Opening your space to pop-ups in Denver: the checklist

Not legal advice. This is a starting checklist, checked 2026-09-25. Rules change and differ by county and city. Talk to a lawyer and confirm with Denver Business Licensing before you sell a ticket or open your space.

At a glance

• Licensed restaurant: Denver chefs already run pop-ups inside places like BearLeek (anecdotal). Denver Post
• Unlicensed event space: the organizer needs their own Denver licence for your address (closest fit: commissary-based; unverified) and commissary food. Packet Flow chart
• Home: Denver bans selling food "prepared or stored in a private home," except cottage food. Denver food rules
• Biggest risk: drinks. Sort them before you say yes.

Quick answers

Can I host a pop-up dinner in my restaurant or event space in Denver? It depends on the space. Denver chefs already run pop-ups inside restaurants like BearLeek (anecdotal). Denver Post In an unlicensed space, the organizer needs their own Denver food licence tied to your address (closest fit: commissary-based; unverified, ask Denver) and commissary food. Packet Flow chart

Can guests bring their own wine to a pop-up in my Denver space? Usually not. Licensed premises can't allow drinks not bought there. Off licensed premises, public drinking is illegal, and whether a ticketed night in your space counts as public is untested (unverified). C.R.S. Title 44

What should I ask a Denver pop-up organizer for? Their own Denver food licence for your address, their Affidavit of Commissary and a certificate of insurance naming you. Denver Then set your rental fee and deposit in writing.

Steps, in order

Already done some of these? Skip them.

Suggested order.

• 1. Talk to a lawyer about your space.
• 2. Check zoning, your lease or HOA. A permanent food venue needs a zoning use permit. Denver
• 3. For a guest chef's licence, your zoning may need an eating or drinking use (unverified). Denver
• 4. Your own licence: a permanent food venue needs a retail food licence, $150 plus $25 per activity. Denver
• 5. Restaurant or bar: check with Denver that your licence covers a guest chef's night.
• 6. Sort your drinks plan (see Drinks).
• 7. Ask your insurer about ticketed events. Homeowners policies exclude activity "engaged in for money or other compensation." Some policies exempt small side income; get it in writing from your insurer. ISO HO-3
• 8. Ask the organizer for their own Denver food licence for your address, Affidavit of Commissary and a certificate of insurance naming you. Denver
• 9. Set your rental fee and deposit in writing. Handshakes are lovely. They don't hold deposits.

Drinks

• Licensed restaurant or bar: you sell every drink under your own licence, and you can't allow bottles not bought there. C.R.S. 44-3-901(1)(i)
• Unlicensed space or home: no caterer can pour under its licence yet, because Colorado's catering licence awaits funding and rules. C.R.S. 44-3-431 2026 Liquor Rules Denver step: only a nonprofit can get a special event liquor permit, $100 plus a licensing fee, 30+ days out, maybe zone use and fire permits. Denver
• BYOB off licensed premises: public drinking is illegal there, and whether a ticketed night in a loft or home counts as public is untested (unverified). C.R.S. 44-3-901(1)(i)

Watch-outs

• A temporary licence is for community events like fairs and festivals, up to 14 days. Denver food rules
• Donations count too: food rules apply "whether there is a charge." C.R.S. Title 25
• Denver finds unlicensed sellers through social posts plus customer and competitor tips (unverified). KDVR

Learn more

• Denver retail food licence
• Denver food rules

Ready to open your doors to micro hospitality? Join Tenseats as a venue host.

Not legal advice. Confirm with a lawyer and Denver Business Licensing before you act.