Which event permit do you need?

Existing liquor licensees that hold a Beer and Wine, Hotel and Restaurant, Tavern, Brew Pub, Vintner's Restaurant, Distillery Pub, Manufacturer's, Wholesaler's or Limited Wineries license are eligible to apply for a Festival Liquor Permit.^{1 (source 1)}

This permit is only available for the following license types: Beer and Wine license; Hotel and Restaurant license; Tavern license; Brew Pub license; Vintner's Restaurant license; Distillery Pub license; Manufacturer's license (beer, wine, or spirits); Wholesaler's license; or Limited Wineries^{2 (source 2)}

The licensee that holds the festival must file the application for the permit, but other licensees may jointly participate under the permit issued to the licensee that applied for the permit^{3 (source 3)}

Nonprofit organizations are the only entities that qualify as an applicant.^{1 (source 1)}

An organization, whether or not presently licensed under articles 3 and 4 of this title 44, that: Has been incorporated under the laws of this state for purposes of a social, fraternal, patriotic, political, educational, or athletic nature, and not for pecuniary gain; Is a regularly chartered branch, lodge, or chapter of a national organization or society organized for the purposes specified in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section and is nonprofit in nature; Is a regularly established religious or philanthropic institution; or Is a state institution of higher education^{2 (source 2)}

A political candidate who has filed the necessary reports and statements with the secretary of state pursuant to article 45 of title 1^{3 (source 3)}

A municipality, county, or special district^{4 (source 4)}

A chamber of commerce.^{5 (source 5)}

Temporarily replaces the premises diagram with an alternate layout for a current liquor licensee in good standing.^{1 (source 1)}

Qualifying licensee's may hold up to 9 festival events per year and each festival can last up to 72 hours in length. Qualifying licensees may participate in up to 52 festival events per year.^{1 (source 1)}

A festival permit does not authorize the permittee to use the licensed premises for more than seventy-two hours for any one festival.^{4 (source 4)}

Beginning January 1, 2024, a permittee may hold up to nine festivals during each calendar year.^{5 (source 5)}

A licensee may participate in up to fifty-two festivals each calendar year, including up to nine festivals held under a festival permit issued to the licensee pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section.^{6 (source 6)}

I affirm that there are no Temporary Salesrooms at the festival's location, date, and time. Temporary Salesrooms on a festival's premises may result in the denial of the Festival Permit.^{7 (source 7)}

Each entity is limited to fifteen (15) days per calendar year for special event permits.^{1 (source 1)}

The state or a local licensing authority shall not issue a special event permit to any organization for more than fifteen days in one calendar year.^{6 (source 6)}

Each special event permit shall be issued for a specific location and is not valid for any other location.^{7 (source 7)}

Between the hours of seven a.m. of the day specified in a malt, vinous, and spirituous liquor permit and until two a.m. of the day immediately following.^{8 (source 8)}

Between the hours of five a.m. of the day specified in a malt beverage permit and until twelve midnight on the same day^{9 (source 9)}

In most cases, a special event liquor permit cannot be issued on an already liquor licensed premise (no double licensing).^{10 (source 10)}

Electronic signature is not accepted, physical signature is required^{2 (source 2)}

Applications and fees must be submitted to both the State of Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division and the City of Boulder at least 30 days prior to the event.^{1 (source 1)}

File the application at least thirty calendar days before the festival is to be held^{8 (source 8)}

If a festival permittee notifies the state licensing authority and the appropriate local licensing authority of the location of and dates of each festival at least thirty business days before holding the festival, the permittee may hold up to, but no more than, nine festivals during the twelve months after the festival permit is issued.^{5 (source 5)}

Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event date or they cannot be accepted. Applications can be accepted up to 90 days prior to the event.^{1 (source 1)}

Applications must be submitted at least 40 days prior to the event date, or they cannot be accepted. Applications can be accepted up to 90 days prior to the event.^{11 (source 11)}

After the application is reviewed by staff, a public notice poster will need to be picked up by the applicant and posted at the event location for at least ten days.^{1 (source 1)}

Temporary Modifications also require the premises to be posted for the legally required 10-day period.^{3 (source 3)}

Ordinance 8752 effective July 18, 2026 implementing a local application and permit for a Festival Liquor Permit.^{1 (source 1)}

If no negative public comment is received during the 10-day public period which would trigger a Beverage Licensing Authority (BLA) hearing, then Licensing staff will add a status to yearly special event list indicating application mailing to state, check the state events list on the state website, and locally approve the state and city permit application.^{11 (source 11)}

If no negative comment is received, Licensing staff may administratively approve the Temporary Modification without a hearing and forward it to the state liquor enforcement division.^{3 (source 3)}

Festival liquor permit (Boulder): $150^{9 (source 9)}

Sources differ; Cleared confirms before filing. Local $150 (Subject to changes)

Festival permit processing fee (state): $50^{10 (source 10)}

Sources differ; Cleared confirms before filing. DR 8420: 'Initial Application – $50.00 Processing Fee'. Boulder's festival operations guide: 'State $150'.

Special event liquor permit (Boulder): $100 a day^{12 (source 12)}

Sources differ; Cleared confirms before filing. Boulder's guide: 'Local $100 per day/no state fee'. Boulder's 2021 application: $50 a day for 250 people or less, $100 a day for 251 or more. C.R.S. 44-5-107(2): a local fee 'not to exceed one hundred dollars, for both investigation and issuance of a permit'.

Temporary modification (Boulder): $50^{1 (source 1)}

Temporary modification of premises (state): $300^{4 (source 4)}

Sources differ; Cleared confirms before filing. Boulder's guide and Denver: $300; DR 8500 lists $150 per modification.

Attach a copy of premises control plan outlining how premises will be controlled to ensure compliance with liquor code provisions including restricting sales to minors and intoxicated persons and ensuring that festival participants cannot leave the premises with open containers of alcohol beverages.^{1 (source 1)}

I affirm that I have attached a Security and Control plan that has been circulated and agreed upon by all participating licensees.^{7 (source 7)}

A special event permit holder shall make available sandwiches or other food snacks during all hours of service of malt, spirituous, or vinous liquors, but prepared meals need not be served.^{13 (source 13)}

Servers must be able to provide proof of their training certificate in either physical or electronic form upon request of State or City Liquor Licensing staff.^{1 (source 1)}

Licensing staff will email the following documents if no inspection is required, if an inspection is required, city staff will bring these to the inspection and give them to you once complete and passed: city permit, inspection checklist, and minor warning sign. These 3 items should be posted behind the main bar at the event location by the non-profit.^{11 (source 11)}