Department of Excise and Licenses - City and County of Denver

Thanks for following the first Denver Department of Excise and Licenses social media page. We hope to better reach Denver businesses, consumers, and stakeholders that are impacted by regulations and hear from you, the taxpayers, who deserve to know what the city is doing to protect consumers and regulate businesses.   On our page, you can expect newsworthy Denver business information, including licensing trends, updates about changes to regulations, alerts about new programs to support businesses and opportunities for the community to participate in the licensing approval process.   If you haven’t followed this page yet, please do that now and encourage your friends who are interested in business or consumer protections in Denver to follow as well. What do you want to learn on this page from the agency that regulates occupations and businesses in the Mile High City? 

Because of ongoing construction in the Wellington Webb Building, we will not be offering in-person counter assistance on Friday, Aug. 30. In-person service will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3 after the Labor Day holiday. Virtual appointments will still be available that day. We apologize for the inconvenience. To make a virtual appointment for Friday or any day that is convenient for you, visit https://lnkd.in/dY_BM_bE

Every year Denver releases a comprehensive report of how the city is managing legalized marijuana and the 2024 annual marijuana report is out. It provides a transparent picture of the first decade of legalized and regulated cannabis sales in the Mile High City and is a collaborative effort by several city departments and agencies. It includes:   ✅ Updated licensing totals and locations through Dec. 31, 2023 ✅ Retail and medical marijuana sales figures for the year ✅ Tax revenue generated and compared with previous years ✅ A breakdown of how Denver spends marijuana tax revenue ✅ Notable achievements toward the city’s equity goals ✅ Denver Police Department marijuana-related crime data   Read the full report ➡ https://bit.ly/3AJo2dJ

Short-term rentals are booming in Denver. The City and County of Denver is on pace to collect the most money in lodger’s tax since reforms to the program started in 2018. In the first half of this year, the City has collected $7.4 million, on pace for $14.8 in 2024. That would be a 7% increase from the previous high of $13.8 million in 2023. Lodging tax revenue helps support staff to process license applications and enforce against illegal short-term rentals disturbing neighborhoods. There are more than 2,700 active short-term rental licenses in Denver. For more data like this, check out our new quarterly short-term rental regulatory report: https://bit.ly/4diWee0

Security guards who work in the City and County of Denver support law enforcement and help keep our city safe. But must be licensed through our agency. And those licensed guards can only work for private security guard companies that also are licensed in Denver. Licensed guards must pass an FBI background check and complete training courses. Private security guard companies must submit a list of the guards they employ, providing a secondary layer of accountability that guards are properly trained and qualified. There currently are 260 private security guard companies licensed in Denver. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4dwdLzM

Complaints received about problem short-term rentals in neighborhoods continue to decline. Denver requires a license for short-term rentals and the property must be the primary residence of the license holder. That’s because renters of a primary residence are more attentive to the property and it has reduced the number of complaints the City receives. In the first half of this year, the City is averaging 17 complaints a month about short-term rentals, including only 12 in June. That’s an impressive number considering there are more than 2,700 active short-term rental licenses in Denver. For more data like this, check out our new second quarter report: https://bit.ly/4diWee0

Congratulations to Standing Akimbo, which is owned by Schwazze, at 3801 N. Jason St. for becoming the second Cannabis Cares champion. The marijuana store completed more than 50 tasks, including community cleanups at Denver parks and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, donated to a school outdoor education program and the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, removed snow for senior citizens and reserved shelf space for social equity-qualified businesses. It received badges in all five eligible categories: ✅ Community engagement ✅ Contracting with minority-owned businesses ✅ Diversity and inclusion ✅ Social equity ✅ Sustainability The Cannabis Cares program recognizes cannabis businesses that go above and beyond in their contributions to the community and gives consumers who shop with their values information about which businesses are giving back. Learn more about the program at https://lnkd.in/gBV9yATn.

Making the required licensing process easier and less expensive for is one of our major priorities. Our agency recently distributed $64,481 in the second round of the Business License Hearing Fund. This was a 21% increase from the first round in 2023, when we distributed $53,227. The fund provides legal financial reimbursement for eligible businesses and registered neighborhood organizations that participated in a public hearing as part of a business license application. In all, 12 applicants received an average of $5,373 each. A fourth round of applications will open on Sept. 1. Learn more and see the eligibility requirements for this program that’s creating more equitable access to business licensing and effective community participation in the process ➡️ https://bit.ly/3WgYGwx 

Our agency provides quarterly updates on short-term rentals in the City and County of Denver. The second quarter report has been published. It shows that between July 2023 and July 2024, our agency approved 97% of new and renewal short-term license applications – 2,582 of the 2,674 that were received. And only 1% -- 28 applications – were denied. For more data like this, check out the full second quarter report: https://bit.ly/4diWee0

It’s taking a lot less time to get a retail food (restaurant) license since Denver completed the largest overhaul in food licensing in decades about a year ago. Right now, on average, it is taking about five days for the city to process a new or renewal retail food license application, down from about 71 days a year ago and 30 days six months ago. Licensing fees have been reduced for the majority of food licensees and the process to apply for a food license is easier than ever. It is our duty to regulate food businesses to improve public safety but also create a business-friendly environment so our food providers can thrive and their employees can focus on providing restaurant-goers some of the best culinary experiences in the world. Learn more about applying for various food business licenses in Denver: https://bit.ly/48UGNGt