Arvada Permitting
Food Sellers Only:
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If you are prepackaged you must either comply with the Department of Environmental Health’s Rules Governing Food Establishments or with the Colorado Cottage Foods Act.
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Food Trucks must provide a copy of their license to attend the event. Please note that Denver County licenses are not accepted. Please send to us by September 1st.​​​​​
Pre-Event State Requirement
All participants should obtain a single or multi-event license from the State of Colorado.
Anyone and everyone making retail sales at one or more special sales events must obtain a special event license. A special sales event is an event where retail sales are made by more than three sellers at a location other than their normal business location(s) and that occurs no more than three times in any calendar year. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of selling at retail without first having obtained a license. Anyone who sells retail in Colorado without obtaining a sales tax license commits a class 3 misdemeanor and may also be subject to civil penalty of $50 per day to a maximum penalty of $1,000.
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Special event license requirements apply to sellers participating in the event regardless of whether such sellers have been issued a standard retail sales tax license for their regular business location. Special event licenses apply only to retail sales made at the special sales event by the seller to whom the license is issued. The license does not apply to sales made at the seller's regular business location or at any other location. The special event license and special event sales tax return ensures the proper tax is paid to the city, counties and special districts in which the event is held.
Therefore, vendors must file a DR0098 Special Event Retail Sales Tax Return for every event they attend. If a taxpayer does not file, a non-filer estimated return will be assessed on the account.
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Show promoters are required to submit a list of vendors for their shows for audit.
Questions about this? Contact:
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Colorado Department of Revenue, Jamie Nicolelli, Special Event Coordinator/Tax Compliance Agent
Desk - 303-866-5643 / Email: dor_specialevents@state.co.us
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 6 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. MST / Friday 6: a.m. - 10 a.m.
Post-Event Tax Returns
After the fair is over, please complete the tax return below for the State:​
- due by November 20th, 2026
Arvada also requires a special event return (below). Submit form upon completion of the event and mail it to the City of Arvada (8101 Ralston Road) with any sales tax collected.​
- due by November 16th, 2026