Safe food helps keep our community healthy. DDPHE works with food businesses, food workers and the community to prevent foodborne illness and make sure food is prepared and served safely. Find information about food safety requirements, licenses, inspections, permits, training and how to report a food safety concern.
Regulations and Inspection Information
At a minimum, full service restaurants are inspected twice per year, most delis and fast food restaurants are inspected annually, and facilities with very limited food options - such as bars and convenience stores - are inspected once every 18 months. Facilities receive additional regulatory visits when reinspections are required or complaint investigations are conducted. For information about applying for a variance to the regulations, view the DDPHE Board's rules.
On April 6, 2017, revisions to the Denver Food Establishment Regulations went into effect.
All food businesses must maintain a current Denver Business and Professional license through the Department of Excise and Licenses. The Department of Excise and Licenses can help determine which license is appropriate for your food business. You can also refer to this helpful Food Business License Flow Chart(PDF, 199KB)
For more specific questions, please contact us at 720-913-1311 or 311 in the Denver Metro area. You may also contact the department at phicomments@denvergov.org.
Enforcement tools used by the Public Health Inspection Division to achieve compliance include civil penalties, court summons, disposal of food, retention of equipment, and closure of facilities when an imminent health hazard exists. To pay civil penalties online, visit the online payment portal.
If you have received an Administrative Citation and wish to appeal, please follow the Board Rules and Regulations Governing Hearings.