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A Multi-Departmental Guide

City and County of Denver

Food Truck Guide

Food Truck Businesses

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1.25.2011

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Parked on the street

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On private property

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In a city park

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At a special event

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All Food Trucks need a business license, which includes approval from Environmental Health

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Parked on the street - no permit, but need to follow certain standards

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On private property - need a zoning permit

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In a city park, in designated locations - need a temporary vending permit

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If part of a special event, please contact the event coordinator for specific rules and regulations

A business license is required to operate a Food Truck and falls under the class of “Retail Food Establishments, Restau-rant Mobile.” Environmental Health requires that all Food Trucks, or mobile units, operate in conjunction with a commis-sary kitchen or other licensed kitchen. Commissary shall mean an approved catering establishment, restaurant, or other approved place in which food, containers or supplies are kept, handled, prepared, packaged or stored.

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An application with Excise andLicenses

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Valid Colorado identi

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cation

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General business questionnaire

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Zoning use permit of where ve-hicle will be stored, if in the City andCounty of Denver

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Pass required inspections:Environmental HealthFire (If propane used on truck)

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A completed Af

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davit of Com-missary form. Applicants need tocontract with a local commissary, or may use their own approved com-mercial kitchen if they have one.

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Apply in person

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Submit required documents

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Pay fees:Application Fee: $200.00License Fee (per year): $125.00

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Schedule a licensing inspectionwith the Department of EnvironmentalHealth. Licensing inspections areconducted between 9:00 am - 11:00am every Wednesday

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Upon completion of a satisfactoryinspection, DEH shall approve theaf

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davit and will sign the form, as wellas the license application.

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The applicant shall return thesigned documents to Excise andLicenses to receive their license.Excise and Licenseswww.denvergov.org/exciseandlicenses201 West Colfax AveRoom 2.H.9Denver, CO 80202Environmental Healthwww.denvergov.org/phi201 West 14th Ave.Suite 200Denver, CO 80204References:Denver Revised Municipal Code:Definitions: Section 23-2-23Regulations: Section 23-51Fees: Section 32-106.5

A Food Truck, or Mobile Retail Food Vendor/Establishment is a readily moveable, motorized wheeled vehicle,or a towed wheeled vehicle, designed and equipped to serve food.

What is a Food Truck?

What you need to get approved...How to get approved...More info...

Where can I locate a Food Truck?What do I need before operating a Food Truck?All FOOD TRUCKS - Business License

Denver Guide for Food Trucks

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This Guide should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations. The applicant is responsible forcompliance with all code and rule requirements, whether or not described in this Guide.

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Public Works allows licensed Food Trucks on most streets without a permit (Please note that if within 300’ of a Denver park, a permit from Department of Parks and Recreation is required.) All Food Trucks need a license from the Depart-ment of Excise and Licenses.

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Within 20’ of an intersectionwhen making a sale or attemptingto make sale

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Any street, alley or public right-of-way within a de

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ned central busi-ness district (see map below)

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If selling ice cream as more than10% of the gross income from thefood truck, you cannot sell on anyarterial street, collector street or laned highway. (www.denvergov.org/LUTP/FunctionalClassi

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cation/tabid/390275/Default.aspx)

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All parking rules must be fol-lowed. For example, you cannotdouble park or park at a meter without paying the required fee. If a parking meter is bagged for aspecial event, can only park there if part of the event

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Cannot sell to any person who isstanding in the street

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Cannot place chairs or tables ona public sidewalk or in the street

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If parking within 300’ of a publicpark, need a permit from Depart-ment of Parks & Recreation Public Workswww.denvergov.org/publicworks201 West Colfax AveDept. #507Denver, CO 80202References:Denver Revised Municipal CodeChapter 54, Article XII, Section54-675

You can park for vending on anystreet, with the followingexceptions:What other rules apply...More info...

FOOD TRUCK PARKED ON THE STREET - Department of Public Works

Food Trucks not allowed on streets bounded by and within thearea below:

Denver Guide for Food Trucks

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FOOD TRUCK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY - Zoning Permit from Development Services

Zoning allows licensed Food Trucks as a temporary use known as “Retail Food Establishment, Mobile.” They are allowedin Mixed Use Commercial Zone Districts, the OS-B Zone District, and all Industrial Zone Districts where permitted. (Findyour zoning at www.denvergov.org/zoning). Please note that Food Trucks providing catering services to a residence isallowed and does not require a zoning permit (sales to general public not allowed).

What you need to get approved...

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If operating for less than 30minutes at a location, no permit isrequired

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If operating for more than 30minutes at a location, a ZoningPermit is required

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To obtain a permit, certain stan-dards apply, including:Hours:Can only operate up to 4 consec-utive hours each day per zone lotHours of operation are between 8am and 9 pmLocation:Operations are prohibited onundeveloped zone lots and zonelots with unoccupied structures or unpaved surfaces.Only 1 allowed per zone lotMust be 200’ from any eatingand drinking establishmentMust be 200’ from any other food truckMust be at least 50’ from anyResidential Zone DistrictOther siting, signage and wastedisposal standards apply

How to get approved:

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Apply in person

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Pay Fees:Permit: $50Annual Renewal: $50

More info...

Development Servicesdevelopment.services@denver-gov.org201 West Colfax AveDept. #205Denver, CO 80202 References:Denver Zoning Codewww.denvergov.org/zoningArticle 11, Section 11.11.14, Re-tail Food establishment, MobileDe

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nition: Article 13, Section13.3