Denver Department of Excise and Licenses Proposes Agency Name Change

Denver Department of Excise and Licenses Proposes Agency Name Change

Published on July 15, 2025

Mayor Mike Johnston has made modernizing city government and improving resident experience with their local government a priority in his administration. The Department of Excise and Licenses today is building upon this work by putting forward a proposal that would change the name of the agency to help the public better understand services offered.

Representatives of the Department of Excise and Licenses will appear before the Denver City CouncilBusiness, Arts, Workforce, Climate, & Aviation Services (BIZ) Committee on Wednesday, July 16 at 1:30 p.m. to unveil a proposal to change the name of the Department. Instead of the Department of Excise and Licenses, the agency is proposing to be called the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (LCP). The Department's current name dates back to 1971 when Denverites voted to split the former Department of Safety and Excise into two separate agencies. However, the Department does not oversee or manage the collection of excise taxes - that duty belongs to the Department of Finance.

"Every day, we are looking for ways to move Denver forward, which includes making city government better serve our community," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "The Department of Excise and Licenses protects Denver consumers and ensures businesses are operating ethically in our city. Changing the name to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is a simple, yet impactful modification that will help the public understand and access the critical work coming from this agency. I look forward to working with City Council to put this proposal in front of Denver voters this November."

The Department's proposal is co-sponsored byDistrict 11 Councilmember Stacie Gilmore. Members of the BIZ Committee will consider a bill to refer a question to the November ballot to ask voters to approve of the name change in the Charter, as well as a companion bill that would make conforming changes. If City Council approves the name change proposal, it would appear on the November ballot for voter consideration.

The Department currently issues more than 100 types of business and occupational licenses and permits, including residential rental landlords, security guards, food service providers, burglar alarms, liquor, marijuana, and short-term rentals.

In total, the Department has more than 75,000 active licenses and permits. The Department also reviews and investigates all consumer protection complaints against businesses required to have a license or permit and can take enforcement action in response to unlawful activities. Recently, the Department enhanced its consumer protection portal, where residents can submit complaints about licensees or regulated businesses at https://www.DenverGov.org/ConsumerProtection.

This is the first attempt by a City and County of Denver government agency to get voter approval of a name change since the Department of Public Works received approval from voters to change to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure in the 2019 November election.

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