DENVER NATURAL MEDICINE CODE

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 6, art. VI

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-300 Local licensing authority.

Sec. 6-300. - Local licensing authority. The manager is hereby designated as the local licensing authority for purposes of administering the Colorado Natural Medicine Code, the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 and this article VI. The manager shall have the power to determine the qualifications of applicants, set conditions for licensure, and determine whether natural medicine licenses should be issued, denied, renewed, suspended, fined, or revoked, pursuant to the procedures and standards set forth in this article VI and chapter 32 of this Code. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-301 Relationship to Colorado Natural Medicine Code and the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022.

Sec. 6-301. - Relationship to Colorado Natural Medicine Code and the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein and in chapter 32 of this Code, this article VI incorporates the licensing requirements set forth in the Colorado Natural Medicine Code and the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-302 No vested rights.

Sec. 6-302. - No vested rights. No person shall be deemed to have any entitlement or vested right to local licensing under this article VI by virtue of having applied for or having received any prior license or permit from the city or the state. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-303 Defined terms.

Sec. 6-303. - Defined terms. Except as provided below, the definitions set forth in the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 shall apply equally to this article VI. In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them: (1) Adverse health event has the same meaning as set forth in the Colorado Regulated Natural Medicine Rules promulgated by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (2) Advertise, advertising, or advertisement means the act of drawing the public's attention to a natural medicine business in order to promote a natural medicine business. (3) Applicant means any person applying for a natural medicine healing center license from the department. (4) Clinical facilitator means a natural person who may provide natural medicine services to participants for the purpose of treating physical or behavioral/mental health conditions. A clinical facilitator must hold a current and active Colorado license as a facilitator and licensure in a profession that authorizes them to diagnose and treat physical or behavioral/mental health conditions. (5) Colorado Natural Medicine Code means C.R.S. Article 50 of Title 44, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (6) Department means the department of licensing and consumer protection. (7) Licensee means any person holding a valid natural medicine healing center license issued by the department. (8) Location means a structure(s) or building(s) identified by a distinct street address assigned by the city in accordance with article IV of chapter 49 of this Code. To the extent the structure(s) or building(s) consist of separately described "units," "suites," "rooms," "buildings," or other similar subdivisions, the structure(s) or (buildings) shall nevertheless be counted as one (1) location. (9) Manager means the manager of licensing and consumer protection. (10) Natural medicine business means any entity licensed pursuant to this article, the Colorado Natural Medicine Code, or any entity authorized to operate a similar establishment in another state. (11) Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 means C.R.S. Article 170 of Title 12, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (12) Person means any firm, corporation, association, or other organization acting as a group or unit as well as a natural person. It shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, or other representative appointed according to law. (13) Private residence includes, but is not limited to, a private premises where a person lives such as a private dwelling, a place of habitation, a house, a multi-dwelling unit for residential occupants, or an apartment unit. Private residence does not include any premises located at a school, on the campus of an institution of higher education, public property, alcohol or drug treatment facility, or any commercial property unit including, but not limited to, offices or retail space. (14) School means a public or private preschool, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or high school. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-304 License required.

Sec. 6-304. - License required. (a) License required. It shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not they are licensed in another jurisdiction, to operate a healing center within the city without a valid local license issued pursuant to this article VI authorizing that business and a corresponding state license issued pursuant to the Colorado Natural Medicine Code authorizing the same business. (b) Exemptions. The following do not require local licensure: (1) Any healing center that allows only clinical facilitators to perform any of the following natural medicine services: preparation sessions, administration sessions, or integration sessions. Such healing centers may also allow individuals holding a natural medicine training license issued by the state to perform natural medicine services if they also hold an active and valid Colorado license in a practice area that meets state requirements for a clinical facilitator license. (2) Any federally recognized American tribe, as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, member(s) performing a bona fide religious, culturally traditional, or spiritual ceremony that is not associated with commercial, business, or for-profit activity. These tribe members must inform the person engaging in the ceremony that the individual is not a facilitator. (c) Proximity restriction. No state or local healing center license shall issue if the proposed location is within one thousand (1,000) feet of one (1) or more of the following locations: (1) Any preschool; elementary, middle, junior, or high school, with the distance computed in the manner set forth in the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (2) A child care center or residential child care facility, with the distance computed in the manner set forth in the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (3) The provisions of this section do not affect the renewal of a license once granted. These provisions also do not apply to licensed premises located, or to be located, on land owned by the city or state. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-305 Application requirements.

Sec. 6-305. - Application requirements. (a) Application requirement—Generally. All applications for local licensing shall be made on 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. (b) Application requirement—Documentation. The manager may, at the manager's discretion, require additional documentation associated with the application, as may be necessary, to enforce the requirements of this article VI, the Colorado Natural Medicine Code, the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022, and any rules adopted pursuant thereto. (c) Background check. The manager may require a national criminal history records check conducted by the federal bureau of investigation upon submission of fingerprint records and all required documents. When required, the background check must be completed no more than sixty (60) days before the application date. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-306 Provisions applicable to all licenses.

Sec. 6-306. - Provisions applicable to all licenses. (a) Inspections and permits. The manager shall not issue a local license until the applicant has completed all required inspections and received all necessary permits, including, but not limited to, right-of-way permits, zoning permits, and fire and building permits. (b) Compliance with state law. In addition to the requirements set forth in this article VI, all licensees shall comply with applicable provisions in the Colorado Natural Medicine Code and the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022. (c) Records. A licensee must provide on-demand access to on-premises records, including records related to adverse health events, the inventory tracking system and video surveillance, following a request from any law enforcement officer or other city official, during normal business hours or hours of apparent operation, and must provide access to off-premises records within three (3) business days following a request. (d) Background checks. Prior to the issuance of any local license, the manager may make a finding and determination as to the applicant's fitness for issuance of a license. In doing so, the manager may incorporate any findings previously made by the state licensing authority and consider whether convictions pose a threat to the regulation or control of natural medicine. (e) Shared premises of natural medicine testing facility and regulated marijuana testing facility. A natural medicine testing facility and a regulated marijuana testing facility may share the same licensed premises only to the extent allowed by the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (f) License conditions. In approving a healing center application, the manager may conduct an investigation and impose reasonable restrictions on the license. The manager shall issue a written report enumerating the conditions that make such restrictions necessary. All such restrictions shall be in writing, attached to the license; and continue to apply to renewed or transferred licenses, unless canceled by the manager. (g) License conditions—Violations. In addition to the grounds stated in chapter 32 of this Code, violations of restrictions on the license shall be grounds to suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter. (h) Requirements for reporting adverse health events. In addition to reporting requirements under state law, all licensees shall report every adverse health event to the local department of public health and environment within two (2) business days of occurrence. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-307 Transfers of ownership.

Sec. 6-307. - Transfers of ownership. (a) In general. All local natural medicine healing center licenses shall be transferable from one (1) person to another upon approval by the manager and subject to limitations set by this Code and state law. (b) Application requirements. All applications to transfer ownership of a local natural medicine healing center license shall be made in the manner provided by the manager. In addition to the information required by chapter 32 of this Code, the application shall contain any supplemental materials the manager deems necessary to implement or enforce this article VI and the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (c) Effect of transfers on proximity restrictions. The transfer of ownership of a local natural medicine business license shall not affect any exemption that the licensed premises may enjoy from proximity restrictions set forth in this article VI. (d) Natural medicine business subject to disciplinary action. The department may delay or deny a change of ownership application where the natural medicine healing center applying for a change of ownership is involved in any disciplinary action. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-308 Changes of location.

Sec. 6-308. - Changes of location. (a) In general. A licensee shall not change location of its license. A licensee shall apply for a new license and comply with the same application requirements for a new natural medicine healing center license. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-309 Term of licenses; renewals.

Sec. 6-309. - Term of licenses; renewals. (a) Term. A local license issued pursuant to this article VI shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance. (b) Cease operations—required. Except where the manager has received a complete renewal application along with the requisite fees, it shall be unlawful for any person to provide or offer natural medicine services, or to allow any other person to perform natural medicine services, after the expiration date on the face of any local license issued pursuant to this article VI for that location. (c) Application materials and deadlines. Any renewal of a natural medicine healing center license shall be governed by the standards and procedures set forth in chapter 32 of this Code. Applications to renew a natural medicine healing center license shall be made in the manner provided by the manager. In addition to the information required by chapter 32 of this Code, applications shall contain the following information: (1) A copy of any notice of violation or disciplinary action taken by the department or the state licensing authority against the license being renewed within the previous licensing year; (2) Any supplemental materials the manager deems necessary to implement or enforce this article VI and the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (d) Denial of renewal. An application to renew a natural medicine healing center license may be denied if there are causes for denial, suspension, revocation, non-renewal or other licensing sanctions as provided in chapter 32 of this Code, this article VI, or rules and regulations promulgated thereto. (e) Renewal hearing. The manager may set a hearing on the renewal of a natural medicine healing center application in accordance with the requirements of the Colorado Natural Medicine Code and chapter 32 of this Code if there are causes for denial, suspension, revocation, nonrenewal, or other licensing sanctions as provided in chapter 32 of this Code, this article VI, or rules and regulations promulgated thereto. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-310 Causes for denial.

Sec. 6-310. - Causes for denial. (a) In addition to the grounds set forth in the Colorado Natural Medicine Code and chapter 32 of this Code, any application submitted pursuant to this article VI shall be denied if: (1) The issuance of a license would not comply with any applicable state or local law, including, but not limited to, the Colorado Natural Medicine Code, the Natural Medicine Act of 2022, this article VI, and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto; (2) The applicant or licensee has previously operated a licensed premises in a manner that adversely affects the public health, welfare, or the safety of the immediate neighborhood in which the business is located; (3) The applicant or licensee has failed to comply with any terms, conditions, or restrictions that were placed on its license pursuant to an order of the manager or state licensing authority; (4) The applicant or licensee fails to provide a valid lease, rental agreement, or other documented arrangement for possession showing that the applicant or licensee is entitled to possession of the premises identified in the application; (5) The applicant or licensee fails to complete any required inspections or obtain any necessary permits for the proposed premises; (6) The applicant or licensee has a license history that does not warrant the confidence of the manager that the applicant or licensee will operate lawfully based on prior violations or failures to comply with any applicable regulatory or administrative provisions of state or local laws or rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto; or (7) The applicant or licensee's character or criminal record poses a threat to the regulation or control of natural medicine. In doing so, the manager may incorporate any findings as to moral character, and criminal character or history, including natural medicine violations, previously made by the state licensing authority. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-311 Unlawful acts.

Sec. 6-311. - Unlawful acts. (a) It shall be unlawful to perform, supervise, or to allow any person to perform or supervise, natural medicine services in the city without a state and, if applicable, local license authorizing the activity and in compliance with all state and local laws. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct any activity for which a natural medicine business license is required, including offering to conduct such activity or directing another to conduct such activity, without first obtaining a state license authorizing the activity, or if applicable a local license authorizing the activity, and in compliance with all state and local laws. (c) It shall be unlawful for any natural medicine business to violate any provision of this article VI, the Colorado Natural Medicine Code, or the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022. (d) It shall be unlawful for any natural medicine business to use any advertising material that is misleading, deceptive, or false, or that, as evidenced either by the content of the advertising material or by the medium or the manner in which the advertising is disseminated, is designed to appeal to minors. (e) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e), it shall be unlawful for any person to advertise activities for which a natural medicine business license is required anywhere in the city where the advertisement is visible to members of the public from any street, sidewalk, park or other public place as defined in 38-175(b)(3), including advertising utilizing any of the following media: any billboard or other outdoor general advertising device as defined by the zoning code; any sign mounted on a vehicle, any hand-held or other portable sign; or any handbill, leaflet or flier distributed in a public place, left upon a motor vehicle, or posted upon any public or private property. The prohibition set forth in this subsection (d) shall not apply to: (1) Any fixed sign located on the same zone lot as the natural medicine business which exists solely for the purpose of identifying the location of the business and which otherwise complies with the Denver Zoning Code and any other applicable city laws and regulations; or (2) Any advertisement contained within a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation within the city, including paid advertisements in a newsletter distributed by a registered neighborhood organization, business improvement district or other similar community or neighborhood organization; (3) Apparel, consumer goods, or paraphernalia containing a natural medicine business's name, logo, or distinct design features, but no other advertising of the natural medicine business. (f) It shall be unlawful for any person to advertise unregulated natural medicine and unregulated natural medicine product. (g) It shall be unlawful for a facilitator to conduct administrative sessions anywhere other than a state and, if applicable, locally licensed healing center, at the participant's own private residence, or at a health care facility authorized to conduct administrative sessions by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. (h) It shall be unlawful for any person to allow or offer on-premises consumption of natural medicine as part of a business promotion or other commercial activity without a state and, if applicable, local healing center license. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-312 Disciplinary actions; sanctions; penalties.

Sec. 6-312. - Disciplinary actions; sanctions; penalties. (a) In general. Procedures for investigation of license violations and for suspension, revocation or other licensing sanctions as a result of any such violation shall be as provided in chapter 32 of this Code and any rules and regulations promulgated by the manager. (b) Disciplinary actions. In addition to the grounds provided in chapter 32 of this Code, a natural medicine healing center business license may be suspended or revoked for any of the grounds for denial set forth in this article VI or for violating any provision of this article VI. (c) Civil penalties in lieu of fine. In lieu of the maximum fine for license violations set forth in chapter 32, the manager is hereby authorized to impose civil penalties for license violations in the amounts set forth under the Colorado Natural Medicine Code. (d) State license. The manager may suspend or revoke any license if the corresponding state license for the subject location is expired, surrendered, suspended, or revoked. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 3, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 6-313 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 6-313. - Rules and regulations. (a) The manager may adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article and any other ordinances or laws relating to and affecting the licensing and operation of natural medicine healing center businesses. (b) The board of public health and environment of the City and County of Denver may adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary for the protection of public health related to the operation of natural medicine businesses. Such rules may include, but are not limited to, minimum public health and safety standards. The board of public health and environment may require health inspections for all natural medicine businesses prior to opening for operation, yearly, or for the investigation of complaints as well as in response to public health emergencies. (c) The manager of the department of public health and environment of the City and County of Denver may issue orders to any natural medicine business to comply with this article VI and the rules and regulations of the board. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly fail to comply with an order of the manager. (d) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate a rule or regulation adopted by the board or the manager pursuant to this section. (Ord. No. 132-25, § 2, 3-3-25; 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_ARTVIDENAMECOFetched: 10/27/2026