Colorado’s Food Truck Laws Are Changing in 2026 — What Northern Colorado Operators Need to Know

Rachael Z. Ardanuy, Esq.
Jan 8
2 min read

Food truck decorated with lights serves food at night. Bright, festive ambiance with string lights, wet pavement, and tables nearby.

Food trucks and mobile food businesses are a vital part of Northern Colorado’s economy. A new bill passed by the Colorado legislature—HB 25-1295—aims to reduce regulatory friction for mobile food operators to serve customers across city and county lines starting in 2026.

What’s the Big Change?

Today, food truck operators often need to obtain separate fire safety permits and health licenses for every city they want to serve. HB 25-1295 creates statewide reciprocity, meaning that qualifying permits and licenses issued by one jurisdiction must be recognized by others.

Fire Safety Permits: One Permit, Multiple Jurisdictions

If your food truck has a valid fire safety permit issued by a local government that has adopted the most recent International Fire Code and you’ve passed inspection by a certified fire inspector, that permit will allow you to operate across Colorado. You’ll still need to notify each city at least 14 days before operating, and local fire officials can still inspect and enforce their codes. RZA Legal can answer questions that may come up for you regarding particular regulations and requirements of specific localities.

Health Licenses: Denver and the Rest of Colorado

The bill also bridges a long-standing gap between Denver and the rest of the state: A state health department license will allow operation in Denver and a Denver retail food license will allow operation in other Colorado jurisdictions.

Local governments can still enforce zoning rules, location restrictions, and health standards—but they can’t require entirely new licenses just because you crossed a city boundary.

Why This Matters in Northern Colorado

For operators who want to serve breweries, festivals, farmers markets, and seasonal events across Larimer and Weld Counties, this bill significantly lowers administrative costs and delays. For local regulators, it preserves public safety oversight while encouraging economic activity and tourism.

What This Does Not Do

HB 25-1295 does not eliminate local regulation. Cities can still conduct inspections, shut down non-compliant operations, enforce zoning and parking rules, and require payment of local sales taxes.

People gather at a lit food truck at night with colorful menus displaying fast food. Energetic atmosphere as orders are taken.

The Value of Getting Guidance Early

Many food truck operators try to piece together compliance from city websites, conflicting staff guidance, and social media advice. That approach often costs more in lost operating days, rejected applications, or surprise enforcement actions than a short legal consult ever would.

A $250 legal consultation can help you:

Map out a licensing strategy that works across jurisdictions
Understand which permits carry reciprocity—and which don’t
Avoid common procedural missteps
Identify risks you may not yet realize apply to your business

In short: it helps you learn what you don’t know before it becomes expensive.

At RZA Legal, we regularly help food and beverage businesses navigate licensing, local regulation, and multi-jurisdiction compliance—especially here in Northern Colorado. If you’re expanding your route or launching a mobile concept, now is the time to plan.

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