Who needs a retail food establishment license in Colorado?
Issued by Your county or district public health agency, under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (6 CCR 1010-2), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all retail food establishments under the rules. Denver licenses food through its own Department of Public Health and Environment.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Your county or district public health agency, under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (6 CCR 1010-2).
Sources and dates
La Plata County Public Health notice of the 2026 to 2028 license fees under SB25-285; CDPHE retail food program; 6 CCR 1010-2. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
Yes. Submit the plan review application with the menu, the floor plan and the equipment list before building out, then pass the opening inspection.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Colorado it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
Your county or district public health agency, under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (6 CCR 1010-2).
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a retail food establishment license in Colorado?
