Renewal wholesale food commissary application

This is for any commercial kitchen or kitchen space that offers their facilities to other retailers to use as their kitchens.

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.

Step 2.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 3.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 4.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 5.Pay required fees

License fee:

$150

If you are applying as a nonprofit and want to request a fee waiver:

Step 6.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 7.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.

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.

To update your contact information, please go to our entity registration webpage to find out how to submit those applications.

To update your on-site manager go to our licensed establishment webpage to find out how to submit those applications.

Appointments

Municipal Code

Denver Revised Municipal Code

Definition 23-2

Requirements 23-40

Fees 32-75

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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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