Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster in Aurora, Colorado (2026)
You risk fines from state inspectors and create legal liability for your business if you fail to display the required Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster, a mandatory workplace posting issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. This Aurora workplace compliance requirement, also known as the "Workers' Comp Rights Poster," alerts employees to their coverage rights under state law. Key facts:
- 2 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills all 2
- $0 government filing fee — the poster itself is free from the state
- Timeline varies — based on your procurement and posting speed
Analyzed from Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster
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Why You Need a Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster
The requirement to display a Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster (also known as a Workers' Compensation Information Poster) is mandated by Colorado state law, primarily under Title 8, Article 40 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which governs Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Disability. The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE), specifically the Division of Workers' Compensation, enforces this rule. In Aurora, all businesses with one or more employees are subject to this state-wide requirement, with no local variances. The poster informs employees of their rights to workers' compensation benefits and provides crucial contact information for reporting workplace injuries and filing claims.
Failure to conspicuously post the current, state-issued notice can lead to significant penalties during an inspection by the CDLE or in the event of a workplace injury dispute. Key consequences include:
- Civil Penalties: Employers can face fines assessed by the Division of Workers' Compensation for non-compliance, which can escalate with repeat violations.
- Cease-and-Desist / Stop-Work Orders: In severe cases of non-compliance alongside other labor violations, the CDLE has the authority to issue orders that can halt business operations until the issue is remedied.
- Insurance and Legal Implications: Lack of proper posting can be used as evidence of negligence in a workers' compensation claim dispute, potentially weakening an employer's defense and affecting insurance premiums. It can also lead to direct liability for medical costs if an injured employee successfully argues they were unaware of the claims process due to the missing poster.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2026, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) has consolidated several required workplace posters into a single, updated 'Workers' Compensation & Minimum Wage Information' poster, which includes the mandated workers' comp notice.
Who Needs a Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required if you have one or more full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees, as mandated by Colorado Revised Statutes § 8-44-101. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required if you have one or more employees, including bartenders, servers, or security; the law makes no distinction for business type beyond employee count. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if the truck operator has any employees; sole proprietors with no employees are exempt, but most food trucks hire staff. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if you have one or more employees, as per the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation general posting requirement for all employers. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (2 Fields)
2 of 2 auto-filledWorkers' Compensation Insurance Carrier Name
textEnter the exact legal name of your business’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier or policy administrator, which you can find on your certificate of insurance (COI) or policy declarations page, such as 'Pinnacol Assurance', 'Travelers Insurance', or 'Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority'.
COMMON MISTAKE: Submitting a broker's name (e.g., 'ABC Insurance Agency') instead of the actual underwriter or carrier—this will fail verification as the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation requires the entity legally liable for claims.
Workplace-Specific Information (Optional)
textIf you choose to provide it, enter any additional employer contact details, safety coordinator names, or specific work location instructions not already pre-printed on the poster, using plain text without special formatting.
Top 5 Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster Mistakes
1. Failing to Post the Correct, State-Approved Version for the Current Year
Posting an outdated version or a generic, non-compliant template from the internet. This violation carries a potential fine of up to $250 per day, per the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC). Ensure you download the current 'Notice to Employees of Workers' Compensation Rights' form directly from the Colorado DWC website, which is updated annually. The 2026 version is the only legally acceptable poster for this year.
2. Posting in an Inaccessible or Non-Conspicuous Location
Placing the poster in a back office, break room, or other area not frequented by all employees. The Colorado Workers' Compensation Act requires it to be posted 'in a conspicuous place' where employees can easily read it. Post it alongside other mandatory labor law posters, typically in a common area like the kitchen, time clock, or near employee lockers. An inaccessible posting is treated as non-compliance and exposes you to the same penalties.
3. Omitting Required Insurer or Third-Party Administrator (TPA) Contact Information
Leaving the 'Name of Insurance Company/Third-Party Administrator' and 'Claims Phone Number' fields blank or incomplete. This mistake renders the poster non-compliant, as employees cannot identify who to contact for a claim. You must enter the exact legal name of your workers' comp carrier or TPA (e.g., 'Pinnacol Assurance' or 'Travelers') and the 24/7 claims reporting phone number provided on your policy documents. Using a generic company phone number instead of the specific claims line is a common error.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster
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Colorado Workers' Compensation Notice Poster by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: Varies
Prepare Your Information
Gather your business details: your legal business name, the exact Aurora street address, and your Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). This information must match your state registration with the Colorado Secretary of State. Incorrect business names or addresses are a common reason the poster does not meet compliance standards.
Obtain the Official Poster from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)
Download the official "Notice to Employees – Workers’ Compensation" poster (Form WC-7) from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website. Ensure you have the most current version, as the content and format are mandated by state rule. Do not use generic posters from third-party vendors, as they may lack required Colorado-specific details or contact information.
Print and Post in the Required Location
Print the poster on standard letter-size (8.5 x 11 inches) paper. You must post it in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees at your Aurora workplace, such as a break room, near time clocks, or with other legally required labor notices. The posting location is subject to inspection by the Division of Workers' Compensation.
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 RequirementsProcessing time is immediate to a few days. Once you download the correct poster from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) website or a licensed provider, you can print and post it. The timeline primarily depends on how you source the poster, not on government approval.
Government filing fees are $0–$0. The official poster is available for free download from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). You are responsible for printing costs or may choose to purchase a laminated version from a commercial vendor, but the state does not charge for the notice itself. Not legal advice — verify with the CDLE.
No, the poster itself is not transferable to a new business location. The notice is specific to the employer and its coverage; if you move, you simply need to post the notice in the new employee-accessible area. However, a change in location or business structure may affect other related registrations you hold, such as your City Business License/Registration in Aurora, which must be updated.
You do not renew the poster, but you must replace it with an updated version whenever the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) releases a new mandatory edition. It's a common compliance mistake to keep an outdated poster posted. You should monitor the CDLE website for updates, as failure to post the current version can result in fines.
A Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation or OSHA inspector will verify the current, state-issued poster is displayed in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees. They check for the poster's presence, legibility, and version date. This inspection is often part of a broader workplace review, which could also involve checking for your Colorado COMPS Order Poster and other labor law postings. Fines for non-compliance can be issued on the spot.
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 2 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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