Public Health Rules in Denver, CO (2026)
4 verified public health rules for Denver, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
Denver Department of Public Health & Environment inspects every retail food establishment under DRMC chapter 24 and Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules. Inspections use numerical violation scoring; results post online but Denver has no letter grade card requirement.
Denver DDPHE inspects restaurants with numerical scoring
Some RestrictionsRodent Control
Denver Department of Public Health & Environment Vector Control Program enforces DRMC chapter 24 rodent provisions. Property owners must keep premises rat-free; harborage and food waste are violations. Inspectors respond to 311 complaints citywide.
Denver Vector Control fights rats under DRMC 24 rules
Some RestrictionsSyringe Disposal
Colorado C.R.S. 25-1.5-303 authorizes municipal syringe access programs. Denver Public Health operates the SHARP needle exchange providing safe syringe disposal kiosks and harm reduction services. Discarded needles are collected by DDPHE Vector Control teams.
Denver SHARP program runs syringe access under state law
Few RestrictionsC.R.S. 25-1-520
25-1-520. Clean syringe exchange programs - operation - approval - reporting requirements. (1) A county public health agency or district public health agency may request approval from its county board of health or district board of health, referred to in this section as the "board", for a clean syringe exchange program operated by the agency or by a nonprofit organization with which the agency ...
Food Handler Certification
Colorado C.R.S. 25-4-1604 and the Retail Food Establishment Rules require every Denver food establishment to have a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff. Denver DDPHE accepts ANSI-CFP accredited courses and verifies certification at routine inspections.
Colorado food protection manager certification required at Denver
Some RestrictionsLooking for Denver County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Denver city rules.
Public Health Rules in Denver County →