Pursuant to the Weld County Home Rule Charter, Ordinance Number 2026-19 published below, was introduced and, on motion duly made and seconded, approved upon first reading on October 26, 2026. A public hearing and second reading is scheduled to be held in the Chambers of the Board, located within the Weld County Administration Building, 1150 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631, on November 9, 2026. All persons in any manner interested in the reading of said Ordinance are requested to attend and may be heard.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if special accommodations are required in order for you to participate in this hearing, please contact the Clerk to the Board's Office at (970) 400-4225 prior to the day of the hearing.
Any backup material, exhibits or information previously submitted to the Board of County Commissioners concerning this matter may be examined in the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, located within the Weld County Administration Building, 1150 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or may be accessed through the Weld County website (www.weld.gov). Email messages sent to an individual Commissioner may not be included in the case file. To ensure inclusion of your email correspondence into the case file, please send a copy to egesick@weld.gov.
Ordinance No. 2026-19
Ordinance Title: In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting, with Amendments, Chapter 12 Licenses and Permits, and Chapter 5 Revenue and Finance of the Weld County Code
Date of Next Reading: November 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Board of County Commissioners
Weld County, Colorado
Dated: October 28, 2026
Published: October 30, 2026, in the Greeley Tribune
Ordinance Language:
Weld County Code Ordinance 2026-19
In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting, with Amendments, Chapter 12 Licenses and Permits, and Chapter 5 Revenue and Finance of the Weld County Code
Be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado:
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners, on December 28, 2000, adopted Weld County Code Ordinance 2000-1, enacting a comprehensive Code for the County of Weld, including the codification of all previously adopted ordinances of a general and permanent nature enacted on or before said date of adoption, and
Whereas, the Weld County Code is in need of revision and clarification with regard to procedures, terms, and requirements therein.
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado, that Chapters 12 and 5 of the Weld County Code be, and hereby are, repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows.
Chapter 12
Licenses and Permits
Article II Liquor Licenses and Permits, Fermented Malt Beverage Licenses, and Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine Licenses
Amend Sec. 12-2-10. Local licensing authority general provisions.
The Board of County Commissioners is Weld County's local licensing authority for the purpose of performing acts required of the local licensing authority in the Colorado Liquor Code, Article 3 of Title 44, C.R.S., the Colorado Beer and Wine Code, Article 4 of Title 44, C.R.S., and the Colorado Special Event Liquor Permits Code, Article 5 of Title 44, C.R.S., and as set forth in the Colorado Liquor Rules, 1 C.C.R. 203-2.
A. The Clerk to the Board shall provide administrative support to the Board of County Commissioners in its' role as the local licensing authority, including, but not limited to, performing the following tasks:
1. Application review. The Clerk to the Board shall review all liquor, fermented malt beverage, fermented malt beverage and wine, permits (as listed under Section 12-2-80 of the Weld County Code), and associated applications to determine completeness, including requiring applicants to submit to criminal history background checks in compliance with the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Operations Guide, when applicable. Deficiencies in submittals shall be addressed with applicants. The Clerk to the Board shall collect all required fees. Weld County's fees for liquor, beer/fermented malt beverage and wine, permits, and associated applications are set forth in Appendix 5-H of this Code.
a. Documents outlined in the application materials of both the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, and Weld County, shall be submitted by the applicant before the application may be deemed complete or accepted by the Clerk to the Board.
b. At all times, a licensee shall possess and maintain possession of the premises for which the license is issued by ownership, lease, rental, or other arrangement for possession of the premises. If possession is by lease, rental, or other arrangement, all parties included in the application materials as licensee shall be listed on the lease, rental, or document of other arrangement. Documents of other arrangement will be determined sufficient as of proof of property possession by the Weld County Attorney’s Office.
c. Applications for new, transfer, or renewal liquor licenses, fermented malt beverage licenses, and fermented malt beverage and wine licenses must include proof of property possession for the full term of the proposed liquor license prior to the application being deemed complete.
2. Scheduling of Board meetings and hearings. The Clerk to the Board shall schedule all necessary Board meetings and hearings for liquor, fermented malt beverage, fermented malt beverage and wine, permits, and associated applications. Initial hearings for new licenses shall include designation of the neighborhood to be served, designation of a Commissioner to inspect the premises and to review the neighborhood, and the setting of a date for public hearing.
3. – No change.
4. Sign notice. The Clerk to the Board shall provide the sign notice for all applicants to post, as required. Applicants shall be required to submit photographic evidence of the posting of notice to the Clerk to the Board. For disciplinary Board meetings and hearings, the Clerk to the Board or Weld County Sherriff’s Office shall post the sign notice, as required.
5. Referrals. The Clerk to the Board shall send referrals regarding applications for new liquor licenses, new fermented malt beverage licenses, new fermented malt beverage and wine licenses, permits, transfers of ownership, transfers of location, associated applications, and renewals of existing licenses to the following: Department of Planning Services, Department of Public Health and Environment, Department of Public Works, Sheriff's Office, and the Office of the County Attorney. The Clerk to the Board shall send a referral to the Office of Emergency Management regarding applications for permits.
6. Inspections. For new license applications and transfer applications in which the premises have been modified, the Clerk to the Board shall assist the Commissioner designated to inspect the premises and to review the neighborhood. For other inspection needs, such as the modification of premises or disciplinary matters, the Board hereby delegates authority to the Clerk to the Board to inspect the premises. The Clerk to the Board shall complete a letter reporting Findings of the inspection and review. The Clerk to the Board shall transmit a copy of such letter to the applicant at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled public hearing.
B. As the local licensing authority for Weld County, the Board of County Commissioners reserves the right to:
1. Determine if an application for renewal of a liquor license received by the Clerk to the Board more than ninety (90) days, but not more than one hundred eighty (180) days after expiration of the liquor license, will be considered by the Board.
2. Issue a temporary permit to a transferee of any retail class of alcohol beverage license previously issued by the Board (with the exception of a liquor licensed drug store described in C.R.S. §44-3-303(2)). The temporary permit shall authorize a transferee to continue selling such alcohol beverages as permitted under the permanent license until such a time as the application for transfer of ownership of the permanent license is either granted or denied, or for one hundred twenty (120) days, whichever occurs first. The temporary permit may only be issued by the Board of County Commissioners if the applicant has filed with the Clerk to the Board a complete application for the transfer of ownership of the permanent license, has paid the temporary permit fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), and has filed the application for the temporary permit no later than thirty (30) days after the filing of the application for the transfer of ownership. An application for a temporary permit must be considered by the Board of County Commissioners at the next regular meeting following receipt of the complete temporary permit application. Upon issuance, the transferee shall post notice of the temporary permit next to the permanent license posted within the licensed premises. The temporary permit may be canceled, revoked, or summarily suspended if the Board of County Commissioners determines that there is probable cause to believe the transferee has violated any provision of the Colorado Liquor Code or has failed to truthfully disclose those matters required pursuant to the application forms for transfer of ownership.
Amend Sec. 12-2-20. Standards for issuance of optional premises liquor licenses.
The following standards for the issuance of an Optional Premises Liquor License or Optional Premises for a Hotel and Restaurant (County) Liquor License are adopted pursuant to C.R.S. §44-3-310. The standards are considered additional to all other standards applicable to the issuance of liquor licenses pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code and the Colorado Liquor Rules. These two (2) types of licenses are collectively referred to in this Section as "Optional Premises License" unless specifically identified separately.
A. Eligible facility. An optional premises license may be approved for any facility that is located on or adjacent to an outdoor sports and recreational facility, as defined in C.R.S. §44-3-103(33).
B. and C. – No change.
D. Submittal requirements. When submitting an application for an optional premises license, in addition to meeting the application requirements set by the State of Colorado, the applicant shall submit:
1. A map or other drawing illustrating the outdoor sports and recreational facility boundaries and the approximate site of each optional premises location requested. Such optional premises locations shall be numbered and shown in such a manner as to clearly depict the area encompassed in each location. After license approval, the applicant shall review, and update if necessary, the map or drawing on an annual basis.
2. A description of the method which shall be used to identify the boundaries of the optional premises locations when in use.
3. A description of the provisions which have been made, including locations, for storing malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in a secured area on or off the optional premises for use on the optional premises. After license approval, the applicant shall update the description upon the provisions for storage being changed.
4. – No change.
E. Advance notification. Regarding Optional Premises Liquor Licenses, pursuant to C.R.S. §44-3-310(3) and (4), no alcohol beverages may be served on the optional premises until the licensee has provided written notice to the Clerk to the Board and the State of Colorado, Liquor Enforcement Division, forty-eight (48) hours prior to serving alcohol beverages on the optional premises. Such notice shall contain the specific days and hours during which the optional premises are to be used.
Amend Sec. 12-2-30. Application for renewal.
The Board of County Commissioners may set a public hearing on the renewal application if it finds probable cause to believe that any one (1) of the factors contained in Section 12-2-40 below exists.
The following standards for the renewal of a liquor license, fermented malt beverage license, and fermented malt beverage and wine license are adopted pursuant to Articles 3 and 4, Title 44, C.R.S.
A. and B. – No change.
C. Application Process. Applications for the renewal of a liquor license, fermented malt beverage license, and fermented malt beverage and wine license shall be made on a form provided by the state licensing authority, in addition to the fees provided in Appendix 5-H of the Weld County Code, the Colorado Liquor Code, and the Colorado Beer and Wine Code. Applications must be submitted to the Local Licensing Authority and, if approved, will be forwarded to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, for secondary review.
1. Applications shall include:
a. Colorado Retail Liquor License Renewal Application.
b. and c. – No change.
d. Proof of property possession. See Section 12-2-10.A.1.a and b above.
e. Applicable fees.
2. Duties of the Clerk to the Board. The Clerk to the Board shall review applications for completeness, accept applications and corresponding fees, prepare applications for Board meetings and hearings held before the Board of County Commissioners, including providing a copy for review by referral agencies, send applications to the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division for secondary review if approved, and disseminate approved licenses.
a. Upon receipt of a complete application, the Clerk to the Board shall compile the application packet and schedule a Board meeting or hearing, if applicable.
b. The Clerk to the Board shall send referrals regarding renewal applications to the following: Department of Planning Services, Department of Public Health and Environment, Department of Public Works, Sheriff's Office, and the Office of the County Attorney.
c. If the renewal application is approved as an item of New Business, the Clerk to the Board shall provide the original application and a copy of all supporting documentation to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, for secondary review.
d. If approved by the Liquor Enforcement Division, the Clerk to the Board shall provide one original Weld County Liquor License and one copy of the Liquor Enforcement Division Liquor License to the licensee, and shall provide notice to the Weld County Sheriff's Office and the Office of the County Attorney that the license was approved.
Amend Sec. 12-2-40. Refusal to renew; Public Hearing, Phase I.
The Board of County Commissioners may set a Public Hearing, Phase I, to consider renewal of the existing license. The Board of County Commissioners may consider the following factors in a public hearing to determine if good cause exists to refuse the renewal of any liquor license. Such consideration is denoted as Phase I of the public hearing:
A. and B. – No change.
C. Evidence that the licensed premises have been operated in a manner that adversely affects the public health, welfare, or safety of the immediate neighborhood in which the establishment is located, which evidence may include a continuing pattern of fights, violent activity, disorderly conduct, or violations of the Weld County Code. For purposes of this Paragraph C., disorderly conduct has the meaning as provided for in C.R.S. §18-9-106.
D. Evidence that the licensee is no longer of good character.
E. Whether there have been any violations in the last one-year period by the licensee or by any of the agents, servants, or employees of the licensee of the provisions of the Colorado Liquor Code, or any of the rules or regulations authorized pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code or Colorado Beer and Wine Code, or any of the terms, conditions or provisions under which the license was issued.
F. Evidence showing excessive noise, rowdiness, or disturbances on a continuous basis in the immediate area of the licensed premises which were substantially as a result of the operation of the licensed premises.
G. Evidence of persons being convicted under C.R.S. §42-4-1301, of driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while alcohol impaired after becoming intoxicated at said licensed premises.
H. Evidence that the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood are not being met.
If Findings of the above factors are made at the Public Hearing, Phase I, the Weld County Board of Commissioners shall schedule a Public Hearing, Phase II.
Duties of the Clerk to the Board:
A. Sign notice. The Clerk to the Board shall post the sign notice, as required, and obtain photographic evidence of the posting of said notice at least ten (10) days prior to the Public Hearing, Phase I.
B. Notice to the Applicant/Licensee. The Clerk to the Board shall certify mail notice of hearing to the applicant / licensee at least ten (10) days prior to the Public Hearing, Phase I.
Amend Sec. 12-2-50. Refusal to renew; Public Hearing, Phase II.
Phase II of such public hearing shall be a determination of whether the following items mitigate or aggravate the effects of the factors listed in Section 12-2-40 above, if any one (1) of the Phase I factors are found to exist. Such factors are to be considered in determining whether denial of the renewal application, a fine, suspension, or revocation is justified:
A. and B. – No change.
C. Prior violations, offenses, and occurrences at the licensed premises and effectiveness of prior corrective action.
D. – No change.
E. Violation, offense, or occurrence as a repeated course of conduct or as a single event.
F. – No change.
G. All circumstances surrounding the violation, offense, or occurrence.
H. through K. - No change.
If Findings of the above factors are made at the Public Hearing, Phase II, the Weld County Board of Commissioners may refuse to renew the license.
Duties of the Clerk to the Board:
A. Sign notice. The Clerk to the Board shall post the sign notice, as required, and obtain photographic evidence of the posting of said notice at least ten (10) days prior to the Public Hearing, Phase II.
B. Notice to the Applicant/Licensee. The Clerk to the Board shall certify mail notice of hearing to the applicant / licensee at least ten (10) days prior to the Public Hearing, Phase II.
Amend Sec. 12-2-60. Fine, suspension, or revocation of license.
After a public hearing has been held, upon determining whether there have been any violations by the licensee or by any of the agents, servants, or employees of the licensee of the provisions of the Colorado Liquor Code, of any of the rules or regulations authorized pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code, or of any of the terms, conditions or provisions under which the license was issued, the following factors will be considered to determine the sanction to be imposed:
A. through L. – No change.
The Weld County Board of Commissioners shall issue said fine, suspend the license, or pursue revocation of the license according to the standards outlined in the Colorado Liquor Code, Article 3 of Title 44, C.R.S., the Colorado Beer and Wine Code, Article 4 of Title 44, C.R.S., and as set forth in the Colorado Liquor Rules, 1 C.C.R. 203‑2.
Duties of the Clerk to the Board:
A. Sign notice. The Clerk to the Board shall post the sign notice, as required, and obtain photographic evidence of the posting of said notice at least ten (10) days prior to the public hearing.
B. Notice to the Applicant/Licensee. The Clerk to the Board shall certify mail notice of hearing to the applicant / licensee at least ten (10) days prior to the public hearing.
Amend Sec. 12-2-70. Vote by board members.
A. If only three (3) members of the Board of County Commissioners are present for the hearing under the Colorado Liquor Code or Colorado Beer and Wine Code, the licensee may request a continuance to a hearing date at which additional members of the Board will be present.
B. If four (4) members of the Board of County Commissioners are present, the hearing shall proceed, at the discretion of the Board, provided that if any vote results in a 2-2 tie vote, the hearing shall be adjourned until such time as the fifth Commissioner has had an opportunity to review the record.
Amend Sec. 12-2-80. Permits.
The following standards for the issuance of a Special Event Permit, Festival Permit, Retail Establishment Permit, Bed and Breakfast Permit, Spirituous Liquor Manufacturer’s Expanded Alcohol Beverage Permit, and Takeout and Delivery Permit, and renewal thereof when applicable, are adopted pursuant to Articles 3 and 5, Title 44, C.R.S.
A. Qualifying Applicants. The state and local licensing authorities may issue the above listed permits for the sale, by the drink only, of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors, to qualifying organizations, political candidates, and other applicants, as defined by the Colorado Liquor and Colorado Special Event Liquor Permits Codes.
B. through D.3. – No change.
E. Application Process. Applications for permits shall be made on forms provided by both the state licensing authority and the local licensing authority, in addition to the fees provided in Appendix 5-H of the Weld County Code and the Colorado Liquor and Colorado Special Event Liquor Permits Codes. Applications for Special Event Permits, Festival Permits, and Retail Establishment Permits must be submitted to the Local Licensing Authority at least thirty (30) days prior to the event and, if approved, will be forwarded to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, for secondary review. Applications for Takeout and Delivery Permits, and Bed and Breakfast Permits, if approved, will be forwarded to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, for secondary review. An application for a Spirituous Liquor Manufacturer’s Expanded Alcohol Beverage Permit may be applied for concurrently to both the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, and the local licensing authority, but the state licensing authority may only approve the application after the local licensing authority has approved the application.
1. Applications shall include:
a. through c. – No change.
d. A diagram of the area to be licensed (not larger than 8 1/2" x 11", reflecting bars, walls, partitions, ingress, egress, surplus alcohol storage, and dimensions). If application is for an event and the event is to be held outside, the application shall include evidence of intended control, i.e. fencing, ropes, barriers, etc.
e. – No change.
f. Copy of deed, lease, or notarized written permission of owner for use of the premises (unless owner is applicant).
g. and h. – No change.
i. Copy of food license and/or Temporary Event Food Permit, if applicable.
Remainder of Section – No change.
Amend Sec. 12-2-90. Criminal History Record Information (CHRI).
Fingerprint-based CHRI checks will only be conducted as authorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI), in accordance with all applicable state and federal rules and regulations. If a liquor license applicant is required to submit to a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history record check, he or she shall be informed of this requirement and instructed on how to comply with the law. Such instruction will include information on the procedure for submitting fingerprints. In addition, the applicant will be provided with all information needed to successfully register for a fingerprinting appointment. Procedures are provided to guide the applicant through the fingerprinting process (IdentoGo Background Check Procedures). The Clerk to the Board uses the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Vendor, IdentoGo, for fingerprinting services.
The Clerk to the Board shall maintain 'Weld County Clerk to the Board's Office Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Operations Guide', which outlines the proper access, use, dissemination, storage, retention, sanitation, and disposal of CHRI, including information regarding the Weld County Board of Commissioners procedures for making determinations based on an applicant's CHRI.
Federal law prohibits the repurposing or dissemination of CHRI beyond its initial requested purpose. CHRI shall only be used for the specific purpose for which it was requested (liquor licensing) and will not be disseminated outside that purpose.
Article VI – Repealed and Reserved
Chapter 5
Revenue and Finance
Appendix 5-H Fees for Liquor Licenses and Permits, Fermented Malt Beverage Licenses, and Fermented Malt Beverage and Wine Licenses – (Available to view online)
Be it further ordained by the Board that the Clerk to the Board be, and hereby is, directed to arrange for Municode to supplement the Weld County Code with the amendments contained herein, to coincide with chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections as they currently exist within said Code; and to resolve any inconsistencies regarding capitalization, grammar, and numbering or placement of chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections in said Code.
Be it further ordained by the Board, if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held or decided to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. The Board of County Commissioners hereby declares that it would have enacted this Ordinance in each and every section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases might be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
Be it further ordained by the Board that the amendments stated in Code Ordinance Number 2026-19 shall be enforced commencing upon approval of Second Reading on November 9, 2026, pursuant to the Pending Ordinance Doctrine, as recognized by the Colorado Court of Appeals in the case of Crittenden v. Hasser, 41 Colo.App. 235, 585 P.2d 928 (Colo.Ct.App.1978).