Food Truck Permit Requirements in Denver, CO

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS, obtained instantly online.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Denver Retail Food Mobile License (Food Truck or Cart)

   Colorado does not issue a statewide retail food license that covers Denver. CDPHE directly licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile units and grocery stores in only nine counties (Clear Creek, Dolores, Gilpin, Moffat, Ouray, Park, Pitkin except Aspen, Rio Blanco and San Juan); everywhere else the local public health agency or city licenses. A food truck, trailer or cart operating in Denver gets a retail food mobile license from Denver's Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, with the food-safety inspection performed by DDPHE. You also need a commissary and a Colorado sales tax license.

   Official government source

   $150 application fee plus a license fee built by adding $25 for each food-processing activity performed (selling prepackaged cold foods, scooping ice, heating or cold-holding commercially processed foods, cooking raw animal products, cooling cooked foods, reheating cooked foods, serving raw or undercooked animal products, specialized processes, infusing with hemp). A typical truck cooking raw meat and reheating pays $150 + $50 = $200.·DLCP aims to complete its initial review of a complete application within seven business days, after which inspections are scheduled; allow several weeks overall

   $150 application fee plus a license fee built by adding $25 for each food-processing activity performed (selling prepackaged cold foods, scooping ice, heating or cold-holding commercially processed foods, cooking raw animal products, cooling cooked foods, reheating cooked foods, serving raw or undercooked animal products, specialized processes, infusing with hemp). A typical truck cooking raw meat and reheating pays $150 + $50 = $200.

   DLCP aims to complete its initial review of a complete application within seven business days, after which inspections are scheduled; allow several weeks overall

2. Colorado Sales Tax License

   Required for any business making retail sales of taxable goods in Colorado, including food trucks. Issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. Food trucks collect the 2.9% state rate plus any state-collected local taxes; home-rule cities such as Denver license and collect their own sales tax separately. Most licenses run for a two-year period ending at the close of each odd-numbered year.

   Official government source

   $16 for the two-year license period when applying January–June of an even year, prorated to $12, $8 or $4 later in the cycle, plus a one-time refundable $50 deposit for a new account ($66 total for a first location)·Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

   $16 for the two-year license period when applying January–June of an even year, prorated to $12, $8 or $4 later in the cycle, plus a one-time refundable $50 deposit for a new account ($66 total for a first location)

   Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

1. Denver Retail Food Mobile License (food truck, trailer or cart)

   Mobile food vendors in Denver are licensed by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (Business Licensing), not by the health department. The relevant categories are 'Retail food mobile license - food truck, trailer or food cart' and 'Food peddler' for prepared or pre-packaged items sold on foot; there is no A/B/C category system. All fabrication of the mobile unit must be finished before you apply. The license also requires a zoning use permit for the site if you operate on private property, and a separate Denver Fire propane operational permit if the unit uses propane. Applications are filed in Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center.

   Official government source

   $150 application fee, plus a license fee built from the food-processing activities the unit performs: $25 for each of selling prepackaged cold foods, scooping ice, heating commercially processed or cold-holding foods, cooking raw animal products, cooling cooked foods, reheating cooked foods, serving raw or undercooked animal products, a specialized process (fermentation, curing, sous vide), and infusing products with hemp. A propane permit, if needed, is $200 annually.·The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection aims to complete an initial review of a complete application within seven business days; incomplete applications or ones needing police review take longer. Allow up to 10 business days each for CPD records and zoning responses on the zone use permit, and 5-7 business days for the propane permit invoice.

   $150 application fee, plus a license fee built from the food-processing activities the unit performs: $25 for each of selling prepackaged cold foods, scooping ice, heating commercially processed or cold-holding foods, cooking raw animal products, cooling cooked foods, reheating cooked foods, serving raw or undercooked animal products, a specialized process (fermentation, curing, sous vide), and infusing products with hemp. A propane permit, if needed, is $200 annually.

   The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection aims to complete an initial review of a complete application within seven business days; incomplete applications or ones needing police review take longer. Allow up to 10 business days each for CPD records and zoning responses on the zone use permit, and 5-7 business days for the propane permit invoice.

2. Denver Retail Food Mobile License (food truck or cart)

   Denver has no general business license. A food truck or cart needs a Retail Food Mobile license from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (formerly Excise and Licenses), which reports and operates from a licensed commissary. This single license covers mobile food vending — there is no separate generic city business license required in addition.

   Official government source

   $150 application fee plus a license fee of $25 for each food-processing activity performed; a Denver Fire Department LPG/propane operational permit costs extra if propane is used·Denver aims to complete an initial review of a complete application within seven business days

   $150 application fee plus a license fee of $25 for each food-processing activity performed; a Denver Fire Department LPG/propane operational permit costs extra if propane is used

   Denver aims to complete an initial review of a complete application within seven business days

3. Commissary (approved base of operation)

   Colorado's Retail Food Establishment Rules require a mobile food unit to operate from an approved commissary for food preparation, storage, water servicing and equipment cleaning between operating hours. Denver publishes a Commissary operation guide for retail food licensees and issues a separate "Retail food commissary based" license category for retailers who do their processing out of a commissary. Line up your commissary before applying — the mobile food license application requires your base of operation.

   Official government source

   Commissary rent is a private market rate, not a government fee, and varies by facility. Denver's own retail food mobile license costs $150 application plus $25 per food-processing activity performed.·Secure the commissary agreement before you submit the mobile food license application

   Commissary rent is a private market rate, not a government fee, and varies by facility. Denver's own retail food mobile license costs $150 application plus $25 per food-processing activity performed.

   Secure the commissary agreement before you submit the mobile food license application

4. Denver Vending Location Permits (public right-of-way or private property)

   A Denver Retail Food Mobile license does not by itself let you park anywhere. Denver states that mobile retail food licenses have restrictions on where they can park, set up and operate, and that additional parking and location permits may be required; there is also a map of restricted areas in downtown Denver. Operating from a fixed spot in the public right-of-way requires right-of-way approval from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Denver Parks' Temporary Vending Permit does not apply — it expressly excludes food trucks. On private property you need the property owner's permission plus a temporary use zoning permit from Community Planning and Development.

   Official government source

   Fees depend on which location permit applies; Denver quotes the amount through its e-permits system·Secure the location approval before you begin operating; the food license will not cover an unapproved location

   Fees depend on which location permit applies; Denver quotes the amount through its e-permits system

   Secure the location approval before you begin operating; the food license will not cover an unapproved location

Official Sources

• Denver Dept of Public Health & Environment: Food Permits
• Denver Excise & Licenses
• Colorado CDPHE: Retail Food
• Colorado Dept of Revenue: Sales Tax

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