Catering Business Permit Requirements in Denver, CO
Complete permit and license guide for starting a catering business in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.
Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Last verified: .
Denver / Denver County Requirements
2 requirementsDDPHE Catering Food Establishment License
Required for all catering businesses operating in Denver. Issued by the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment. Caterers must operate from an approved commissary or licensed commercial kitchen. An inspection is required before the license is issued.
Denver Business License
Required for all businesses operating in Denver. Issued by the Denver Department of Excise & Licenses. Must be obtained in addition to the health department catering license.
Colorado State Requirements
2 requirementsColorado CDPHE Retail Food Establishment License
Required for catering operations in Colorado. Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. In Denver, the local DDPHE license typically satisfies this requirement through a concurrent inspection process.
Colorado Sales Tax License
Required for catering businesses that sell taxable food and beverages. Issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. Caterers must collect and remit Colorado sales tax (2.9%) plus applicable Denver city taxes.
Federal Requirements
1 requirementEIN (Employer Identification Number)
Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS, obtained instantly online.
Official Sources
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