Liquor Sales Room

Zoning confirmation for Beverage Licensing Authority (BLA) is a review process to determine if the proposed use is appropriate in the proposed location. The review will evaluate the proposed operating characteristics and identify any potential additional reviews that are required. An approved Zoning Confirmation for BLA constitutes all zoning requirements have been met with the proposed use.

There are two documents required to satisfy the Zoning Review:

1. Approved Administrative Review Application (ADR) & Zoning Confirmation for BLA
2. Approved diagram stamped by Planning and Development

A request for a Zoning Confirmation for BLA is made by submitting the Administrative Review Application & Zoning Confirmation Application. The applications can be found at the following links:

• From the Building Permit Application Guides and Forms page, you will need the Administrative Review Application and Zoning Confirmation Application (organized alphabetically, use search function or scroll to bottom for Zoning Confirmation Application): Application form(s), required application materials and fees are due by 10 a.m. on the application deadline. Review the Online Development Review Application Guide for more information.

Review the Online Development Review Application guide for more information.

Please note that this step must be completed prior to beginning the application phase for a permanent sales room license.

Click on the link associated with each required document to access the form. After completion, please save these documents to be uploaded in the Customer Self-Service Portal during the final step of the application process.

• State of Colorado Form DR8057 - Application for Colorado Liquor Sales Room
• Proof of Possession - Property Owner's Signed Permission Letter for Temporary Uses or Executed and Complete Lease for the Proposed Licensed Premise for Permanent Uses.
• Licensed Premise Floor Plan - Must be submitted on 8-1/2" x 11" paper and must include alcohol service, alcohol storage, and alcohol production areas. Use a highlighter to indicate the area(s) that will be licensed. For Permanent Sales Rooms, please use the stamped, approved premise diagrams from your zoning review.
• Premise Control Plan - Applicant’s plan to ensure compliance with liquor code and rules, including avoiding sale to minors, avoiding service to visibly intoxicated persons, and preventing patrons from leaving premises with open alcohol containers. Please also include information about alternate rides home, food offerings, live entertainment, staffing, server training, and other operating characteristics that you would like the City of Boulder to be aware of. For Permanent Sales Rooms, please also include the approved Notice of Disposition and any approved Written Statement from you from your zoning review.
• City of Boulder Business License for Sales Tax

To submit all of your documents, you will need to use our online form to request a secure folder from Regulatory Licensing. Once this has been created, you will be sent an email with the application number in the Customer Self-Service Portal where you will upload your documentation and pay applicable City of Boulder Fees.

• Local Zoning Laws Review and Approval (permanent only)
• Applicant Submits State Application and materials to City Licensing after zoning approval (zoning approval only applies to permanent)
  • The City of Boulder considers this date, after local zoning review and approval, to be the date that the state application materials have been provided to the City of Boulder. The Beverage Licensing Authority (BLA) has up to 45 days to provide its opinion to the State Liquor Enforcement Division (State LED) regarding the pending manufacturer license application.
  • Additionally, the Authority traditionally appreciates receiving more information from the state license applicant about owner experience, server training, plans for food offerings, plans for live entertainment and amplified music, control of the premise for indoor areas and outdoor patio areas, and plans for traffic and parking mitigation.
• BLA Hearing for Application (permanent only) - a public hearing will be scheduled for your application before the BLA, a 5- member volunteer city board that acts as the local licensing authority. The BLA provides opinion on if the applicant can mitigate local concerns of traffic, noise, or other neighborhood concerns
• BLA decision sent to State of Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division (permanent only). Administrative approval will be sent to the State of Colorado for temporaries.
• State sends the state license to City of Boulder Licensing Staff
• Staff updates the license file and sends City of Boulder and State of Colorado Licenses to the main email contact on file

• For both Temporary and Permanent Applications, please note that failure to submit state notice applications timely in accordance with the 10-business day prior to a permit event or timely 45 days prior to state license issuance and at the same time that application documents are filed with state can be a basis for recommending denial by local licensing.
• For Temporary applications, among other criteria, failure to follow the state liquor code and state regulations at past permitted events is a basis for the local licensing authority to recommending denial to the state.
• For Permanent applications, among other criteria, failure for the applicant to sufficiently mitigate local concerns as to impacts of traffic, noise or other neighborhood concerns is a basis for the local licensing authority to recommending denial to the state.