ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS AND COMMON CONSUMPTION AREAS

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 6, art. II

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-11 Definitions.

Sec. 6-11. - Definitions. As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: (1) Alcohol beverage means any fermented malt beverage or malt, vinous or spirituous liquors, as defined in the Colorado Liquor Code. (2) Attach means the connection, as authorized by the manager, of any of the liquor licensed premises identified in C.R.S. 44-3-301(11)(c)(II), as amended, to an adjoining common consumption area to provide alcohol beverages for consumption within the common consumption area. (3) Certified promotional association means a promotional association that has been authorized by the director. (4) Colorado Liquor Code means Article 3, Article 4, and Article 5 of Title 44 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended. (5) Common consumption area means an area as defined in C.R.S. § 44-3-103(11), as amended, where persons over the age of twenty-one (21) may consume alcohol beverages outside of a liquor licensed premises. (6) Eligible neighborhood organization means any of the following organizations that includes within its boundaries all or a portion of the property where a common consumption area is proposed to be located and is a registered neighborhood organization as defined in the Denver Revised Municipal Code that has been in existence for more than two (2) years or any other type of association of residents and owners of real property designated by the manager as an eligible neighborhood organization. (7) Entertainment district shall have the same meaning as in C.R.S. § 44-3-103(15). (8) Evidence of community support means any of the following forms of documentation; provided, however, that such documentation is authorized by an officer, manager, or agent of one (1) or more eligible neighborhood organizations: a. A letter of community support or non-opposition; b. A document indicating community support or non-opposition; c. A good neighbor agreement; or d. Any other evidence of community support deemed sufficient by the manager. (9) Licensee means a certified promotional association that has been issued a common consumption area license under the terms of this article. (10) Liquor license means a license issued pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code for the sale of fermented malt beverages or malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors. (11) Manager means the manager of licensing and consumer protection. (12) Promotional association shall have the same meaning as in C.R.S. § 44-3-103(39), as amended. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-12 License and certification required.

Sec. 6-12. - License and certification required. (a) It is unlawful for any person or entity to operate a common consumption area without a license and in compliance with all applicable state and local laws. (b) The manager may place conditions on a license to ensure that the premises will be operated lawfully, incorporate the specific and enforceable provisions of a good neighbor agreement, or add any operational requirements and/or restrictions included in any evidence of community support submitted with the application. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-13 Application.

Sec. 6-13. - Application. Any application for the certification of a promotional association shall be accompanied by an application for the issuance of a common consumption area license. Such applications shall be made to the manager upon forms provided by the manager and shall include, in addition to any information required by chapter 32 of this Code, all supplemental materials required by this article and any rules adopted pursuant thereto. Such applications shall also contain the following information necessary for the establishment of an entertainment district by city council. The manager may, at the manager's discretion, require additional documentation associated with the application, as may be necessary, to enforce the requirements of the Colorado Liquor Code and this article II. (a) Certified promotional association. An application for promotional association certification shall include the following: (1) The name of the promotional association to which the common consumption area license would be issued; (2) The name and address of any liquor licensed establishment that would be attached to and providing alcohol beverages for consumption within the common consumption area; (3) The name and address of any non-liquor licensed establishments whose premises are included in the boundaries of the common consumption area license; (4) The name and address of each person that is on the board of directors of the promotional association; (5) A statement of whether there has been any disciplinary action at any of the attached liquor licensed premises within the past five (5) years of the date of the application; and (6) Any other such information and documents as may reasonably be required by the manager. (b) Common consumption area license. An application for a common consumption area license shall include the following: (1) A site plan for the common consumption area indicating the attached liquor licensees and any businesses whose premises are included within the boundaries of the common consumption area, with the boundaries of the proposed common consumption area outlined in red; (2) The name of the entertainment district in which the common consumption area would be located and a map indicating the location of the common consumption area within the entertainment district; (3) Proof of possession and evidence of permission authorizing alcohol consumption from any non-liquor licensed premises located within the common consumption area; (4) Proof of liability insurance carried by the promotional association within the liability coverage limits set by the manager; (5) A description of the proposed days and hours of operation and, for common consumption area licenses that will operate on an event basis only, all dates for any event occurring within that calendar year; (6) Evidence of community support, which may include any additional operational requirements that the eligible neighborhood organization deems necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding community; (7) A parking and transportation plan; (8) A health and sanitation plan; (9) A security and admission control plan; and (10) Any required permits or authorizations including, but not limited to, right-of-way permits, zoning permits, and fire and building permits. (c) Entertainment district. City council has sole authority to approve and create entertainment districts within the City and County of Denver, either by ordinance or resolution. A request for an entertainment district shall include the following: (1) The proposed name of the entertainment district; (2) A detailed area map of the proposed entertainment district including the following: a. The boundaries of the proposed entertainment district outlined in red; b. The total acreage of the proposed entertainment district; and c. The name, address, license type, and square footage of each liquor licensed premises, excluding temporary modifications, specified in C.R.S. § 44-3-103(15)(c), as amended. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-14 Notice and public hearing.

Sec. 6-14. - Notice and public hearing. (a) Public notice; posting and publication. (1) Upon receipt of an application for certification of a promotional association and issuance of a common consumption area license, the manager shall schedule a public hearing upon the application not less than sixty (60) days from the date of the application and shall post and publish the public notice thereof not less than thirty (30) days prior to such hearing. Public notice shall be given by the conspicuous posting of a sign at each participating business within and attached to the common consumption area and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation. (2) Notice shall conform to the requirements of C.R.S. § 44-3-311, as amended, and any other requirements set forth by the manager. (b) Conduct of public hearings. (1) At the public hearing held pursuant to this section, any party in interest shall be allowed to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses. As used in this section, "party in interest" means any of the following: a. The applicant; b. An adult resident of the neighborhood under consideration; c. The owner or manager of a business located in the neighborhood under consideration; d. The principal or representative of any school located within five hundred (500) feet of the boundaries of the common consumption area; or e. An authorized representative of a registered neighborhood organization that encompasses all or part of the neighborhood under consideration. (2) The manager shall designate the neighborhood being affected by such application. The designation of the geographical extent and boundaries of such neighborhood shall be within the sole discretion of the manager. (c) Results of investigation; decision of manager. (1) Not less than five (5) days prior to the date of hearing, the manager shall make known the manager's findings based on the manager's initial investigation of the application documents in writing to the applicant and other interested parties. The failure of the manager to make these findings known five (5) days prior to the date of the public hearing shall not preclude the manager from later determining that the application should be approved or denied. (2) Before certifying a promotional association and issuing a common consumption area license, the manager shall consider the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood, the desires of the adult inhabitants as evidenced by petitions, remonstrances, or otherwise, and all other reasonable restrictions that are or may be placed upon the neighborhood by the local licensing authority. (3) Before entering any decision approving or denying the application, the manager shall consider, except where this article specifically provides otherwise, the facts and evidence adduced as a result of its investigation and the public hearing required by this section, and any other pertinent matters affecting the qualifications of the applicant for issuance of a common consumption area license and certification of a promotional association including this article and chapter 32 of this Code, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (4) Unless additional time is necessary to fully investigate an application, any decision of the manager approving or denying an application shall be in writing stating the reasons therefor, within thirty (30) days after the date of the public hearing, and a copy of such decision shall be sent by certified mail to the applicant at the address shown in the application and to the state licensing authority. The failure of the manager to issue a final decision within thirty (30) days after the date of the public hearing shall not preclude the manager from later determining that the application should be approved or denied. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-15 Transfer of ownership; promotional association structure change.

Sec. 6-15. - Transfer of ownership; promotional association structure change. (a) In general. Applications to change the composition of the board of managers of a certified promotional association shall be made upon forms provided by the manager. The manager may refuse to authorize a change in the certified promotional association membership for any of the reasons for which the manager would refuse to certify a new promotional association. (b) Change in ownership of attached liquor licenses. A change in ownership of a liquor license attached to the common consumption area does not require recertification of a promotional association certification. The certified promotional association shall submit the name and address of each director to the department within thirty (30) days of such a change. (c) Nontransferable. No license granted pursuant to this article shall be transferable from one (1) person or entity to another. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-16 Changing, altering, or modifying of common consumption area or entertainment district.

Sec. 6-16. - Changing, altering, or modifying of common consumption area or entertainment district. (a) After the issuance of a common consumption area license, a licensee shall make no physical change, alteration, or modification to the common consumption area which materially or substantially alters the boundaries or the usage of the common consumption area from the plans and specifications submitted at the time of the original license application without a new application pursuant to section 6-13 and approval of the manager. (b) If, after reviewing the application for a modification of the common consumption area, the manager finds that the proposed change materially or substantially alters the boundaries or usage [of the] licensed premises the manager shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with the requirements of section 6-14 and shall issue written findings for the new application. (c) The boundaries of an entertainment district may not be expanded, enlarged, or modified without approval from city council through an ordinance or resolution. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-17 Term of licenses; renewals.

Sec. 6-17. - Term of licenses; renewals. (a) Any certification or license issued pursuant to this article shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance, or for such shorter or non-consecutive times as approved by the manager. A common consumption area license issued for a period of less than one (1) year shall not be issued to a certified promotional association for more than a total of fifteen (15) days in one (1) calendar year. (b) If a certified promotional association has received notice of disciplinary action against any attached liquor licensed premises the application for renewal shall include a notice. (c) Upon receipt of an application for renewal of a common consumption area license, the manager may conduct a renewal hearing if there is reasonable cause to believe that: (1) The licensee, or any of the agents, servants, employees, or members of the licensee, have violated any ordinance of the city or any state law on the premises or have permitted such a violation on the premises by any other person; (2) There are grounds for denial, suspension, revocation or other licensing sanctions as provided in this article or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (d) In addition to the grounds set forth in chapter 32 of this Code, a common consumption area license may not be renewed and a promotional association may not be recertified if there are causes for denial, suspension, revocation or other licensing sanctions. (e) Except where the manager has received a complete renewal application along with the requisite fees, it shall be unlawful for any certified promotional association to operate a common consumption area after the expiration date recorded upon the face of the common consumption area license. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-18 Causes for denial.

Sec. 6-18. - Causes for denial. In addition to the grounds set forth in chapter 32 of this Code, a common consumption area license may not be issued and a promotional association may not be certified if: (1) There is good cause to deny the application. The term "good cause" means: a. The applicant or licensee has violated, does not meet, or has failed to comply with any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of the Colorado Liquor Code or any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, or this article II or any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto; b. The applicant or licensee has failed to comply with any special terms or conditions that were placed on its license; c. The applicant has not established the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood or the desires of its adult inhabitants by a preponderance of the evidence; d. Evidence that the issuance of the license will adversely impact the health, welfare or public safety of the neighborhood in which the common consumption area is proposed to be located. (2) The applicant or licensee fails to establish and maintain evidence of community support; (3) The information and evidence available to and considered by the manager fails to reasonably establish that the proposed procedures for security and admission control will prevent the consumption of alcohol beverages by underage persons; (4) The proposed common consumption area does not have adequate physical barriers to close the area to motor vehicle traffic and limit pedestrian access; (5) The promotional association board is not composed of at least one (1) director from each liquor licensed premises attached to the common consumption area; (6) The proposed premises of the common consumption area is not a single, contiguous area; (7) The proposed common consumption area overlaps with another common consumption area or any other liquor licensed premises, except the premises may overlap with a special event license operating in compliance with all state and local laws; (8) The promotional association fails to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, any of the qualifications for the license at a public hearing pursuant to section 6-14; or (9) The application fails to comply with all state and local laws, and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-19 Disciplinary actions; sanctions; penalties.

Sec. 6-19. - Disciplinary actions; sanctions; penalties. (a) Disciplinary actions. In addition to the grounds provided in chapter 32 of this Code, a license may be suspended or revoked for any of the grounds for denial set forth in section 6-18 of this article II. (b) Civil penalties in lieu of fine. In lieu of the maximum fine for license violations set forth in chapter 32 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, the director is hereby authorized to impose civil penalties for license violations to the same extent and according to the same standards as are utilized by the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Liquor Code and any and all applicable rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 551-23, § 2, 6-5-23)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-20 Unlawful acts.

Sec. 6-20. - Unlawful acts. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any rule or regulation adopted by the manager pursuant to section 6-21. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a common consumption area between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (c) It shall be unlawful for any promotional association to change or modify the common consumption area premises or usage without approval from the manager. (d) It shall be unlawful for any licensed liquor establishment to allow its patrons to consume alcohol beverages in a common consumption area without authorization from the manager to attach to the common consumption area. (e) It shall be unlawful for a promotional association or any liquor licensed establishment to sell or store alcohol within the common consumption area. (f) It shall be unlawful for any promotional association to permit its patrons to remove an open alcohol beverage from the common consumption area. (g) It shall be unlawful for any non-liquor licensed business or person located with the boundaries of the common consumption area to sell or serve alcohol. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-21 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 6-21. - Rules and regulations. (a) The manager may make such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this article and any other ordinances or laws relating to and affecting the licensing and operation of common consumption areas. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-22 Effective date; no vested rights.

Sec. 6-22. - Effective date; no vested rights. (a) Effective date. This article shall be effective forty-five (45) days from the adoption of rules pursuant to section 6-21, and the requirements of this article shall apply to all applications submitted on or after that date. (b) Invalid license. Any common consumption area license issued for an area that is not within a city council approved entertainment district has no effect and is invalid. (c) No entitlement or vested right to licensing. No person shall be deemed to have any entitlement or vested right to licensing under this article II by virtue of having received any prior license or permit from the city including, by way of example, but not limited to, any zoning permit, any building permit, or any sales tax license. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 425-21, § 1, 5-10-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-23 Report to city council.

Sec. 6-23. - Report to city council. The manager shall report in writing to city council by April 15 of each year, on the operation of the entertainment district and common consumption area licensing program. (Ord. No. 1110-19, § 1, 11-12-19; Ord. No. 2034-25, § 1, 1-5-26; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

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_CH6ALCANAME_ARTIIENDICOCOARFetched: 10/27/2026