Renewal retail food mobile application - food truck or food cart

Map of restricted areas for mobile food trucks in downtown Denver(PNG, 603KB)

Apply online

Step 1.Before you apply

You can renew a license as early as 90 days before it expires. The Department will try to remind license holders of the approaching deadline to the email provided at application. Failure of a reminder does not excuse any applicable late penalty.

Zone Use Permit (if on private property)

This license requires a zoning use permit.

A zoning use permit grants the applicant/owner of a lot, building, or structure permission for the requested use of the land. "Use" can be any activity, occupation, business, or operation in a building or on a lot/tract of land.

If you currently do not have a zone use permit, you may apply instead with a Acknowledgement of Zone Use Permit(PDF, 87KB). This will allow you to begin your application while you secure a proper zone use permit. Your license will not issue until a proper zone use permit has submitted. Applications that fail to provide a zone use permit will not issue or be eligible for a refund.

  1. Before contacting Zoning, email CPD Records to ask if there's an existing zoning use permit for your address. Allow up to 10 business days for them to respond.
  2. If they respond there isn't a zoning use permit for your address, then contact Zoning to apply for a permit. They will tell you if you're zoned for the use. Allow up to 10 business days for them to respond.

Email

cpd.permitrecords@denvergov.org

zoning.review@denvergov.org

Step 2.Propane permit online application

  • Complete an online propane permit application. You will log in and click on "Fire". You will then click on "Apply for Operational Permits". From the list, select "Fire Prevention Flammable Operational Permit" and click on "Continue Application". You will go through the application. A copy of your registration, driver's license and current fire suppression inspection report will need to be attached to your fire permit application. You will receive an invoice via email to pay online. These documents will also walk you through the online process for the propane permit. How to apply for a propane permit English(PDF, 2MB), How to apply for a propane permit Spanish(PDF, 2MB) and New Process for propane permits(PDF, 157KB).
  • If you do not use propane, please email DFDMobiles@denvergov.org to obtain a propane exemption letter.
  • Do not pay until you receive an invoice for the annual $200 fee. The invoice will be sent to your email from info@denvergov.org. Once the payment has posted to your account you will be able to print, or screen shot your permit. You will need to have a copy with you while open for business. You will also need to provide a copy on inspection day.
  • For your permit invoice or exemption letter it may take 5-7 business days. Do not apply for the propane permit or exemption letter until you are ready to have the mobile unit inspected.

Step 3.Watch the online training videos

Online training videos provide helpful and detailed overviews of the application process. They are on the Online Training Videos webpage. They show how to register for an account, how to complete licensed establishment and entity registration records, and how to apply for new business licenses or amendments.

Step 4.Gather all required documents

Make sure you have everything from the "Required documents" section below.

Important notes to keep in mind about your documents:

  • All materials must be digital files saved as a .pdf or .jpg. Do not include any other file types. The Department of Excise and Licenses cannot accept other file types.
  • Use numbers or letters but not characters such as symbols (/ ? < > \ : * | “ ^) or spaces that could cause complications.
    • For example:
      • Good filename: drivers-license-name-2022.pdf
      • Bad filename: last name/ id.pdf
  • In some cases, you might need to combine documents and upload them in a single .pdf. You can use a free, online tool to merge documents into a single file. 
  • Legal documents must be signed, dated and executed. All pages of large legal documents (such as a lease) must be included in the application.
  • All materials must be legible. 
  • Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Step 5.Renew in Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center

In Denver’s Online Permitting and Licensing Center: 

  • Under Business, Short-Term Rental, and Occupational Licensing, click "Renew or Manage."
  • On the "My Licenses" page, select "Renew Application" for the license you want to renew and follow the prompts.

This will begin and guide you through the application.

You can save and resume within 30 days any time during the application process. After 30 days, you must start again. 

After the online application is complete, you will be prompted to submit fees in the online portal. These can be paid with a bank account or a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card.

Step 6.Pay required fees

License fee:

The license fee for the food retail license depends on which food-processing activities are performed. The fee is determined by adding $25 for each of the following activities:

  • Selling prepackaged cold foods
  • Scooping ice (including bagged ice for retail sale)
  • Heating commercially processed foods or cold holding foods
  • Cooking raw animal products
  • Cooling cooked foods
  • Reheating previously cooked foods
  • Serving raw or undercooked animal products (beef, eggs, fish)
  • Specialized process (fermentation, curing, sous vide, etc.)
  • Infusing products with hemp

Step 7.City application review and next steps

Excise and Licenses tries to conduct an initial review of a complete application within seven business days. The review process might take longer if it is incomplete or requires police review (if applicable).

  • All application-related communications will be sent through email, from EXLNotifications@denvergov.org. Do not respond to these emails as this inbox is not monitored.
  • If the application is incomplete, the applicant will receive a "notice of deficiency" email. This allows 14 days for corrections. License endorsement requests and incidents on a background check need police review.
  • All applications will be closed if they are not completed within 12 months.

Step 8.License issuance

Once approved, the applicant is emailed a copy of the business license. This allows the license holder to start operating.

The licensee should read "Once you have your license" below and follow the requirements.

  • Obtain your propane permit or exemption letter from the Denver Fire Department to submit with the application.
  • Mobile plan renewal packet(PDF, 785KB) English or mobile plan renewal packet(PDF, 672KB) Spanish. Please make sure all required documents are submitted with application.
  • Affidavit of commissary(PDF, 237KB).
  • All pictures submitted must be in color and printed on 8.5" x 11" paper.
    • Pictures of all 4 sides of the truck from the outside. Include a picture of the license plate. 2 pictures of the inside.
  • Zoning use permit (if operating on private property).
  • Permission letter from property owner (if operating on private property).
  • If applicant is applying as a non-profit, the following documents are required to request non-profit fee waivers:
    • A letter addressed to the Department of Excise and Licenses that contains the following:
      • request of fee waiver
      • name of non-profit
      • explanation of vision/how does the community benefit from this non-profit
      • must be on letter head
      • dated
      • signature
    • The second required document is the 501(C)3 letter from the IRS listing the non-profit's name.

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 when licenses can be renewed by paying the license and the penalty fees. If a license is not renewed before it expires, operations must cease until it is renewed.

First 30 days of grace period: 20% penalty fee

Days 31 to 90: 50% penalty fee

After 90 days: Licensees must apply for a new license

License must be displayed

Excise and Licenses will email a professional license to all licensees. This license (or a clear picture of it) must always be displayed.

Requirement to keep contact information up to date

File an online amendment application to notify the Department of any contact information changes (place of business, onsite manager, etc.). These updates must be filed within 72 hours of the change. 

Requirement to renew annually

Professional licenses expire annually. It is unlawful to operate with an expired license. Renewal applications must be filed online before a license expires.

Update contact information

If you want to update your contact information, log in to Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center to access the online licensing portal. At the "My Licenses" page, select "Amendment" for the license you want to update, then follow the prompts.

Legal name changes

If your legal name changed, email a written request to licenses@denvergov.org and include one of the following documents:

  • A certified copy of a marriage certificate indicating your new name
  • A certified copy of a final divorce decree in which the judge listed your desired name change
  • Other certified court documents granting a legal name change

Appointments

Municipal Code

Denver Revised Municipal Code

Definition 23-2 (23)

Requirements 23-50

Fees 32-106.54

Bulletins and news

Sign up for the latest Food Truck news and bulletins.

Denver food truck guides

Denver Food Truck Guide

Mobile Retail Food Vendor Fire Inspection List(PDF, 151KB)

DDPHE food truck website

Compliments or complaints

If you have a compliment, complaint or concern about a business in Denver, complete the form below. We will investigate any complaint about a business license issued for the City and County of Denver.

Compliment and complaint form

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