chefs working together in a commercial kitchen

Restaurant and Food Vendor Licensing

Plan Reviews

The Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) require that the local public health department submit, review, and approve complete plans and specifications before any construction, remodeling, and/or taking over an existing facility can begin on a retail food establishment or a license can be issued. Information about the requirements for constructing and operating a retail food establishment can be found in the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules & Regulations.

A review of facility and food preparation plans is required for the following types of food facilities and activities:

Restaurant
Grocery sales
Catering
Preparing food for retail sale
Mobile unit (food truck or push cart)
Temporary event
Special event (farmers market)
Sale of pre-packaged foods

If you plan to wholesale food, operate as a cottage food vendor, or prepare food containing marijuana, please review the requirements.

Contact the Boulder County Food Safety program if you are unsure if you need a license.

Preparing to Submit Plans

Preparing to Submit a Plan

All plan documents must be submitted electronically. Printed documentation will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Depending on the type of facility and activities planned, the documents in the table below may need to be completed and uploaded as part of the plan. The documents will be accessible from within the application form, but it may help to have them ready to upload before beginning the application form.

Possible Requirements	Details
Menu Upload	Menu food items that you will be serving to the public must be provided as either an upload or text. Price and recipes are not required.
Examples of Floor Plans	Floor plans are required for commissaries, restaurants, mobile units, and special events (e.g., Farmers Market) and must include details about: Equipment (e.g. refrigerators, walk-in coolers, prep tables etc.) Plumbing (e.g. hand sinks, warewashing sinks, mop sinks etc.) Storage areas Customer and employee restrooms Bars and service areas
Equipment Installation Table	Equipment details must include: Make/model number ID number on plans Architectural drawings that include equipment details may be submitted in lieu of the equipment installation table form.
Finish Schedule	A finish schedule is required for all areas of the facility or mobile unit and must include: Floors Walls Ceilings Floor-wall junctures Architectural drawings that include finish details may be submitted in lieu of the finish schedule.
Plumbing Fixtures	Plumbing fixture details must include: Number of fixtures ID number on plans Architectural drawings that include plumbing fixtures may be submitted in lieu of the plumbing fixtures form.
Warewashing	Complete the form(s) that correspond with the warewashing equipment planned for your facility.
Water Heater	Complete the form(s) that correspond with the water heater planned for your facility. If different water heaters supply separate fixtures, describe which water heater(s) will supply which fixture(s).
Commissary Agreement	A commissary agreement may be required for: Mobile units/push carts Special events Caterers Retail manufacturers

Completing & Submitting Plans

Completing and Submitting the Plan Review Form

It will take approximately 15 – 60 minutes to complete the plan review form, depending on the complexity of your plan.

The form must be completed in one session (it cannot be saved and returned to).

You will need:

All required documents available electronically and ready for upload. Examples can be found in the preparing to submit plans section.
A Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card for payment.
Learn more about fees and payment.

Application for Plan Review

Application Fees

The application fee is payable when the plan is submitted.

The fee ranges between $330 – $680.

The Fee

Depends on the type and complexity of the plan
Is determined based on the information you provide in the plan review form
Is payable by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or check

Payment via Credit Card or Electronic Check

If paid by credit card, there is an additional fee of $.75 plus 2.25% of the total cost.

If paid by electronic check, there is an additional fee of $1.00.

Payment by Check via Mail

Submit all required information
Send check with amount due to:
- Boulder County Public Health
  3450 Broadway
  Boulder, CO 80304

There is no fee for K-12 schools or for non-profit organizations serving populations with limited incomes (serving solely people who are food insecure).

Review Process

After you have submitted the plan review form, a plan review specialist will review your plan and notify you within 14 business days to let you know if the plans were approved or if more information or changes are needed.

Approved: If the plans are approved, you must contact the Plan Review Specialist at least 5 business days before your planned opening date to schedule the opening inspection.
- Your approval notification will include the amount of your annual license fee. The fee varies depending on the size and type of operation.
- The license fee is due by check at the opening inspection.
Not Approved: If the plans are not approved, you will be required to submit revised plans. Review of revised plans can take up to an additional 14 business days. Missing or incomplete information is the most common reason that plans are not approved.
Change: If your plans change after they have been approved, you may be required to submit revised plans and pay additional fees.

Other Required Permits, Licenses, or Inspections

Other permits may be needed for you to operate. All required permits must be obtained before a retail food establishment license can be granted. Contact the following agencies to ensure that you have taken all needed steps and obtained all required permits.

Services May Include:

Building Permits
HVAC/REF Electric Inspection
Plumbing Inspection
Structural Inspection
Liquor Licensing
Ventilation Hood Inspections

Building Department	Phone
Boulder County	303-441-3925
City of Boulder	303-926-1881
City of Lafayette	303-665-5588
City of Longmont	303-651-8332
City of Louisville	303-335-4584
Town of Erie	303-926-2781
Town of Jamestown	303-449-1806
Town of Lyons	303-823-6622
Town of Nederland	303-258-3266
Town of Superior	303-381-2028
Town of Ward	303-459-9273

City/Town Permits for Mobile Food Vending

Definitions of Types of Food Facilities & Activities

Definitions of Commonly Used Plan Review Terminology

Term	Definition	Requirements
Restaurant or grocery	A retail operation that stores, prepares, or packages food for human consumption. This food may be consumed on or off the premises.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review
Catering	Providing a contracted, prearranged number of meals that are prepared at a licensed retail food establishment for service and consumed at the same or another prearranged offsite location and not available for individual purchase.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review *Licensed retail food establishments might be approved to cater without obtaining a separate catering license
Mobile Unit (or push cart)	Mobile food vendor that reports to and operates from a commissary and is readily moveable; it is a motorized wheeled vehicle; or a towed (or pushed) wheeled vehicle designed and equipped to serve food.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review Commissary Agreement
Temporary Event	Single community event or celebration that operates for a period of time of not more than 14 consecutive days and may include town celebrations, fairs, and festivals.	Approval from BCPH and local jurisdiction
Temporary Event Vendor	Vendors providing food to the public at a temporary event, using tent/table set up or mobile food vehicle.	• Vendor Verification form • Temporary Event License or Mobile Unit License or other approved scenarios
Temporary Event Coordinator	Individual or organization responsible for the management of the temporary event.	• Coordinator application • List of all food vendors
Special Event (i.e. Farmers Market)	Organized events or celebrations held more than three times a year, including regularly scheduled series of events at venues such as sporting arenas, concert halls, flea markets, street fairs, and farmers markets.	Approval from BCPH and local jurisdiction
Special Event Vendor (i.e., Farmers Market)	Vendors providing food at Special Events using tent/table set up or mobile food vehicle.	• Vendor verification form • Special Event License or mobile unit license or prepackaged license or wholesale registration • Plan Review (commissary agreement, commercial equipment) • Approval from BCPH
Specialized Process (HACCP)	Specialized processes include things like reduced oxygen packaging (ROP), commonly referred to as cryo-vacking, as well as acidification, fermentation, and curing.	HACCP Plan Approval and/or variance
Licensed Commissary	A commercial kitchen with a current retail food license that has allowed the use of their facility by the retail or wholesale food operator.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review
Cottage Foods	Limited types of food products that do not require refrigeration for safety to be sold directly to consumers without licensing or inspection and may be prepared in a home kitchen. (link to CDPHE webpage)	• Food Safety Training • Required labeling • CO Cottage Food Act requirements
Produce	Agricultural product sold in its raw, harvested state.	Good agricultural practices (link)
Plan Review	Approval process prior to construction, extensive remodel, obtaining retail food license, storing, preparing or providing food.	Plan Review application
Remodeling	A facility is extensively remodeled when changes are made to kitchen space, bar, or food storage areas that affect change in layout; change in equipment (beyond replacing like for like); changes in operation and changes that require obtaining a building permit as required by local authorities, i.e. plumbing.	Plan review application
Wholesaler or Food Manufacturer	Food that is indirectly provided to consumers, including selling your food to retailers, shellfish dealers, salvage operations, grain storage facilities, and industrial hemp operations.	Registration as an approved wholesale or manufacturing operation
Prepackaged shelf stable food	Food or beverage that, when stored under normal conditions without refrigeration, will not support the rapid and progressive growth of microorganisms.	Obtain from approved source, including Colorado Retail Food License (prepackaged mobile), Wholesale Registration, or FDA Certification
Prepackaged TCS Food	Food or beverage that requires refrigeration to prevent the rapid and progressive growth of microorganisms.	• Colorado Retail Food License (prepackaged mobile), • Plan Review • Commissary Agreement
Retail Food Manufacturer	Food that is directly provided to consumers that is not already from an approved source.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review • Commissary Agreement
State Sales Tax	License issued by state government to allow businesses to legally collect sales tax and remit it to the local or state government.	Colorado Department of Revenue
Building permit	Approval issued by the designated government authority that allow owner or contractor to proceed with a construction or remodeling project, intended to ensure that planned project complies with local standards for land use, zoning, and construction.	Local building/plumbing permit
Limited Retail Food Service	Food retailer that prepares or serves food that does not require the following: 1) providing self-service beverages 2) offering prepackaged commercially prepared food and beverages requiring time or temperature control 3) only reheating commercially prepared foods that require time or temperature control for safety for retail sale to consumers.	• Local building/plumbing permit • Plan Review
Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food (TCS) [also known as Potentially Hazardous Food]	Food that requires time/temperature control for safety (TCS) to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review
Processed Food	Foods that undergo slicing, dicing, cutting, chopping, cooking, mixing, grinding, smoking, drying, packaging, canning or other procedures that alter the food from its original state. Mixed greens, honey, and salsa are examples of processed foods. Agricultural products further processed and not sold in its raw harvested state.	Change of owner plan review
Food containing marijuana	Food containing marijuana that has greater than .3% deltra-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered an adulterated product and is not permitted to be produced in retail food establishments	Requirements vary
Hemp/CBD	A hemp product is a finished product containing hemp that: is a cosmetic, food, food additive, or herb; for human use or consumption; contains any part of the hemp plant, including naturally occurring cannabinoids, compounds, concentrates, extracts, isolates, reins, or derivatives; and contains a deltra-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of no more than .03%.	Approval from Colorado Department of Revenue, state, and local agencies
Owner Change	Process in which a different person or business entity takes ownership of a licensed retail food establishment and doesn’t make changes to menu, equipment or facility layout.	Change of owner plan review
Sampling at events	Samples are considered to be “a bite or a swallow” of a food product and even though they are small in quantity it is still very important to follow good food handling practices and to serve safe food.	• Approved source • Vendor verification form
K12 or nonprofit entity	Includes schools providing food to children, Kindergarten -12th grade, or facilities serving people who are food insecure	• No fee license • Plan Review
Commercially Designed Equipment	Equipment that is certified or classified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation certification program, such as the: 1) National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), 2) Underwriters Laboratories (UL) sanitation standards, 3) Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. (ETL) sanitation standards, 4) Baking Industry Sanitation Standards Committee (BISSC) 5) or other comparable design criteria as approved by the Department during a standardized equipment review.	Plan Review
Self Contained mobile	A mobile food vendor that is approved to operate without a commissary and is not connected to fixed utilities such as water, sewer, and electricity, and is required to report to an approved servicing location for sewage disposal and water.	• Colorado Retail Food License • Plan Review • Operational Plan (including potable water and sewage disposal)
Approved source	Foods obtained from commercial suppliers that are inspected by the proper health authorities (state or local health departments, USDA, FDA).	• FDA certification • Wholesale registration • USDA approval

Restaurant and Food Vendor Licensing