Retail Food Licenses and Inspections

Broomfield Public Health and Environment issues food licenses for retail food establishments ( restaurants, supermarkets, food trucks, caterers, and other retail food operations). Any person/business/food truck that wants to sell food in Broomfield must be licensed. Learn about fees for licensing.

Licensing for Retail Food Establishments and Mobile Units

Are you opening a new food establishment or making changes to an existing food establishment? Plans and specifications must be reviewed and approved by the health department before opening, or before any construction or changes are started. Learn how to create a My health department account and submit payments.

Are you opening a new retail food establishment? Fill out a Plan Review Application. You must submit this at least thirty days before opening. You cannot start construction until this form is submitted and approved.

• Step 1: Create a My Health Department account (read instructions). 
• Step 2:  Once logged in, you will see seven blue boxes. Click "Retail Food License Application". This will lead you to the plan review webpage. At the bottom of the page, there is a general application to fill out. Supporting information must be attached to the application. The “Plan Review Application Packet” supporting document can be located under the “Retail Food Establishments” header under the blue table at the top of the page.

Are you buying an existing retail food establishment and making changes to the establishment, menu, or equipment? Fill out a Plan Review Application. You must submit this at least thirty days before construction and ownership transfer. Failure to provide updated contact information and obtain a new license may result in penalty or closure. 

• Step 1: Create a My Health Department account (read instructions). 
• Step 2: Once logged in, you will see seven blue boxes. Click "Retail Food License Application". This will lead you to the plan review webpage.  At the bottom of the page, there is a general application to fill out. Supporting information must be attached to the application. The “Change of Ownership Application” supporting document can be located under the “Change of Ownership” paragraph midway down the page.

Are you buying an existing retail food establishment and are not making any changes to to the establishment, menu, or equipment? Fill out a Change of Ownership Application. You must submit this at least 14 days before ownership transfer. Failure to provide updated contact information and obtain a new license may result in penalty or closure.  

• Step 1: Create a My Health Department account (read instructions).
• Step 2:  Once logged in, you will see seven blue boxes. Click "Retail Food License Application". This will lead you to the plan review webpage.  At the bottom of the page, there is a general application to fill out. Supporting information must be attached to the application. The “Change of Ownership Application” supporting document can be located under the “Change of Ownership” paragraph midway down the page.

Opening a new or buying an existing food truck? Fill out the Mobile Plan Review Application. You may need to upload a Commissary Agreement to the application.

• Step 1: Create a My Health Department account (read instructions).
• Step 2: Once logged in, you will see seven blue boxes. Click "Retail Food License Application". This will lead you to the plan review webpage.  At the bottom of the page, there is a general application to fill out. Supporting information must be attached to the application. The “Mobile Plan Review Application packet” supporting document can be located under the “Retail Food Establishments” header under the blue table at the top of the page. 

Food Licensing for Temporary Events

Are you wanting to sell food at a farmers market or community event in Broomfield?  All retail food vendors wishing to sell at temporary events must complete a Temporary Event Application. Guidelines for vendors applying for permits including those who would be permit exempt can be found on the Temporary Events: Permit Application and License Verification google form. Vendors with a valid 2025 Colorado Mobile Retail Food License (not issued from Denver) are exempt from permit issuance, but must submit proof of their license and, if applicable, a recent fire inspection to the application.

Cottage Food Operations

The Cottage Foods Act allows limited types of food products that are not potentially hazardous (do not require refrigeration for safety) to be sold directly to consumers without licensing or inspection. Read the Cottage Foods Act, which includes eligible foods, selling practices and requirements.

Mobile Food Unit Reciprocity 

Mobile food establishments (such as food trucks) that hold a valid, current Retail Food License from the City and County of Denver are now allowed to operate anywhere in the state. With this Denver license, a mobile unit may operate in other Colorado counties without needing any additional retail food licenses.  Owners must simply provide a copy of their current Denver Retail Food License to each county where they plan to operate at least 14 days before beginning service outside Denver. You can find more information about mobile unit reciprocity here.

Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations

Broomfield’s Environmental Health Specialists perform inspections, respond to complaints and do plan reviews of new facilities or changes of ownership on the over 325 Retail food establishments (RFE) within the City and County of Broomfield. Broomfield follows the risk-based method of inspections which includes:

1. The food risk category a retail food establishment falls into based on food types and preparation practices; and
2. The number of violations cited on that retail food establishment most recent routine inspection. Broomfield follows the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations. 

RFE inspection reports are public record available here: Read inspection reports for inspections conducted after January 1, 2020. For inspections conducted prior to January 1, 2019, please contact Broomfield Public Health and Environment at publichealth@broomfield.org with your specific request. 

Food Manager Certification

Most retail food establishments in Colorado must have at least one employee who is a Certified Food Protection Manager. The certification can be obtained by passing an ANSI- accredited certification program, such as the ServSafe® Food Manager Exam.

• Handout English
• Handout Spanish
• Handout Korean
• Handout Chinese (Simplified)

Optional Food Service Training

• Basic food safety awareness course: offered through the City and County of Broomfield environmental health specialists. Cost: $100 per class. Call 720-887-2220 to schedule a course. 
• Certified Food Handler Course for Food Workers: $10 online course to learn the basics of safe food handling in the workplace. Verify a certificate at the State Food Safety website.
  
• Colorado State University Extension Food Preservation: Food safety training provides a 3-year certification and meets the food safety training requirement for the Colorado Cottage Foods Act. Length: 4 hours. Cost $40
• Food Handler Course: Course is offered in English and Spanish and is self-paced. 

*Broomfield staff cannot serve as a proctor for courses that include this requirement.

Check out the below resources such as temperature logs, food handling safety, employee illness, and more.

• CDPHE Retail Food Resources - Includes retail food statutes and regulations, food handling signage, logs, flowcharts, and other compliance tools.
• Guidance documents
• Employee Illness
• Vomit Clean-Up Procedure
• Colorado Cottage Foods Act
• Food Manufacturing and Storage (Wholesale)