How Aurora Handles Business Licensing & Operations: A Practical Guide
Aurora maintains 198 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with business licensing & operations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Aurora falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Tobacco Retail License
Aurora requires tobacco retailers to obtain a city license and follow Colorado's age-21 sales rule under CRS 44-7-103.5, with annual fees and routine compliance checks by Aurora Tax and Licensing.
Key details: Minimum sales age: 21 statewide. State authority: CRS 44-7-103.5. City code chapter: Chapter 26. Renewal: Annual.
Selling tobacco to anyone under 21, operating without a city tobacco retail license, or failing inspection can trigger fines, license suspension, or revocation by Aurora Tax and Licensing.
Massage Establishments
Aurora regulates massage businesses under Chapter 26 with city licensing requirements layered on top of Colorado state therapist registration through DORA, including background checks and inspection authority.
Key details: City code chapter: Chapter 26. Therapist license: Colorado DORA. Zoning rules: Aurora UDO Ch. 146. Renewal: Annual.
Operating a massage establishment without a city license, employing unregistered therapists, or violating posting and inspection rules can result in fines and license revocation.
Towing Companies
Tow operators in Aurora must hold a city business license and a Colorado Public Utilities Commission towing carrier permit, with strict rate, signage, and storage rules for nonconsensual tows from private property.
Key details: State authority: Colorado PUC, CRS 40-10.1. City license: Chapter 26 required. Rate caps: Set by PUC. Signage: Required on private lots.
Charging above PUC-capped tow rates, towing from improperly signed private lots, or operating without a city license can result in fines, fee forfeiture, and PUC permit action.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Tattoo and piercing studios in Aurora need a city business license plus a Tri-County Health-successor body art establishment permit, with sterilization and bloodborne pathogen rules under Colorado public health law.
Key details: City license: Aurora Chapter 26. Health permit: Local public health. Minor rule: Parental consent required. Sterilization: Autoclave required.
Tattooing without a permit, tattooing minors without parental consent, or failing sterilization standards can lead to closure, fines, and license revocation under city and state rules.
Secondhand Dealers
Aurora secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers must obtain a city license, hold purchased items for a state-mandated period, and report transactions to law enforcement under Colorado precious-metals and pawn statutes.
Key details: State authority: CRS 12-240. Reporting system: LeadsOnline or similar. City code chapter: Chapter 26. Records required: Seller ID and serial.
Failure to report purchases, missing seller IDs, or selling items inside the holding period can lead to fines, license revocation, and potential criminal charges by Aurora Police Department.
The Bottom Line
Aurora's business licensing & operations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Aurora is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Aurora can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.