Check the status of a license application

Application intake/renewal review

• The application has been submitted to our system. All fees must be paid before the application can advance from this step. If your application has been in this status for several days, we are still awaiting payment of your application and license fees. Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance.

Fingerprints

• Not all licenses require fingerprints. If your license requires fingerprints, be sure they have been submitted. It can take 10 to 15 days for fingerprints to be processed. The license will not be issued until fingerprints are processed and reviewed (if needed). Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance. Fingerprints are done by third-party vendors: IdentoGO and Colorado Fingerprinting. If you have questions about fingerprinting, email EXLApplications@denvergov.org.

Quality control

• This is the step when the EXL licensing technicians review the details of your application for required documents and qualifying criteria.
• If your license is in quality control for more than one week, it's most likely because the Department is waiting for more information from the applicant. Check your email inbox and spam folder for a message from the Department requesting additional information from you to continue processing the application. If you can't find an email from us, email licenses@denvergov.org. Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance.
• For short-term rentals: The time frame is up to 30 days. The Department reviews applications in the order they are received. If your application has been pending for more than 14 days, the Department has likely reached out to you for additional information or document corrections. Check your email inbox and spam folder for the email associated with this application. Make sure your submitted documents meet the standards listed in the required documents section on the website. Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance.

Detective review

• Not all licenses require a detective review. The time it takes to process a detective review varies on the type of license, the number of reviews being handled and the circumstances of the application. Be patient as this process could take some time. If you have questions about a detective review, email licenses@denvergov.org.

Specialist review

• Not all licenses require a specialist review. After an initial review of your application, it could get a secondary review from a specialist. The time it takes to process a secondary review varies on the type of license and the circumstances of the application. In general, it will take about two weeks, but it can take longer depending on the circumstances of the license. If you have questions about a specialist review, email licenses@denvergov.org.
• For short-term rentals: The time frame is up to 90 days. A specialist review is a routine step to ensure compliance with the licensing requirements. The specialist will reach out for any additional required information beyond your initial application documents. Check your email inbox and spam folder for the email associated with this application. For renewal applications, you can advertise your short-term rental for as long as your pending application remains active. If a request for additional information from the applicant is not fulfilled within 14 days, your application will be moved to inactive. Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance.

External agency review

• Not all licenses require an external agency review. The time it takes to process an external agency review varies on the type of license, the number of reviews being handled by other agencies and the circumstances of the application. Be patient as this process could take some time. If you have questions about an external agency review, email licenses@denvergov.org.

Hearing preparation

• Not all licenses require a needs and desires hearing. Those that do must take action to prepare for the hearing, including getting signs to be posted for at least 20 days before the hearing. Signs must be submitted and approved by the Department. Any exhibits must be submitted at least seven days before the hearing. Exhibits can still be submitted at the hearing, but it would be at the discretion of the hearing officer on whether they would be accepted. If exhibits are not submitted in a timely manner, it will be up to the party submitting them to label each one with an exhibit number. Exhibits for the hearing from parties in interest can include neighborhood affidavits, corporate resolution and petitions for or against issuance of the license.

Posting for a hearing

• Not all licenses require a needs and desires hearing. Those that do must post a notice of the public hearing at the proposed location for a minimum of 20 days. Signs must be submitted and approved by the Department.

Hearing

• Not all licenses require a needs and desires hearing. The license could be in this status for some time. Evidence will be presented at the hearing and several parties can present evidence. This includes the licensee, the Department, neighborhood witnesses, City Council member, authorized Residential Neighborhood Organization representatives and a principal or representative of any school. After the hearing, if it is uncontested, the hearing officer will make all reasonable efforts to issue a recommended decision within five business days. Any applicant, licensee, party in interest or city attorney can file written objections to the recommended decision within 10 business days from when it is issued. If written objections are filed, any applicant, licensee, party in interest or city attorney can file a written response to the objections within five business days of receiving the objections. The director will issue a final decision after reviewing and considering the recommended decision, any objections, responses to objections, the entire record, the facts and evidence and the public hearing. The final decision is the final action by the Department. If the applicant is not happy with the outcome of the hearing, they could file an appeal with Denver District Court for a judicial review.

Individual and business appeals

• If a license that does not require a needs and desires hearing gets denied, it can be appealed and go before a hearing officer. If the denial is upheld, then it can be appealed before Denver District Court for a judicial review.  If there has been a needs and desires hearing and the license gets denied, then it can be appealed to Denver District Court for judicial review. This must be done within 10 days from when the denial was issued.

Inspections

• Not all licenses require inspections. If the director approves the application and inspections are required, applicants will receive instructions to schedule appointments with other city agencies to get the required inspections. It is the applicant's responsibility to schedule the required inspections. Delays in response from the applicant will result in delays in license issuance.

Badging

• Not all licenses require a badge. If the application is in this stage for longer than five business days, email licenses@denvergov.org.

License issuance

• All previous steps in the process have been completed and there is a wait for a final check before the license is printed.

Closure

• The license has been issued and you should have received a copy of it. If you have not, email licenses@denvergov.org.