Colorado · 8 jurisdictions covered
Business licenses and permits in Colorado
Colorado prorates its sales tax license fee across a two‑year cycle, so the same license costs $16 or $4 depending on when you buy it — and the state license does not cover the home‑rule cities that collect their own tax. Restaurant fees are set in statute and rise every January.
What applies everywhere in Colorado
13 requirements are set by Colorado itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.
| Requirement | Issued by | Fee | Applies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporation | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules) | Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of Revenue | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Protection Manager | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Child Care License | Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration | $200 for a centre of five to fifteen children, $175 plus $3 a child to thirty, $300 plus $3 a child above that, capped at $1,800; a family home pays $65 or $100 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Electrical Contractor Registration | Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and Occupations | Fee not published — Colorado's licensing division publishes no fee schedule and quotes amounts only inside its authenticated application checkout | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Colorado position (issued locally) | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| General Contractor License — Colorado position (licensed locally) | Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and Occupations | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Periodic Report | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $25 a year; $50 more if filed late | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
| Retail Food Establishment License | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability | $244–$1,063 a year for 2026, banded by establishment type and size; the schedule rises in 2027 and 2028 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales Tax License | Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division | $16 falling to $4 depending on where in the two-year cycle you apply, plus a refundable $50 deposit on a first location; $16 per location to renew | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Shop and Salon Registration | Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations | $35 new registration; renewal is $26 | To every business | 2026-09-03 |
| Veterinary Premises Registration — Colorado position (individual licenses only) | Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Professions and Occupations | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-03 |
Sources
Every statewide figure above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Colorado Secretary of State — business filing fee schedule, revised 1 July 2024Colorado Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Secretary of State — press release confirming the $1 business fee relief programme ends and fees return to $50Colorado Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Auto Industry Division — form DR 2246 licence fee schedule for 2026 to 2027, which contains no repair facility categoryColorado Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Attorney General — resource guide describing the Motor Vehicle Repair Act's conduct duties and district attorney enforcementColorado Attorney General · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- 6 CCR 1010-2 — Colorado retail food establishment regulations, adopting the 2022 FDA Food Code and the certified food protection manager requirement from 1 March 2025Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood — child care licensing and its fee scheduleColorado Department of Early Childhood · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado State Electrical Board — applications and the three-year license cycle expiring 30 SeptemberColorado Division of Professions and Occupations · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Secretary of State — starting a business FAQ, on where business licenses come fromColorado Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Senate Bill 22-032 — the statute that uses the term general business license only of local taxing jurisdictionsColorado General Assembly · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies — the complete list of licenses and permits it issues, which contains no general contractorColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- City and County of Denver — contractor licensing, which does not reciprocate with other Colorado jurisdictionsCity and County of Denver · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Secretary of State — periodic report FAQ and filing windowColorado Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Secretary of State — how an entity moves from good standing to noncompliant to delinquentColorado Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Senate Bill 25-285, chapter 296 of the 2025 session laws — the statutory retail food establishment fee schedule for 2026, 2027 and 2028Colorado General Assembly · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — retail food licensing, and the nine counties the state licenses directlyColorado Department of Public Health and Environment · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Revenue — standard retail license, the prorated fee table and the $50 depositColorado Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado sales tax guide — licensing, expiry on 31 December of odd years, and the home-rule distinctionColorado Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Revenue — sales tax license renewal, $16 per physical location for the 2026 to 2027 periodColorado Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure — applications and forms, with the registration expiry dateColorado Division of Professions and Occupations · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform — 2025 sunset review of the Barber and Cosmetologist Act, with the business registration fee tableColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine — the complete list of credentials it issues, all of them individualColorado Division of Professions and Occupations · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- Colorado Department of Agriculture — the complete list of pet animal care facility license categories, which contains no veterinary categoryColorado Department of Agriculture · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Which Colorado city are you opening in?
- El Paso County, COEl Paso County, Colorado, seat Colorado Springs; population 752,772 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). The county's Sales Tax Information page states that 'El Paso County does not require a separate Business or Sales Tax License' and requires a Colorado State Sales Tax License instead; the Colorado Department of Revenue collects the county's 1.23% sales tax. El Paso County Public Health licenses retail food establishments (at the amounts set by C.R.S. 25-4-1607), special-event food vendors and body art establishments, inspects child care facilities and commercial pools, and issues septic and construction activity permits under the Board of Health's 2024 Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2024). The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, created in 1966 by the county and Colorado Springs, issues building permits, certificates of occupancy, floodplain permits and contractor licenses for unincorporated El Paso County and, per its About page, for Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls, Monument, Palmer Lake and Calhan. Planning and Community Development handles zoning in unincorporated areas, and the Board of County Commissioners, through the Clerk to the Board, is the local liquor licensing authority for the unincorporated county under Resolution 23-73. EPCPH's retail food page lists the communities it serves as Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Calhan, Green Mountain Falls, Monument, Palmer Lake, Ramah and Fountain. The county's liquor application page tells applicants: 'If the establishment is within any city or town in El Paso County, please contact that entity for their liquor license process.' Requirements a city or town sets for its own area stack on the county records here and appear on that municipality's own page where one exists, such as Colorado Springs.14 published records
- Jefferson County, COJefferson County, Colorado ('Jeffco'), seat Golden; population 578,533 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Environmental Health Services licenses retail food establishments, mobile food units and temporary event food vendors throughout the county, under C.R.S. 25-4-1607 as amended by Senate Bill 25-285, and inspects child care centres. The Jefferson County Liquor Licensing Authority is the local liquor licensing authority for the unincorporated county and issues dance hall licenses under its Beer, Wine, Liquor, and Dance Hall Licenses policy (Resolution CC26-245, effective September 15, 2026). In the unincorporated county the Division of Building Safety issues building permits under the 2024 building code supplements and fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 and licenses building contractors (Resolution CC26-144, effective June 9, 2026), and Planning & Zoning charges zoning review, sign, special event and site plan fees under its schedule 'as of January 1, 2026'. The county's Cities and Unincorporated Area map (January 17, 2019) shows the municipalities of Arvada, Bow Mar, Edgewater, Golden, Lakeside, Lakewood, Littleton, Morrison, Mountain View, Superior, Westminster and Wheat Ridge, and puts 84 percent of the county's 773 square miles in the unincorporated area. The county liquor, building, contractor and zoning records here apply to the unincorporated area; a business inside a municipality deals with that municipality for those matters, which stack on the countywide JCPH records.14 published records
- Douglas County, CODouglas County, Colorado, seat Castle Rock; population 393,995 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). The county's 2026 Sales Tax FAQ brochure describes Douglas County as a state-administered county and states that 'Douglas County does not administrate, enforce, or collect sales tax or license businesses within county boundaries', with business licensing processed directly through the Colorado Department of Revenue. The Douglas County Health Department licenses retail food establishments, special event food vendors, pools and spas and body art, inspects child care facilities and issues onsite wastewater (septic) permits. The Board of County Commissioners acts as the local liquor licensing authority for unincorporated areas; the Building Division issues building permits and registers contractors, and Planning Services in the Department of Community Development handles zoning approvals and massage facility licensing, in unincorporated Douglas County. The county's Living page states: 'Five incorporated municipalities are located within the boundaries of Douglas County: Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree and Parker.' The county liquor licensing authority page states that the county does not have jurisdiction over liquor licenses within those incorporated towns and cities.12 published records
- Adams County, COAdams County, Colorado, seat Brighton (Government Center, 4430 South Adams County Parkway); population 542,973 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). The Adams County Health Department (ACHD) licenses retail food establishments, including food trucks and push carts, at the fees Colorado sets by statute (C.R.S. 25-4-1607(1.1), as enacted by SB25-285), and charges its own 2026 fees for special event food licenses, child care health inspections, pool and spa inspections and septic permits. The ACHD Retail Food page states: "All food establishments and businesses must be licensed to operate in Adams County." For unincorporated Adams County, the Community and Economic Development Department issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits, registers contractors and signs certificates of occupancy, and the Adams County local licensing authority approves liquor and fermented malt beverage licenses before they are filed with the state and issues the county public dance hall license. The county's Tax Information page states: "Other than liquor licenses, Adams County does not have a separate sales tax license. Since all collection and administration of the sales tax is the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Revenue, having a state sales tax license is sufficient for operating a business within Adams County." The county's Cities & Towns page lists the cities of Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn and Thornton, and parts of Arvada, Bennett, Aurora, Lochbuie and Westminster, with unincorporated communities including Henderson, Strasburg and Watkins. The county states its building, contractor and liquor roles for unincorporated Adams County; a business inside one of those cities or towns applies to that municipality for its own licenses and permits, which stack on the ACHD records here.11 published records
- Denver, COA consolidated city-county government, like San Francisco — Denver runs its own health department rather than relying on a county or regional district. No single general business license exists; roughly 68 activity-specific categories are each licensed separately. The licensing agency was renamed from 'Excise and Licenses' to 'Licensing and Consumer Protection' effective November 2025.11 published records
- Colorado Springs, COThe City Clerk's Business Licensing page lists 12 city-licensed activity categories and names no general business license among them, and the Sales Tax FAQ states that the Sales Tax Office has charged no license or renewal fee for the Sales/Use Tax registration since September 1, 2023. Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), a joint city-county authority, handles building permits, Certificates of Occupancy, and contractor licensing.10 published records
- Aurora, COSpans Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. Tri-County Health Department, which used to run food-service permitting for all three, dissolved December 31, 2022 — three independent county health agencies now split the work geographically. Arapahoe County Public Health's figures (covering most of the city, south of Colfax Avenue) are used here as the primary reference.9 published records
- Arapahoe County, COArapahoe County, Colorado, seat Littleton; population 666,918 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). Arapahoe County Public Health (ACPH) licenses retail food establishments and mobile food units at the annual fees Colorado sets by statute (C.R.S. 25-4-1607(1.1), as enacted by SB25-285), issues special event food licenses, licenses body art establishments under its Board of Health's Body Art Establishment Regulations, and reviews and approves child care facility plans before state licensing. The Body Art Regulations define ACPH's jurisdiction as "the county of Arapahoe, Colorado, including all municipalities contained therein." For unincorporated Arapahoe County, the Public Works and Development Department licenses building contractors under Resolution No. 23-155 and issues building permits only to licensed contractors; the department also charges the sign, fence, temporary use and zoning letter fees in the county's Zoning Fee Schedule as amended on July 28, 2026. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county file lists 13 incorporated places in Arapahoe County: Aurora, Bennett, Bow Mar, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine Valley, Deer Trail, Englewood, Foxfield, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton and Sheridan (Aurora also extends into Adams and Douglas counties). Each city and town runs its own business licensing, building and zoning, which stack on the county records here; unincorporated communities include Byers, Cherry Creek, Dove Valley, Four Square Mile and Inverness.8 published records
Is there a single Colorado business license?
No. Colorado has no single license that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licenses — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in Colorado?
- Colorado Secretary of State, Business DivisionEntity formation · Periodic reports · Trade names4 permits
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and AdministrationChild care centre licensing · Family child care home licensing2 permits
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and SustainabilityRetail food establishment licensing in nine counties · Retail food regulations statewide2 permits
- Colorado State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and OccupationsElectrician licensing · Electrical contractor registration2 permits
- Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of RevenueMotor vehicle dealer licensing1 permit
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation DivisionSales tax licenses · State-collected local sales tax1 permit
- Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and OccupationsShop and salon registration · Barber and cosmetology licensing1 permit
- Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Professions and OccupationsVeterinarian licensing · Veterinary technician licensing1 permit
By industry
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.