Business Licensing & Operations in Aurora, CO (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Aurora, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Aurora, Colorado confines sexually-oriented businesses to industrial zones and requires a city license, with 1,500-foot buffers from churches, schools, homes, parks and other adult businesses.
Aurora Sexually-Oriented Business Rules
Significant RestrictionsAurora City Code § 86-556
(a) No license shall be issued under this division for any sexually-oriented business within any zone district other than industrial zones... (c) It shall be unlawful to operate...a sexually-oriented business within 1,500 feet of: (1) Any church; (2) Any school...; (3) The boundary of any residential district; (4) An existing dwelling unit (single or multiple); or (5) A public park adjacent to ...
Massage Establishments
Aurora, Colorado requires a separate license to operate a massage facility and another to work as its manager, with police background review, a 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. operating ban, and detailed conduct rules.
Aurora Massage Facility License
Significant RestrictionsAurora City Code § 86-438
(a) No person shall be permitted to operate a massage facility in the city without a valid massage facility license; and (b) No person shall be permitted to work as a manager of a massage facility without a massage facility manager's license.
Tobacco Retail License
Aurora, Colorado requires a city retail license for vape stores, smoke shops and head shops, caps them at 2,500 square feet, and keeps them 2,000 feet apart from each other.
Aurora, CO Vape Shop Licensing
Significant RestrictionsAurora City Code § 6-507(e), (j)
(e) No vape store, smoke shop or head shop shall be within 2,000 feet of another vape store, smoke shop or head shop. ... (j) A vape store, smoke shop or head shop shall not exceed 2,500 square feet of gross floor area in size.
Secondhand Dealers
Aurora, Colorado requires a secondhand dealer license for anyone buying or trading used goods worth $30 or more, or items with serial numbers, plus detailed police reporting on every transaction.
Aurora, CO Secondhand Dealer License
Some RestrictionsAurora City Code § 86-512; § 86-516(a)
No secondhand dealer shall be permitted to operate in the city without a valid secondhand dealer license. ... Every secondhand dealer shall make a record of each purchase or trade of secondhand property made by such dealer... The secondhand dealer shall electronically deliver the record of the purchase or trade to the police department within one day following the date of such purchase or trade...
Pawnbrokers
Aurora, Colorado requires a city pawnbroker license plus a separate manager's license, a $1,000 bond, and bars any new pawnshop within two miles of an existing licensed one.
Aurora Pawnbroker License Requirements
Some RestrictionsAurora City Code §§ 86-477, 86-478(d)
(a) No pawnbroker shall be permitted to operate in the city without a valid pawnbroker license. (b) No person shall be permitted to work as a manager of a pawnbroker business in the city without a valid pawnbroker manager's license. ... No application for a pawnbroker license shall be received or acted upon for any location which is within a two-mile radius of the location of any other pawnbrok...
Towing Companies
Aurora, Colorado makes it unlawful for any wrecker to tow a vehicle from a public street without the owner's consent or without police or public works authorization.
Aurora Non-Consent Towing Rules
Some RestrictionsAurora City Code § 134-254
It shall be unlawful for any wrecker or operator to tow or otherwise move a vehicle from any area or portion of a public street without the consent of the owner or custodian thereof or without authorization by the police or the director of public works.
Looking for Arapahoe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Aurora city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Arapahoe County →