The City of Fort Collins City Clerk's Office manages liquor licensing within the City. The team assists businesses through the license application process, issuing licenses approved administratively, by the State of Colorado and by the Local Licensing Authority.
The documents on this page are provided for printing purposes. For assistance viewing or reading these documents, please contact the City's ADA Coordinator via email adacoordinator@fortcollins.gov or phone: 970-416-4254.
A hotel-restaurant license requires that 25% of your gross sales needs to come from the sale of food. This license permits restaurants and hotels with restaurant facilities to sell a full complement of alcohol beverages. Hotel-restaurant licensees are required to have full meals available until 8 p.m. every day they are open and sandwiches and snacks available after 8 p.m. C.R.S. 12-47-411.
A tavern license permits the sale of a full complement of alcohol beverages to the public on the licensed premise. Tavern licensees are required to have sandwiches and snacks available during operating hours and wherever alcohol beverages are served. C.R.S. 12-47-412.
The beer and wine license permits the sale of beer and wine only to the public for consumption on the licensed premise. Beer and wine licensees must have sandwiches and snacks available during operating hours and wherever alcohol beverages are served. C.R.S. 12-47-409.
A retail liquor store license permits the sale to the public of all alcohol beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises. This type of license is sometimes referred to as a 'package' liquor store license. All retail liquor store licenses automatically have a delivery permit, which allows the delivery of alcohol to locations off the licensed premise. Liquor stores are prohibited from the sale of food items except those approved by the State Licensing Authority. The allowable food items must be prepackaged, labeled, directly labeled to the consumption of alcohol and sold in containers up to 16 ounces for the purposes of cocktail garnishment. C.R.S. 12-47-407.
This type of license allows the sale and consumption of all types of liquor, as well as permits the manufacture of malt liquor on the licensed premises. The malt liquor manufactured on the premises may be sold for consumption on the premises, sold to an independent wholesaler for distribution, or sold to the public in sealed 'to go' containers. Meals must be served wherever alcohol is sold. Food sales must be at least 15% of gross sales. C.R.S. 12-47-415.
This license permits the sale of fermented malt beverages to the public by drink on the premise, in sealed containers for off-premise consumption, or for both on- and off-premise consumption, depending on the type of license issued.
A club license allows qualifying non-profit corporations to sell liquor to members and their guests for consumption on the premises. C.R.S. 12-47-416 12-47-103 (6) Definitions.
A lodging and entertainment license may be issued to a lodging and entertainment facility selling alcohol beverages by the drink only to customers for consumption on the premises. A lodging and entertainment license facility licensee shall have sandwiches and light snacks available for consumption on the premises during business hours but need not have meals available for consumption. C.R.S. 12-47-42.
An arts license maybe be issued to any nonprofit arts organization that sponsors and presents productions or performances of an artistic or cultural nature, and the arts license permits the licensee to sell alcohol beverages only to patrons of the productions or performances for consumption on the licensed premises in connection with the productions or performances. C.R.S. 12-47-417.
You need to apply for a new liquor license if no license currently exists at the premises you are considering.
Non-Fermented Malt Beverage Applicants
(Hotel-Restaurant, Tavern, Retail Liquor Store, Beer and Wine, Lodging and Entertainment, Brew Pub)
Fermented Malt Beverage (FMB) Applicants
Contact LiquorLicensing@fortcollins.gov or 970-221-6515 with any questions.
To apply for a new liquor license, visit the New Application page below and follow the checklist. If a liquor license already exists at your location, you may be able to transfer ownership. Scroll down to Transfer of Ownership and follow the document checklist.
New Application
Transfer of Ownership
You may appear before the Liquor Licensing Authority depending on your application type. The City will decide when you submit your completed application. Review these documents for the Liquor Licensing Authority Schedule:
Allow at least 60 days for all applications. If your application must appear before the Liquor Licensing Authority, this could take longer. Applications that the City approves administratively (such as Special Events Permits, Change in Corporation or Limited Liability Company) require extensive staff review and could take longer than 60 days.
Visit the site linked below to make License Changes.
License Changes
Visit the site linked below for Manager Registrations.
Manager Registrations
There are many Special Permits. See the link below for more information and instructions.
Special Permits
Use this information only if you lost the State form to renew your liquor license.
Renew your Liquor License Online! Get it quicker! Steps to renew your liquor license:
Submit your Renewal Application at least 45 days before your liquor license expires. Failing to do so may lead to a violation or interruption in liquor deliveries. State Liquor Forms The Regulatory Licensing Specialist generally approves these applications administratively.
liquorlicensing@fortcollins.gov
970-221-6515
Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
300 Laporte Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80521