11 permits · verified 2026-10-10
What permits do you need to open a auto repair shop in El Paso County Co?
In short
A auto repair shop in El Paso County Co, CO has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. El Paso County Public Health, Environmental Health Division charges $961 per new OWTS permit, including one reinspection; modification or major repair permit $891; minor repair permit $554 (Board of Health 2024 Fee Schedule) for the onsite wastewater treatment system (septic) permit. 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a auto repair shop in El Paso County Co
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules)only if it applies to you | Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of Revenue | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in El Paso County Co
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State Sales Tax License (county sales tax statement) | Colorado Department of Revenue (sales tax) | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Co page | as set by the Colorado Department of Revenue for the state license | 2026-10-10 |
| Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy (PPRBD)only if it applies to you | Pikes Peak Regional Building Department | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Co page | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
| Floodplain Development Permit (PPRBD)only if it applies to you | Pikes Peak Regional Building Department | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Co page | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
| Zoning and Land-Use Approvals (unincorporated areas)only if it applies to you | El Paso County Planning and Community Development | Varies — formula on the El Paso County Co page | per application | 2026-10-10 |
| Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to you | El Paso County Public Health, Environmental Health Division | $961 per new OWTS permit, including one reinspection; modification or major repair permit $891; minor repair permit $554 (Board of Health 2024 Fee Schedule) | per permit | 2026-10-10 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
CO registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | perpetual, but a periodic report is due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Colorado position (issued locally)only if it applies to you | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | No fee | set by the city or county | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales Tax License | Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division | Varies — formula on the CO page | 2 years — every license expires on 31 December of an odd-numbered year | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $50 one-time filing, online only | perpetual, but a periodic report is due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| Periodic Reportonly if it applies to you | Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division | $25 a year; $50 more if filed late | annual — due in the entity's own periodic report month | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a auto repair shop in El Paso County Co?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a auto repair shop in El Paso County Co, CO, 2 apply to every business of this type and 9 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
5 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all.
The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the El Paso County Co permits page and the CO state page.
Which offices issue these permits in El Paso County Co?
Permits for a auto repair shop in El Paso County Co, CO come from 7 separate offices: Colorado Department of Revenue (sales tax), Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, El Paso County Planning and Community Development, El Paso County Public Health, Environmental Health Division, Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division, Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division, Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Colorado Department of Revenue (sales tax)Issues 1 permit on this page: Colorado State Sales Tax License (county sales tax statement)tax.colorado.gov/sales-tax-guide
- Pikes Peak Regional Building DepartmentIssues 2 permits on this page: Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy (PPRBD), Floodplain Development Permit (PPRBD)2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80910 · (719) 327-2880www.pprbd.org/Home/About
- El Paso County Planning and Community DevelopmentIssues 1 permit on this page: Zoning and Land-Use Approvals (unincorporated areas)planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com
- El Paso County Public Health, Environmental Health DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (Septic) Permit1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd, Suite 2044, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 · (719) 578-3199 option 3www.elpasocountyhealth.org/licenses-permits-inspections-water-testing/retail-food/retail-food-establishments
- Colorado Secretary of State, Business DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Incorporation, General Business License — Colorado position (issued locally), Articles of Organization (LLC), Periodic Report1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290 · (303) 894-2200www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/business/businessHome.html
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales Tax License1375 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80261 · (303) 238-7378tax.colorado.gov/sales-tax-account-license
- Colorado Auto Industry Division, Department of RevenueIssues 1 permit on this page: Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules)PO Box 17087, Denver, CO 80217-0087 · (303) 205-5604sbg.colorado.gov/auto-industry
What does a auto repair shop need in El Paso County Co that other businesses do not?
1 of the 1 permit particular to a auto repair shop here applies to no other business type we cover in El Paso County Co: Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules).
Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules)
Colorado regulates repair garages by conduct under the Motor Vehicle Repair Act, C.R.S. 42-9-101 to 42-9-113, and the Attorney General's resource guide directs consumers to report violations to their district attorney's office. As the guide describes it, a garage must obtain the customer's written consent before repairs, must give a written or oral estimate of all costs, and may not collect more than the estimate plus ten per cent or twenty-five dollars, whichever is less, without the customer's consent. The revenue department's Auto Industry Division fee schedule for July 2026 to June 2027 (form DR 2246) lists dealer, powersports dealer, wholesaler, business disposal, buyer agent, wholesale auction, salesperson, manufacturer, distributor and manufacturer representative licenses and contains no repair facility category, and the regulatory agencies department's licensing page lists no repair trade. A shop still needs a sales tax license for parts and whatever its city requires.
The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in El Paso County Co, CO; what each one involves is set out on the El Paso County Co permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across CO and are covered on the CO state page.
How does a auto repair shop compare with other businesses in El Paso County Co?
The closest match is a childcare centre, which shares 0 of these permits. A auto repair shop also needs Automotive Repair — Colorado Motor Vehicle Repair Act (conduct rules). A childcare centre needs Child Care Facility Health Inspections, Daycare Permit (zoning, unincorporated areas) and Child Care License, which a auto repair shop does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a auto repair shop | Only a auto repair shop needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare centres | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Coffee shops | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Contractors and trades | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Food trucks | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the El Paso County Co permits page and the CO state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- 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
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.