Colorado Code § 44-3-313

Restrictions for applications for new license
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(1) An application for the
issuance of any license specified in section 44-3-309 (1) or 44-4-107 (1) shall not be received or
acted upon:
(a) (I) If the application for a license described in section 44-3-309 (1) concerns a
particular location that is the same as or within five hundred feet of a location for which, within
the two years next preceding the date of the application, the state or a local licensing authority
denied an application for the same class of license for the reason that the reasonable
requirements of the neighborhood and the desires of the adult inhabitants were satisfied by the
existing outlets.
(II) Subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section shall not apply to cities in which limited gaming
is permitted pursuant to section 9 of article XVIII of the state constitution.
(III) No licensing authority shall consider an application for any license to sell fermented
malt beverages at retail pursuant to section 44-4-107 (1) if, within one year before the date of the
application, the state or a local licensing authority has denied an application at the same location
for the reason that the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood or the desires of the
inhabitants were satisfied by the existing outlets.
(b) Until it is established that the applicant is, or will be, entitled to possession of the
premises for which application is made under a lease, rental agreement, or other arrangement for
possession of the premises, or by virtue of ownership thereof;
(c) For a location in an area where the sale of alcohol beverages as contemplated is not
permitted under the applicable zoning laws of the municipality, city and county, or county;
(d) (I) If the building in which the alcohol beverages are to be sold pursuant to a license
described in section 44-3-309 (1) is located within five hundred feet of any public or parochial
school or the principal campus of any college, university, or seminary; except that this
subsection (1)(d)(I) does not:
(A) Affect the renewal or reissuance of a license once granted;
(B) Apply to licensed premises located or to be located on land owned by a municipality;
(C) Apply to an existing licensed premises on land owned by the state;
(D) Apply to a liquor license in effect and actively doing business before the principal
campus was constructed;
(E) Apply to any club located within the principal campus of any college, university, or
seminary that limits its membership to the faculty or staff of the institution; or
(F) Apply to a campus liquor complex.
(II) The distances referred to in subsection (1)(d)(I) of this section are to be computed by
direct measurement from the nearest property line of the land used for school purposes to the
nearest portion of the building in which liquor is to be sold, using a route of direct pedestrian
access.
(III) The local licensing authority of any city and county, by rule or regulation; the
governing body of any other municipality, by ordinance; and the governing body of any other
county, by resolution, may eliminate or reduce the distance restrictions imposed by this
subsection (1)(d) for any class of license, or may eliminate one or more types of schools or
campuses from the application of any distance restriction established by or pursuant to this
subsection (1)(d).
(IV) In addition to the requirements of section 44-3-312 (2), the local licensing authority
shall consider the evidence and make a specific finding of fact as to whether the building in
which the liquor is to be sold is located within any distance restrictions established by or
pursuant to this section. This finding shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to section 44-3-
802.
(e) (I) If the building in which the fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold
pursuant to a license under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) is located within five hundred feet of any
public or parochial school or the principal campus of any college, university, or seminary; except
that this subsection (1)(e)(I) does not apply to:
(A) Licensed premises located or to be located on land owned by a municipality;
(B) An existing licensed premises on land owned by the state;
(C) A fermented malt beverage and wine retailer that held a valid license and was
actively doing business before the principal campus was constructed;
(D) A club located within the principal campus of any college, university, or seminary
that limits its membership to the faculty or staff of the institution; or
(E) A campus liquor complex.
(II) The distances referred to in subsection (1)(e)(I) of this section are to be computed by
direct measurement from the nearest property line of the land used for school purposes to the
nearest portion of the building in which fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold, using
a route of direct pedestrian access.
(III) The local licensing authority of any city and county, by rule or regulation; the
governing body of any other municipality, by ordinance; or the governing body of any other
county, by resolution, may:
(A) Eliminate or modify the distance restrictions imposed by this subsection (1)(e); or
(B) Eliminate one or more types of schools or campuses from the application of any
distance restriction established by or pursuant to this subsection (1)(e).
(IV) In addition to the requirements of section 44-3-312 (2), the local licensing authority
shall consider the evidence and make a specific finding of fact as to whether the building in
which the fermented malt beverages and wine are to be sold is located within any distance
restriction established by or pursuant to this subsection (1)(e). The finding is subject to judicial
review pursuant to section 44-3-802.
(V) This subsection (1)(e) applies to:
(A) Applications for new fermented malt beverage and wine retailer's licenses under
section 44-4-107 (1)(a) submitted on or after March 1, 2023; and
(B) Applications submitted on or after March 1, 2023, under section 44-3-301 (9) by
fermented malt beverage and wine retailers licensed under section 44-4-107 (1)(a) to change the
permanent location of the fermented malt beverage and wine retailer's licensed premises.
(2) An application for the issuance of a tavern or retail liquor store license may be
denied under this article 3 if the local licensing authority or the state on state-owned property
determines, pursuant to section 44-3-301 (2)(b), that the issuance of the license would result in
or add to an undue concentration of the same class of license and, as a result, require the use of
additional law enforcement resources.

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