Denver Restaurant Health Scores & Inspections 2026
Explore Denver's 1,540 licensed food establishments on an interactive map. See license status, license age, location history, and recently opened or closed restaurants — then link directly to official DDPHE inspection records.
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This map shows license status — not inspection scores
The data here comes from Denver's public liquor and food service license registry. It tells you whether a business has an active license, how long they've held it, and whether the address has had prior businesses. For actual health inspection scores, violation counts, and closure history, use the official Denver DDPHE portal linked in each marker popup.
Denver Official Inspection Portal →About This Data
This map shows all active food-service liquor license holders in Denver, sourced from the Denver Open Data Catalog. License data is refreshed hourly from the ArcGIS FeatureServer. Each license record includes the issue date and expiration date, which we use to compute how long an establishment has been continuously licensed.
When you click "Location History" in a popup, we query all licenses (active and expired) at that address. This tells you whether a business is brand-new to the location, a continuation of a prior establishment, or a reopening after a gap — helping you understand whether a recently opened place is truly new or simply re-licensed under new ownership.
Looking for actual inspection scores? Denver's food inspection records — including violation counts, scores, and closure history — are managed by the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE). Click "View Official Inspection Record" on any establishment popup to jump directly to its record on the official portal.
How to Read Denver Restaurant License & Health Data
Denver's food establishment licensing and health inspection systems are managed by two separate city agencies. The Denver Department of Excise & Licenses issues and tracks liquor licenses and food service licenses, which are the data powering this map. Separately, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) conducts food safety inspections and assigns inspection scores. Both pieces of information are important when evaluating a restaurant's safety record.
A restaurant with an active license that has been continuously operating at the same address for 5+ years is generally a good signal of stability — high turnover and repeated closures can indicate management or compliance issues. That said, license age alone does not tell you about recent inspection scores. Always check the DDPHE portal for the most recent inspection results, especially if you are dining somewhere for the first time.
When a Denver restaurant closes and re-opens under a new name or ownership at the same address, it typically receives a new license number. Our Location History feature shows you all prior licenses issued at an address, so you can tell whether a "new" restaurant is genuinely new — or whether it took over a space with a checkered past. This is particularly relevant for high-turnover neighborhoods like LoDo, RiNo, and Capitol Hill, where restaurant spaces frequently change hands.
How Denver Restaurant Inspections Work
Routine Inspections
Denver DDPHE inspects food establishments 1–3 times per year based on risk level. High-risk venues — full-service restaurants, sushi bars, facilities serving vulnerable populations — are inspected more frequently than lower-risk operations.
Inspection Scores
Denver uses a point-deduction system starting from 100. Inspectors deduct points for each violation found. A score of 90+ is considered passing. Establishments that score below 70 may face temporary closure until violations are corrected.
Critical Violations
Critical violations — improper food temperatures, cross-contamination, poor handwashing, pest evidence — require immediate correction at the time of inspection. Non-critical violations must be corrected within 30 days at the follow-up inspection.
Complaint Inspections
Denver residents can file food safety complaints online at denvergov.org. DDPHE investigates all complaints and may dispatch an inspector within 24–48 hours for serious concerns. Complaint-based inspections are unannounced.
New Restaurant Inspections
All new Denver food establishments must pass a pre-opening inspection before they can serve the public. This initial inspection checks the facility layout, equipment, food storage, and employee health policies — in addition to confirming the license is in order.
Reinspections & Closures
If an establishment fails to correct critical violations, DDPHE can issue a reinspection, impose fines, or suspend the food service license. A suspended license shows as expired or inactive in Denver's license registry — which is what you'll see as a red marker on this map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a Denver restaurant's health inspection score?
Go to denvergov.org/restaurantinspections and search by restaurant name or address. You can view full inspection history, individual violation descriptions, and scores for any licensed Denver food establishment. On this map, click any marker and use the "View Official Inspection Record" link to jump directly to that business's record.
What does an expired restaurant license mean?
An expired license means the business either closed, failed to renew its annual license, or changed ownership. The license registry reflects the legal status as of the last update. In many cases, a new business at the same address will have a fresh license — use our Location History feature to see if that's the case.
Can I trust a restaurant that just opened?
New Denver restaurants must pass a pre-opening inspection before receiving their license. A newly issued license (amber markers on this map) means the business passed its initial inspection. That said, new operations sometimes have more issues early on as staff settle into procedures — check back on DDPHE's portal after a few months for follow-up inspection results.
What's the difference between a liquor license and a food establishment license?
Denver restaurants often hold both. A liquor license (issued by Denver Excise & Licenses) authorizes the sale of alcohol. A food establishment license (issued by DDPHE or Colorado CDPHE) authorizes food service. Most full-service restaurants hold a Hotel and Restaurant liquor license, which is the type shown on this map.
How often is this map updated?
The map data is fetched in real time from Denver's Open Data ArcGIS service and is cached for up to 1 hour. License data is typically updated by Denver within 1–3 business days of any change (new license, renewal, expiration). The activity feed on this page refreshes every hour.
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