Colorado COMPS Order Poster in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2026)
Operating without your Colorado COMPS Order Poster, also known as the Minimum Wage Order Poster, leaves you vulnerable to substantial fines per employee during a state labor inspection. This is a mandatory posting requirement issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) that must be displayed in your Colorado Springs restaurant. Key facts:
- 17 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 14 of them, pulling from your business profile
- $0–$0 in government filing fees — the state does not charge for this poster
- Processing timeline varies — you can download and print immediately upon completion
Analyzed from Colorado COMPS Order Poster
82% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Colorado COMPS Order Poster
In Colorado Springs, displaying the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order poster is required by state law. The poster consolidates mandatory notices from multiple statutes, including the Colorado Minimum Wage Order (COMPS Order No. 38), the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA), and wage payment laws codified in the Colorado Revised Statutes Title 8. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) issues and mandates this specific poster. Its purpose is to inform employees of their rights regarding minimum wage (which is adjusted annually), overtime eligibility, rest breaks, tip pooling, earned sick leave, and payday requirements.
Failure to post the current, state-issued COMPS Order poster in a conspicuous workplace location carries significant legal and financial risks for restaurant owners. Based on the statutes referenced, violations can trigger the following consequences:
- Wage claims and back pay: Employees can file claims for unpaid minimum wages, overtime, or sick leave. You may be liable for the full amount of back wages owed.
- Enhanced damages and penalties: In cases of willful violations, Colorado law allows for treble (triple) damages on owed wages. The CDLE can also assess civil penalties per violation.
- Operational shutdown risk: While not an immediate cease-and-desist for the poster alone, related wage theft investigations can lead to stop-work orders, liens on business property, and criminal penalties in severe cases.
- Insurance and lease complications: A substantiated wage violation can jeopardize your general liability insurance coverage and violate “good standing” clauses in commercial leases or franchise agreements.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: The COMPS Order poster was updated for 2026 to reflect the new state minimum wage of $14.42 per hour (or $11.40 per hour for tipped employees) and revised provisions for agricultural workers; you must display the 2026 version.
Who Needs a Colorado COMPS Order Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | |
| Food Truck | Required | |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (17 Fields)
14 of 17 auto-filledI understand Colorado requires the COMPS Order poster
booleanMark 'Yes' to confirm you are aware that Colorado's COMPS Order (Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards) mandates that all covered employers display the official poster.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this unchecked or marking 'No' can indicate non-compliance intent to an auditor, creating immediate liability.
Business has or will have employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if your restaurant currently has or plans to hire any employees, as the COMPS Order applies to nearly all employers with even one worker.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly marking 'No' if you have any staff (including part-time or family members), which is a common audit trigger.
Workplace Address
addressEnter the precise physical street address where employees report for work and where the poster must be displayed, which must match your business license.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, a home address for the owner, or an incorrect suite/unit number, which can invalidate the posting record.
Has Spanish-speaking employees
booleanAnswer 'Yes' if any employee's primary language is Spanish, as Colorado Wage & Hour Division rules require the Spanish version poster to also be displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming this is optional or marking 'No' to avoid extra work, which is a direct violation of accessibility rules and carries separate fines.
COMPS Order poster downloaded
booleanConfirm you have obtained the official 'COMPS Order #38' poster PDF from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website.
COMMON MISTAKE: Downloading an outdated poster from a third-party site, which will not contain current minimum wage or overtime rates.
Poster Download Date
dateEnter the date you downloaded the poster file; this proves you accessed it after the most recent update (e.g., the 2026 rate change).
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a date from a prior year, which suggests you may be displaying an obsolete version with incorrect wage information.
Verified poster is current version
booleanMark 'Yes' after checking that your poster PDF is the current 'COMPS Order #38' and includes the valid minimum wage rate (e.g., $TBD for 2026).
COMMON MISTAKE: Skipping verification; displaying last year's poster with outdated rates is a common violation cited during wage complaints.
Poster printed in appropriate size
booleanConfirm the poster was printed legibly at minimum 11x17 inches as required by the Colorado Division of Labor Standards & Statistics.
COMMON MISTAKE: Printing on standard 8.5x11 letter paper, which fails the visibility requirement and can result in a citation.
Spanish version printed
booleanIf you have Spanish-speaking employees, mark 'Yes' to confirm you have also printed the official Spanish-language 'COMPS Order #38 (Español)' poster.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to print the Spanish version after indicating you have Spanish-speaking staff, a direct non-compliance issue.
Poster Location in Workplace
textDescribe the specific, permanent location where the poster is displayed (e.g., 'Break room bulletin board next to time clock' or 'Employee entrance hallway').
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague entries like 'in the back' or choosing a location not frequented by all employees, which does not satisfy the 'conspicuous place' rule.
ApronPrep auto-fills 14 of 17 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Colorado COMPS Order Poster Mistakes
1. Posting the Wrong Year's Poster
Downloading and posting an outdated poster (e.g., the 2025 version when the 2026 update is required) violates state law. The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) updates the Colorado COMPS Order annually to reflect new minimum wage rates and changes to the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order. Based on ApronPrep's analysis, this is the most common violation, which can trigger an initial penalty of up to $7,500 per location for a 'willful' violation.
2. Incorrectly Posting the Spanish Version
Failing to post both the English AND Spanish versions side-by-side where you have Spanish-speaking employees. The Colorado Wage Protection Act (C.R.S. § 8-1-114(2)) requires the poster in any language spoken by at least 5% of the workforce. This mistake is a direct path to a wage claim investigation. Simply posting the English-only version in a kitchen where Spanish is commonly spoken puts your business at immediate risk of penalties.
3. Posting in an Inaccessible Location
Tacking the poster to a bulletin board in a manager's office or a back hallway where employees don't regularly go. The law requires posting in a 'conspicuous and accessible place' frequented by employees. If an employee can prove they never saw the poster during a wage dispute, the employer loses the legal presumption of notification, making it harder to defend against claims. It must be placed with other employment law posters in a common break or clock-in area.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Colorado COMPS Order Poster
ApronPrep auto-fills 14 of 17 fields from one compliance interview.
No credit card required
Colorado COMPS Order Poster by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: 2-3 Days to Complete and Post
Obtain the Official 2026 Colorado COMPS Order Poster
Download the official, free Colorado COMPS Order poster for 2026 from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website. This is a mandatory legal notice and cannot be substituted with older versions or posters from other sources. The poster contains the state's minimum wage, overtime, paid sick leave, and other labor law requirements. Ensure you are getting the poster for the correct year (2026), as laws and wage rates can change annually.
Complete Required Employer and Wage Rate Information
Print the poster and complete the blank sections with a pen. You must fill in your business name, address, and the specific minimum wage rate you are paying (cannot be lower than the state-mandated $14.42 per hour for 2026). You also need to post the hourly rates for tipped employees and provide a phone number for employee inquiries. This information must be current and accurate to comply with COMPS Order #38. Incomplete or incorrect wage postings are a common violation during state inspections.
Post in a Conspicuous Location
Affix the completed poster in a prominent place where all employees can easily read it, such as a break room, kitchen, or near the time clock. Colorado law requires it to be posted alongside other mandatory labor law notices. The poster must remain posted at all times; failure to display it can result in fines. It is recommended to post it in a protected frame or under clear plastic to prevent damage and to keep a digital copy for your records.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Colorado department of labor. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Colorado.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsObtaining the official Colorado COMPS Order poster does not involve a government approval timeline. This is a mandatory posting requirement, not a permit you apply for. You can download the current, mandatory poster directly from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website and have it ready for display immediately, a process that typically takes less than 10 minutes. Since this is a display mandate, you should complete it alongside other foundational registrations like your Colorado Employer Withholding Tax Registration.
The government does not charge a filing fee for the Colorado COMPS Order poster. The official poster is provided free of charge by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). Your only cost is for printing the poster, which must be displayed in a conspicuous location for all employees. This lack of a state fee makes it one of the more straightforward initial compliance steps, distinct from local permits like a City Business License/Registration which may have associated costs.
No, the COMPS Order poster itself is not a transferable document or permit. It is a universal labor law notice that must be posted at every place of employment. If you move your business to a new location within Colorado Springs, you simply need to ensure the current version of the poster is displayed at the new site. The requirement is tied to the physical workplace, not a specific license number. Contact the CDLE to confirm the poster is still the most recent version when you relocate.
You do not 'renew' the poster on a fixed schedule. You are required to replace it whenever the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) publishes an updated version, which happens when state wage and hour laws change. It is your responsibility as an employer to check the CDLE website periodically for updates and post the new version promptly. Failure to display the current poster can result in citations and fines during a labor inspection.
A Colorado Department of Labor and Employment inspector will visit your establishment, often unannounced, and check for the poster's presence and currency. They will verify it is displayed in a conspicuous area where all employees can readily see it, such as a break room or near time clocks. If the poster is missing, outdated, or not properly displayed, the inspector can issue a citation and impose financial penalties per the Colorado Wage Protection Act rules. This inspection can occur alongside checks for other mandatory postings like the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Colorado specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 17 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
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