Business Licensing & Operations in Longmont, CO

Longmont maintains 129 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with business licensing & operations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Longmont falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Adult Entertainment

Longmont requires a city license to operate a sexually oriented business, restricts them to the MU-E zoning district, and keeps them 1,000 feet from schools, churches, parks, homes and each other.

Key details: License required: § 6.65.040, city-issued. Permitted zoning: MU-E district only. Spacing from schools/parks/homes: 1,000 feet minimum. Spacing from other adult businesses: 1,000 feet minimum. License application fee: $280.

Operating unlicensed, or outside the permitted zoning and spacing limits, can trigger license suspension or revocation under §§ 6.65.100-.110 and chapter prosecution; the license application fee alone is $280 under § 6.65.070.

This is one of the stricter rules in Longmont's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Towing Companies

Longmont's police chief, with the city manager's approval, sets binding regulations - covering permits, response times, equipment, and storage - that every wrecker company must meet to join the city's tow list.

Key details: Regulator: Police chief + city manager approval. Max application fee: $50/year, nonrefundable. Covers: Permits, response time, storage. Appeal: To police chief, then district court.

A company that fails to meet the police chief's tow-list regulations can be denied or removed from the list, cutting off its access to city-directed non-consent tows.

Compared to other cities, Longmont takes a harder line on towing companies. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Secondhand Dealers

Longmont requires a city license to buy, trade, sell, or accept secondhand goods on consignment, with fees, exemptions, and detailed transaction records.

Key details: License fee: $50 first yr / $25 renewal. Combined junk+secondhand: $75 first yr / $50 renewal. Article hold period: 14 days for inspection. License expires: Dec. 31, renew by Feb. 1.

Operating as a secondhand dealer without the required license, buying from a minor or a known theft/burglary convict, accepting altered-serial-number items, falsifying required records, or failing to hold articles for the 14-day inspection period are all violations under Chapter 6.44.

Pawnbrokers

Longmont requires anyone carrying on a pawnbroking business to hold a city license, post a $1,000 bond, and keep detailed transaction records for three years.

Key details: License fee: $25.00 per 3-month term. Bond required: $1,000 to the city. Record retention: 3 years per transaction. Minors: May not pawn goods.

Operating as a pawnbroker without the Chapter 6.56 license, or without the required $1,000 bond, is a violation; failing to keep or produce the required transaction records, or receiving pawned goods from a minor, are also separate violations under the chapter.

The Bottom Line

Longmont is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Longmont, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Longmont 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.