Local permits & fees

Boulder County, CO — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Boulder County Public Health, Environmental Health (Consumer Protection / Retail Food) · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment License (annual, by seats)

Restaurant 0-100 seats $481; 101-200 seats $538; >200 seats $581; Limited retail food service $338 (2026 rates; rising in 2027/2028)

Fee varies by size/type; due at opening inspection. No fee for K-12 schools or nonprofits serving food-insecure populations. Credit card surcharge $0.75 + 2.25%; e-check +$1.

Plan review — required

Plan Review Application $155 at submission; review fees charged hourly at opening/licensing, capped at $900 max

Turnaround: Plan review specialists notify within up to 8 weeks of submission

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Unit License

Mobile Unit, Prepackaged Food $338; Mobile Unit, Full Service $481 (2026 rates)

Mobile units submit floor plans, finish/plumbing specs, commissary agreement (if applicable), and menu. NOTE: within City of Boulder limits a separate City Mobile Food Vehicles license also applies.

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

Watch out for

All plan documents must be submitted electronically (printed accepted case-by-case); application session cannot be saved mid-way.
Local building permits are required before licensing; changes to approved plans may require resubmission and additional fees.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
market/grocery with deli	$469-$664 (<=15,000 sqft) / $894-$1,276 (>15,000 sqft)	Grocery Stores with Deli (range reflects phased SB25-285 increases); grocery without deli $244-$340 / $441-$624
pushcart/limited operation	$338-$682	Mobile Unit Prepackaged $338-$475, Full Service $481-$682; Limited Retail Food Service $338-$475
caterer	$481-$826	Caterers licensed under Restaurant seating tiers (0-100 $481-$682; 101-200 $538-$763; over 200 $581-$826)
food processing/wholesale	—	Not a county retail-food category

Colorado statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: bouldercounty.gov · bouldercounty.gov · observed 2026-08-06