Liquor Licensing - Special Event Permit

Liquor Special Event Permits (SEP’s) may be issued to particular types of organizations, municipalities, and political candidates, permitting them to make available, or sell, by the drink, alcohol beverages for a limited number of days at specific locations.

There are two types of SEP's, one for Fermented Malt Beverages, or one for Malt, Vinous, and Spiritous liquor.  

To qualify for a special event permit, an applicant must be:  

• Incorporated under the laws of Colorado for purposes of a social, fraternal, patriotic, political, educational, or athletic nature and not for pecuniary gain;
• A municipality, county, or special district; 
• A regularly chartered branch, lodge, or chapter of a national nonprofit organization or society which is organized for social, fraternal, patriotic, political, educational, or athletic purposes;
• A state institution of higher education to include each principal campus of such institution; 
• A political candidate who has filed the necessary reports and statements with the Secretary of State pursuant to Title 1, Article 45;
• A chamber of commerce

Please note: 

• An SEP is issued for a specific location and is not transferrable. SEP's cannot be transferred to any other organization or political candidate, nor used on any other day. 
• The licensing authority may not issue a special event permit to any organization for more than 15 days in any one calendar year, but the days need not be consecutive. 
• 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. (44-5-105 (5) C.R.S.)

Please refer to the 2025 COLORADO SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR PERMITS CODE for more details.

In the Town of Granby, all SEP's are handled at the local level, and are approved and issued by the Town Clerk, per delegated authority of the Local Licensing Authority (LLA). For events that are held at any Town of Granby owned location, the SEP will also require direct LLA approval. 

Once an application is complete (form filled and signed, supporting documents provided, and fees paid), the application will be assessed.  Should all be in order, the Town will then ensure proper public notices are posted at least 10 days prior to the event. If the permit is issued, Town will provide notice of the event to the state. 

To apply:

• The Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement special event application can be found here. 
• Applications for SEP’s must be submitted to the Town Clerk at least thirty (30) days prior to the event.   
• Liquor Special Event Permit fees are payable to the Town of Granby and are currently $100 per day for either a fermented malt beverage or a malt, vinous and spiritous liquor permit.   Payments can be made by check, payable to the Town of Granby, or online at the Town of Granby’s Online Payments page.
• Public notice of the proposed event and procedure for protesting issuance of the permit shall be conspicuously posted at the proposed location for at least (10) days before approval of the permit by Local Licensing Authority.

• Please submit to Deputy Clerk Jenné Vargas at jvargas@townofgranby.com, or in person at Town Hall, at least 30 days prior to event: 
  • application
  • diagram
  • certificate of good standing - (NONPROFIT) issued by Secretary of State within last two years; or If not incorporated, a NONPROFIT charter; or If a political Candidate, attach copies of reports and statements that were filed with the Secretary of State
  • copy of deed, lease, or written permission of owner for use of the premises
  • payment receipt