:
Community Planning and Development - Architectural Review Division
Community Planning and Development - Electrical Review Division
Community Planning and Development - Mechanical Review Division
Community Planning and Development - Plumbing Review Division
Community Planning and Development - Structural Review Division
Community Planning and Development - Sewer Usage and Drainage Division
Community Planning and Development - Zoning Review Division
Department of Public Health & Environment - Environmental Quality
Department of Public Health & Environment - Public Health Inspections
All agency approvals must be obtained before a permit will be issued, yet the applicant may continue working through their hearing requirements while they work on their plan review approvals.
Meeting 6 - April 6
Meeting 3 - Feb. 22
Meeting 5 - March 24
Meeting 2 - Feb. 8
Meeting 4 - March 10
Meeting 1 - Jan. 18
Co-Chair: Ashley Kilroy (Executive Director, Denver Excise & Licenses)
Co-Chair: Molly Duplechian (Denver Office of Marijuana Policy)
• Kendra Black (Denver City Council)
• Mary Beth Susman (Denver City Council)
• Deputy Chief David Quinones (Denver Police Department)
• Marley Bordovsky (Denver City Attorney’s Office)
• Jude Del Hierro (Community Representative)
• Sam Kamin (University of Denver Sturm College of Law)
• Kristi Kelly (Marijuana Industry Group)
• Dan Landes (Business representative)
• Fran Lanzer (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
• Aubrey Lavizzo (Community representative)
• Amber Leytem (Denver Public Schools)
• Amie Mayhew (Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association)
• Karin McGowin (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
• Maureen McNamara (Cannabis Trainers)
• Rachel O’Bryan (Protect Denver’s Atmosphere)
• Jordon Person (Denver NORML)
• Emmett Reistroffer (Denver Relief / Yes on 300)
• Sonia Riggs (Colorado Restaurant Association)
• Margie Valdez (Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation)
• Kobi Waldfogel (Event planning representative)
If you have comments or questions about Social Consumption, please email us at MarijuanaInfo@Denvergov.org or call Denver Excise & Licenses at 720-865-2740.