What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Jefferson County Co?

Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine License, On or Off Premises (local and state; unincorporated county)

A grocery or convenience store selling beer and wine to take away, or a cafe or restaurant serving them on site, in unincorporated Jefferson County can hold a Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine license (on or off premises) issued by the Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority and the State Licensing Authority. A new license costs $1,007.50 in local fees ($1,000 application and $7.50 license) and $1,217.50 in state fees ($1,100 application and $117.50 license); each annual renewal costs $107.50 local and $367.50 state. The local figures are from the Jefferson County liquor licensing fee schedule (county fee sheet, last updated 9/9/2026) and match the county columns of the Colorado Department of Revenue's DR 8500 liquor fee schedule dated 08/14/26; the state figures are from both documents. The county's Beer, Wine, Liquor, and Dance Hall Licenses policy (Resolution CC26-245, effective September 15, 2026) directs the Authority to charge the maximum the Liquor Laws allow where a local fee is capped, and otherwise the statutory amount. The county authority licenses the unincorporated portions of Jefferson County only; a business inside a municipality applies to that municipality's local licensing authority instead.

Temporary/Special Event Retail Food Vendor License

Form 3610, Jefferson County Public Health's vendor license application for temporary and special retail food service (revised 2/28/2025), states that a Jefferson County vendor license is required to operate at temporary or special events in Jefferson County and that applications must be submitted 14 days before the first event. The fee for a full food service vendor is $145 when the complete application is received 14 days or more before the event and $175 when it is received 13 days or less before; a pre-packaged vendor pays $125 and $155. The form states that incomplete applications or applications without payment are not processed, that a separate Jefferson County license is needed for each booth operated at the same time, and that the license must be kept in the booth. C.R.S. 25-4-1607(1.1)(b)(II), added by Senate Bill 25-285, provides that a county or district public health agency establishes the license fees for a retail food establishment at a special event.

Beer & Wine License (local and state; unincorporated county)

A restaurant or cafe in unincorporated Jefferson County that serves beer and wine but not spirits can hold a Beer & Wine license issued by the Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority and the State Licensing Authority. A new license costs $1,063.75 in local fees ($1,000 application and $63.75 license) and $1,536.25 in state fees ($1,100 application and $436.25 license); each annual renewal costs $163.75 local and $686.25 state. The local figures are from the Jefferson County liquor licensing fee schedule (county fee sheet, last updated 9/9/2026) and match the county columns of the Colorado Department of Revenue's DR 8500 liquor fee schedule dated 08/14/26; the state figures are from both documents. The county's Beer, Wine, Liquor, and Dance Hall Licenses policy (Resolution CC26-245, effective September 15, 2026) directs the Authority to charge the maximum the Liquor Laws allow where a local fee is capped, and otherwise the statutory amount. The county authority licenses the unincorporated portions of Jefferson County only; a business inside a municipality applies to that municipality's local licensing authority instead.

Shared with other businesses in Jefferson County Co

• Retail Food Establishment License (fixed establishment, annual) — Jefferson County Public Health, Environmental Health Services, Annual retail food establishment license fee payable to Jefferson County Public Health, governed from January 1, 2026 by C.R.S. 25-4-1607(1.1) (added by Senate Bill 25-285), which sets a statewide fee schedule by establishment type and lets a county or district board of health establish lower fees. JCPH's current fee is not published in a 2026 JCPH document; contact JCPH Environmental Health Services at 303-232-6301 for the amount., calendar year, valid January 1 through December 31; renewable annually. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Retail Food Establishment License — Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability, $244–$1,063 a year for 2026, banded by establishment type and size; the schedule rises in 2027 and 2028, annual. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability, No fee, set by the certifying programme, not by Colorado. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.