LICENSE

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 7, art. IV, div. 2

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-101 Required.

Sec. 7-101. - Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a social room or after hours restaurant without having first obtained a valid license as provided in this division; provided, however, that no license shall be required for a social room operated by: (1) A person or organization which can demonstrate its exemption from taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and where attendance at the school room is restricted to members of the organization and their guests; or (2) A municipal, state or federal governmental body. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-102 Application.

Sec. 7-102. - Application. (a) Application for a license under this article shall be made to the manager on forms to be provided by the manager for that purpose, which forms shall contain the following information: (1) Name and address of the applicant; (2) Name and address of the establishment or business for which application is being made; (3) Class of license applied for; (4) Type of entertainment to be offered or provided; (5) Building plan of the premises for which application is being made with all the points of ingress and egress clearly marked thereon. The manager may also require detailed sketches of the premises; (6) Such other information or evidence as reasonably may be required to establish to the satisfaction of the manager that the character and reputation of the applicant are such as to warrant the confidence of the manager that the establishment will be lawfully operated, and that the health or welfare or morals of the neighborhood will not be adversely affected by the license issue. (b) Any change of ownership shall require a new application and license, with payment of fees therefor, and approval of the manager. However, when a license has been issued to a husband and wife, or to general or limited partners, the death of a spouse or partner shall not require the surviving spouse or partner to obtain a new license. For the purposes of this division, the transfer, sale or assignment of more than fifty (50) percent of the corporate stock of a corporate license shall be conclusively presumed to be a change of ownership. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-103 Notice; posting; hearing.

Sec. 7-103. - Notice; posting; hearing. (a) Upon receipt of an application for a license under this article, the manager shall schedule a public hearing upon the application not less than forty (40) days from the date of receipt of the application; and it shall be the duty of the manager, in the manager's discretion, to designate the neighborhood to be affected by such application. (b) The manager shall require public notice to be given of the application for such license by the posting of a notice of the public hearing no less than thirty (30) consecutive days in advance of the public hearing in a conspicuous place on the premises whereon the social room or after hours restaurant is proposed to be operated or maintained, legible from the public street or public way (other than an alley) nearest to such premises. This public notice shall state the type of license applied for, the name and address of the applicant, the type of entertainment to be offered, and the time and place of the public hearing on the application; provided that such posted notice of the public hearing shall be displayed on a sign or signs, in number, size and location as prescribed by the manager. (c) At the time and place specified in the notice, or at such other time to which the hearing may be continued by the manager, the manager or any hearing officer shall receive petitions and hear such information and evidence as may be offered by the applicant and residents of the designated neighborhood (which term shall include residents of the neighborhood and all owners or managers of business located in the designated neighborhood) concerning the desires of the residents of the designated neighborhood and the effect the issuance of the license would have on the health or welfare or morals of the designated neighborhood. Admissibility of evidence, exhibits and petitions shall conform with the general rules of evidence. (d) The approval or denial of the application shall rest within the sound discretion of the manager after evidence has been presented during such public hearing. (e) A hearing upon application for renewal of an existing license may be scheduled at the discretion of the manager, either upon the manager's own initiative or upon proper complaint to the manager, and the procedures and requirements in this event shall be the same as shown in this division for a new license application. (f) The manager shall not consider an application for a license at a particular premises if a license under this article has been applied for but not issued for the same premises within one (1) year prior to the date of making such application. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-104 Fees.

Sec. 7-104. - Fees. License and application fees under this article shall be as prescribed in section 32-109 of this Code. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-105 Causes for denial.

Sec. 7-105. - Causes for denial. (a) No license under this article shall be issued when: (1) The information or evidence available to and considered by the manager reasonably establishes: that the character or reputation of the applicant or the past record of operation of the establishment or business for which application is made is such so as not to warrant the confidence of the manager that the establishment or business will be lawfully operated; or that the health or welfare or morals of the neighborhood would be adversely affected thereby; (2) The applicant or manager of the establishment or business has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation involving the use of or traffic in narcotic drugs, violent acts against person or properties, sex offense, or gambling, within five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application or request for renewal of license, subject to the provisions of subsection (b); (3) The applicant or manager of the establishment or business has been convicted of an unlawful act while under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic drug, stimulant or depressant, two (2) or more times within five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application or request for renewal of license, subject to the provisions of subsection (b); (4) The premises for which application has been made or for which renewal of a license is sought are not approved for the purpose by the fire, public health and environment and transportation and infrastructure departments of the city; (5) The premises for which application has been made or for which renewal of a license is sought has more than one (1) door to be unlocked to gain admission; has an entrance equipped with any device that allows persons inside the premises to see outside, but does not allow persons outside the premises to see inside; or has any kind of signal system which can be used to give warning of the approach of a police officer; (6) The premises for which application has been made is located within five hundred (500) feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school; (7) Makes any false or misleading statement of material fact on his or her application; (8) Has violated any state law or city ordinance in connection with any social room or after hours restaurant license within three (3) years preceding the application; or (9) Has committed or permitted any act in connection with any social room or after hours restaurant license which is cause for suspension or revocation under section 7-76 or chapter 32 within three (3) years preceding the application. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 500-01, § 12, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 427-18, § 4, 6-11-18; Ord. No. 39-20, § 12, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 551-23, § 7, 6-5-23; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-106 Inspection of premises.

Sec. 7-106. - Inspection of premises. Before issuing any license under this article, the manager or one (1) of the inspectors shall visit and inspect the premises where the applicant proposes to operate. (Ord. No. 100-88, § 1, 2-29-88; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-107 Registered manager—Present when open to public.

Sec. 7-107. - Registered manager—Present when open to public. (a) The licensee shall file with the manager a written designation of a person over the age of twenty-one (21) who shall serve as the licensee's registered manager. (b) The licensee's registered manager shall be physically present on the licensed premises at all times that the premises are open to public entry or use. (Ord. No. 500-01, § 13, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-108 Conditions on license.

Sec. 7-108. - Conditions on license. The manager may impose reasonable terms, requirements, conditions, or limitations on any license issued under this article necessary to protect public health, safety or welfare. (Ord. No. 500-01, § 13, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-109 Suspension or revocation of license.

Sec. 7-109. - Suspension or revocation of license. (a) After notice and an administrative hearing at which the city submits proof by a preponderance of the evidence, or upon stipulation of the parties, or upon failure of the licensee to appear at such a hearing after notice has been given, the manager may suspend or revoke any license issued under this article who: (1) Makes any false or misleading statement of material fact on his or her application for a license or to any city employee enforcing this article or investigating whether a violation has occurred under this article; (2) Violates any state law or city ordinance or permits any person to do the same on the premises of the social room or after hours restaurant or on any sidewalk, street, parking area or other grounds immediately adjacent to the public dance premises; (3) Fails to maintain the licensed premises in compliance with the requirements of the fire department, transportation and infrastructure department, building department, zoning department, and public health and environment department; (4) Violates any rule or regulation promulgated by the manager under this article; (5) Violates any term, condition or limitation on his or her license or permits any person in his employment to do the same; (6) The licensee and his employees engage in or permit any conduct that is offensive to the senses of the average citizen on the licensed or on any sidewalk, street, parking area or other grounds immediately adjacent to the public dance premises; or (7) Commits any act or omission or meets any condition which is cause for suspension or revocation under chapter 32. (Ord. No. 500-01, § 13, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 427-18, § 4, 6-11-18; Ord. No. 39-20, § 13, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 551-23, § 7, 6-5-23; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-110 Premises open to police inspection.

Sec. 7-110. - Premises open to police inspection. The premises of any social room or after hours restaurant shall be open for inspection by any police officer at any time that the premises are available for open to public entry or use. (Ord. No. 500-01, § 13, 6-18-01)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH7AM_ARTIVSOROOTAM_DIV2LIFetched: 10/27/2026