Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster in Denver, Colorado (2026)
Your employees must know their paid leave rights—and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) requires you to post the official HFWA notice where staff can see it. Also called a Paid Leave Notice Posting requirement, this is a non-negotiable workplace compliance mandate under Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-4-520.29. Without it displayed, you face citations and complaints filed with CDLE. No government filing fees — the poster itself is free to print or order. Most applicants complete this requirement in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 21 of 25 fields.
Analyzed from Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster
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Why You Need a Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster
The Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) poster is a mandatory workplace notice for all employers in Denver, Colorado, as codified in state law. It consolidates the requirements from Colorado Revised Statutes § 8-13.3-404 (HFWA), § 8-14-103 (wage payment statutes), § 8-6-119 (minimum wage), and related § 8-1-104 (wage claim procedures). This poster is issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). Its primary purpose is to inform employees of their rights to paid sick leave, wage payment schedules, minimum wage rates, and the procedures for filing complaints. Failure to display it is considered a violation of state law and subjects employers to enforcement actions.
Not displaying the correct, up-to-date HFWA poster in a conspicuous place at your Denver restaurant can trigger several penalties. Based on enforcement actions by the CDLE, common consequences include:
- Civil monetary penalties issued by the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, which can accumulate per violation or per employee.
- Increased liability in wage claim disputes, where failure to post required notices can undermine an employer's defense in cases involving unpaid sick leave or minimum wage.
- Cease-and-desist orders or mandatory compliance agreements with the CDLE, which can include audits of payroll and sick leave records.
- Contract and lease implications, as some commercial leases require proof of compliance with all labor posting laws, and non-compliance could be grounds for default.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2026, the HFWA poster content was updated to reflect new provisions related to public health emergency leave and the statewide minimum wage increase to $13.65 per hour, with a higher rate for Denver city/county employees.
Who Needs a Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required; Colorado HFWA applies to all private employers with one or more employees, regardless of establishment type. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required; any business with at least one employee is covered under C.R.S. 8-13.3-402 and must post the notice. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required; food trucks operating with employees in Colorado must comply with HFWA posting requirements, per the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required; coffee shops with one or more employees fall under the state law's definition of a covered employer and must post the notice. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (25 Fields)
21 of 25 auto-filledBusiness Legal Name
textEnter your business's name exactly as it appears on your Colorado Secretary of State filing, Articles of Organization, or other official business registration document.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a DBA (Doing Business As) name instead of the registered legal entity name, which can cause non-compliance verification issues.
Doing Business As (DBA) Name
textEnter the 'trade name' or 'Doing Business As' name under which your restaurant operates publicly, if different from the legal name.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving blank when your restaurant uses a public-facing name different from its legal name, which fails to reflect your actual business identity.
Primary Location Street Address
textEnter the complete street address (including suite/unit number) where your restaurant operates and employs staff subject to the HFWA.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a mailing address, PO Box, or home address, which invalidates the posting requirement for the physical work location.
City
textEnter the city for the primary location street address you provided.
COMMON MISTAKE: Abbreviations or misspellings (e.g., 'Den' for Denver) that cause mismatches with other official filings.
State
textEnter 'Colorado' as the state for the primary location.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving blank or entering the state of incorporation if different, as the HFWA applies to Colorado work locations.
ZIP Code
textEnter the 5-digit ZIP code for the primary location street address.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using the ZIP+4 format when only the 5-digit code is required, or using an incorrect code from a different location.
Has Employees in Colorado
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you employ one or more individuals in Colorado, which triggers the mandatory HFWA posting requirement.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' if you have any staff (including part-time or seasonal), which is a direct violation of Colorado Rev. Stat. § 8-13.3-404.
Total Number of Employees
numberEnter your total count of employees (full-time, part-time, and seasonal) working at all Colorado locations as of the date of poster generation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a '0' when you have staff, or counting only full-time employees, which misrepresents your workforce size and applicable rights.
Has Spanish-Speaking Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if any of your Colorado employees primarily communicate in Spanish, as this triggers the requirement to also post the Spanish-language version of the HFWA poster.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' to avoid an extra step when you do have Spanish-speaking staff, which violates the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's (CDLE) language access rules.
Multiple Work Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate more than one restaurant or work site in Colorado, as you may need to generate and post a poster for each distinct physical location.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have multiple locations, leading to non-compliant posting at the unlisted sites and potential penalties per location.
ApronPrep auto-fills 21 of 25 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster Mistakes
1. Posting an Outdated or Unofficial Version of the Poster
Using a poster downloaded from a non-government website or an old version (pre-2023) without the updated public health emergency leave provisions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) can cite you for non-compliance during an inspection. Download and post only the current, official poster from the CDLE’s website, verifying it includes language about public health emergency leave as required by the 2023 updates.
2. Displaying the Poster in an Inaccessible or Non-Prominent Location
Placing the poster in a back office, break room, or other area not frequented by all employees. This fails the 'conspicuous place' requirement, rendering it ineffective for informing staff of their rights. Consequences include potential employee complaints and violations noted in wage claim investigations. Post it alongside other required labor law notices in a common area like the kitchen entrance or time clock where all employees can see it daily.
3. Failing to Provide the Notice in All Required Languages
Posting only the English version when you have Spanish-speaking employees. The HFWA requires employers to provide the notice in a language the employee understands if they routinely communicate in that language. Not doing so can be grounds for a complaint and limits your defense in a dispute. Proactively post both English and Spanish versions if any staff primarily use Spanish; the CDLE provides official Spanish translations.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster
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Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA) Poster by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: Varies
Download the Official HFWA Poster from Colorado Department of Labor
Visit the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website and locate the current year's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act poster in English and Spanish. The poster is available as a free PDF download — no registration or application required. Verify you have the 2026 version, as CDLE updates the poster annually to reflect regulatory changes. Most employers download this in under 5 minutes.
Print the Poster in Color on Standard 8.5" × 11" Paper
Print the downloaded PDF on white paper at 100% scale — do not reduce or crop the document. CDLE requires the full poster text and formatting to be legible. Print both the English and Spanish versions if your workforce includes Spanish-speaking employees (federal guidance recommends posting in all languages spoken by 5% or more of your workforce). Use a standard office printer or commercial print shop.
Post the Poster in a Visible, Accessible Location at Your Restaurant
Display the printed poster in an area where all employees can easily see it — commonly near the break room, time clock, or employee entrance. The poster must be posted in locations where non-management staff gather. If your restaurant has multiple departments (kitchen, front-of-house), post copies in each area. Do not laminate or cover the poster with plastic, as this can obscure required text.
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 RequirementsThe HFWA poster itself is not a permit that requires government processing — it is a workplace notice you must obtain and display immediately upon hire. You can download the poster directly from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website at no cost, print it, and post it in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees. Contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to confirm current posting requirements and any recent updates to the poster content.
There is no government filing fee for the HFWA poster — Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment provides the poster at no charge for download and printing. You may incur costs only if you choose to purchase a pre-printed poster from a third-party vendor, but this is optional. The poster itself is free; you only pay for materials and printing if you elect not to print it yourself. Not legal advice — verify current poster availability and any fee changes with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
The HFWA poster is a workplace notice requirement, not a transferable permit or license — each physical location where you employ workers must display a current poster in a visible area. If you relocate your restaurant or open a second location, you must print and post a current copy of the HFWA poster at the new address. You should also verify that you have completed other location-specific registrations, such as your City Business License/Registration, at the new site.
The HFWA poster does not require renewal in the traditional sense — however, you must update and display the current poster whenever Colorado updates the law or poster content. Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment periodically updates the poster to reflect changes to paid leave accrual rates, eligibility rules, or notice requirements. Check the department's website annually or when you receive notice of regulatory changes to ensure your posted version remains current.
Labor inspectors do not typically conduct standalone HFWA poster inspections; the poster requirement is usually checked as part of routine Department of Labor and Employment compliance audits or investigations into wage-and-hour complaints. If an inspector finds your restaurant is not displaying a current HFWA poster in a location accessible to employees, you may face a citation and be required to post the notice immediately. Inspectors also verify that your paid leave policies comply with HFWA requirements — ensure you maintain written records of employee paid leave accrual and usage in case an investigation occurs.
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 25 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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