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

Dance Hall License (conditional — public dances held on the premises)

Section J of Jefferson County's Beer, Wine, Liquor, and Dance Hall Licenses policy (Resolution CC26-245, effective September 15, 2026) states that no person shall operate a public dance hall, booth, pavilion or other place where public dances are held in Jefferson County without first obtaining a dance hall license from the Liquor Licensing Authority, and that applications must meet C.R.S. 30-15-501 et seq. Section G.1.b sets an annual dance hall license fee of $25, and the county liquor fee sheet (last updated 9/9/2026) lists the same $25 annual fee with a $0 state fee. The policy states that the Authority's dance hall jurisdiction covers Jefferson County. Without public dances on the premises, a restaurant or bar has no dance hall license to obtain.

Liquor License Filings — Manager Registration, Change of Location, Late Renewal, Special Event Permit

A licensee in unincorporated Jefferson County pays further fees for particular filings. Registering a manager costs $30 local and $30 state, and applies to Tavern, Hotel & Restaurant, Lodging or Entertainment and Campus Liquor Complex licenses only. Moving the licensed premises (change of location) costs $750 local and $150 state. A late renewal, listed on the county sheet as '<90 days of expiration', costs $500 local and $500 state. Section G of the county policy (Resolution CC26-245, effective September 15, 2026) sets an application fee of $100 per special event liquor permit, issued by the Authority for events in the unincorporated county. 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.

Hotel & Restaurant Liquor License (local and state; unincorporated county)

A restaurant in unincorporated Jefferson County that serves beer, wine and spirits holds a Hotel & Restaurant liquor license issued by both the Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority and the State Licensing Authority. A new license costs $1,075 in local fees ($1,000 application and $75 license) and $1,600 in state fees ($1,100 application and $500 license); each annual renewal costs $175 local ($100 renewal application and $75 license) and $750 state ($250 and $500). Tavern, Lodging or Entertainment Facility, Campus Liquor Complex, Racetrack, Resort Complex and Retail Gaming Tavern licenses carry the same figures on the county sheet; Brew Pub, Distillery Pub and Vintner's Restaurant licenses carry a $750 state license fee. 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.

Retail Food Establishment License

Colorado now writes these fees into statute on a three-year escalator, so the number depends on the year as well as the business. For 2026 a restaurant or caterer pays $481 up to a hundred seats, $538 to two hundred and $581 above; a limited food service establishment $338; a grocery $244 or $441 by floor area, or $469 and $894 with a deli; a full-service mobile unit $481 and a prepackaged one $338. Every one of those rises on 1 January 2027 and again in 2028, after which the 2028 figures continue until a new schedule is set. Two qualifications matter. The statutory figures are a ceiling: a county or district board of health may charge less, and Denver may set its own by ordinance. And the state itself only licenses in nine counties — Clear Creek, Dolores, Gilpin, Moffat, Ouray, Park, Pitkin outside Aspen, Rio Blanco and San Juan — with local public health agencies doing it everywhere else. Plan review is separate at $155 plus actual cost; the statute caps that at $900 while the department's own page still says $580, so confirm before budgeting.

Shared with other businesses in Jefferson County Co

• Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine License, On or Off Premises (local and state; unincorporated county) — Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority (Clerk to the Board), New: local $1,000 application + $7.50 license = $1,007.50; state $1,100 application + $117.50 license = $1,217.50. Renewal: local $100 + $7.50 = $107.50; state $250 + $117.50 = $367.50., annual; renewal each year. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• 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 coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Temporary/Special Event Retail Food Vendor License — Jefferson County Public Health, Environmental Health Services, Full food service: $145 if the complete application is received 14 days or more before the event, $175 if received 13 days or less before; pre-packaged: $125 / $155 (Form 3610, revised 2/28/2025). Payable to the Jefferson County Treasurer., per application, covering the events listed on it; a separate license is needed for each booth operated at the same time. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Beer & Wine License (local and state; unincorporated county) — Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority (Clerk to the Board), New: local $1,000 application + $63.75 license = $1,063.75; state $1,100 application + $436.25 license = $1,536.25. Renewal: local $100 + $63.75 = $163.75; state $250 + $436.25 = $686.25., annual; renewal each year. Also required for coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.