Highlands Ranch is an unincorporated, master-planned community in Douglas County with more than 100,000 residents, which makes it larger than most Colorado cities even though it has no city government. Restaurant Finance Network helps Highlands Ranch owners take one application to several lenders, and it helps to know that licensing here works differently than in an incorporated city.
Highlands Ranch at a glance
- Population: 103,444 (2020 Census). Highlands Ranch is a census-designated place, so the Census Bureau does not publish annual estimates for it.
- County: Douglas.
- Dining areas: Highlands Ranch Town Center, the newer Central Park district east of Lucent Boulevard and north of C-470, the University Boulevard corridor, and neighborhood shopping centers along Highlands Ranch Parkway.
- SBA coverage: Highlands Ranch businesses work with the SBA Colorado District Office in downtown Denver, roughly 20 miles north.
A planned community with planned dining
Highlands Ranch is a 22,000-acre community whose first families moved in during 1981. The Mission Viejo Company bought the ranch in 1979 and began development, and Shea Homes acquired the community in 1997 and continued building it out, including the Town Center, where businesses first opened in 2004. The historic Highlands Ranch Mansion was renovated and opened to the public in 2012 and now hosts events and weddings.
Because it was planned, Highlands Ranch’s restaurants are concentrated in designated commercial centers rather than spread along old highways. Central Park, developed by Shea Properties next to the original Town Center, brought a wave of national and regional restaurant brands, and University Boulevard has added newer breakfast and casual-dining spots. Residents are mostly families and commuters, so dinners, weekends and takeout tend to matter more than office lunches.
Local services come from the Highlands Ranch Metro District and the Highlands Ranch Community Association rather than a city. Seasonality is mild, shaped more by school calendars, youth sports and holidays than by tourism.
Financing that fits Highlands Ranch operators
- Franchise restaurant financing for brands in Central Park, Town Center and University Boulevard centers.
- Equipment financing for fryers, ovens, dish machines and walk-in coolers.
- SBA loans for acquiring a going restaurant or buying a pad building outright.
- Catering business financing for operators serving schools, churches and youth sports events.
- A business line of credit for summer-break and holiday swings.
Expanding in the south metro
Highlands Ranch owners often add a location in Littleton, Centennial, Lone Tree, Castle Rock or Parker, keeping both stores within a short drive. For that second store, an expansion loan is the typical route. Lenders begin with the track record of the Highlands Ranch store, including several months of deposits, existing loan payments and years in business, and then evaluate the budget for the new space. Once you reach three or more units, lenders start looking at the group as a whole; multi-location restaurant financing explains how.
Licensing and local help
Because Highlands Ranch is unincorporated, Douglas County is the local liquor licensing authority, acting through the Board of County Commissioners, and county staff process applications. New applications require a 30-day hold before a public hearing, and hearings for Highlands Ranch businesses have been held at the county offices on Third Street in Castle Rock. The Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division must also approve the state license. Free advising comes from the Colorado SBDC serving Aurora-South Metro, which covers Douglas County.
Questions owners ask
Who issues liquor licenses in Highlands Ranch?
Highlands Ranch has no city government, so Douglas County acts as the local liquor licensing authority through the Board of County Commissioners, with county staff handling applications. New applications have a 30-day hold before a public hearing, typically in Castle Rock. With the county decision in hand, the application continues to the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division for the state license.
Why is there no recent population estimate for Highlands Ranch?
Highlands Ranch is a census-designated place, not an incorporated city, and the Census Bureau’s annual city estimates cover only incorporated places. The 2020 Census counted 103,444 residents. Lenders do not need a population figure to review your application; they focus on your bank statements, experience, existing debt and the costs of your project.
Can I finance a restaurant in the Central Park district?
Yes, restaurants in established centers like Central Park can be financed with equipment loans, SBA loans or renovation and build-out financing, depending on the space. Lenders will want the lease, any tenant-improvement allowance, a budget and your recent bank statements. Second-generation restaurant spaces can lower build-out costs compared with raw shell space.
Nearby cities
Back to the Colorado hub, or compare Littleton, Centennial and Castle Rock. Ready to see options? Check what you qualify for.