State-set fees: Colorado retail food license fees are established statewide in statute (SB25-285 raised them 25% for 2026, with further 20% increases in 2027 and 2028). Jefferson County Public Health administers and collects the license and inspects; a county/district board of health may adopt fees LOWER than the statute if it stays in Food Protection Act compliance. 2026 amounts apply to establishments newly licensed on or after Sept 1, 2025.
Turnaround: Approx. 2 weeks to review drawings, specifications and menus and meet with the plan-review coordinator (per Jeffco)
State-set fee under SB25-285. Colorado's HB25-1295 provides statewide mobile food-truck license reciprocity, but the license/permit must still be issued and fees paid; a commissary/servicing base is required.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | $481 (0-100 seats); $538 (101-200 seats); $581 (over 200 seats) - 2026 | State-set: SB25-285 prices caterers on the same seating tiers as restaurants. |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | null - not a separately priced Colorado retail-food category; a commissary is licensed under the establishment type matching its operation. Confirm with Jeffco EH (303-232-6301). | No stand-alone commissary fee in the state schedule. |
| Bakery / food processing | null - a retail bakery is licensed as a restaurant or limited food service establishment; wholesale food manufacturing is regulated by the CO Dept of Agriculture, not retail-food licensing. Confirm applicable category. | Retail vs. wholesale determines the licensing path in Colorado. |
| Bar / limited food service | $338 (Limited Food Service Establishment) - 2026 | Bars/limited-menu operations are licensed as Limited Food Service Establishments under SB25-285. |
| Grocery / market with deli | Grocery store: $244 (under 15,001 sq ft), $441 (over 15,000 sq ft). Grocery with deli: $469 (under 15,001 sq ft), $894 (over 15,000 sq ft). - 2026 | State-set by square footage; adding a deli/food-prep area roughly doubles the fee. |
| Temporary / seasonal event | null - Colorado issues temporary retail food event licenses and Jeffco requires its own county-issued temporary license (no other county's accepted), but the temporary fee is not on the annual state category schedule. Confirm with Jeffco EH (303-232-6301). | Temporary licensing is handled separately from the annual license categories. |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | $481 (Mobile Food Establishment - Full Service); $338 (Mobile Food Establishment - Prepackaged Food) - 2026 | State-set under SB25-285; HB25-1295 adds statewide mobile reciprocity, and a commissary is required. |