Business Licensing & Operations in Boulder, CO (2026)
4 verified business licensing & operations rules for Boulder, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tobacco Retail License
Selling ESDs containing nicotine or tobacco products in Boulder without a city license is illegal under Section 4-32-3: retailers must hold a two-year license from the city manager, pay a $412 new-license fee, and comply with a citywide ban on flavored e-cigarettes.
Boulder Tobacco and E-Cigarette Retailer License
Significant RestrictionsB.R.C. 1981 §§ 4-32-3, 4-20-75
No person shall conduct or carry on the business of offering ESDs containing nicotine or tobacco products without first obtaining a license therefor from the city manager under this chapter. Such license shall be governed by all requirements of Chapter 4-1, "General Licensing Provisions," B.R.C. 1981. ... An applicant for a Tobacco and ESD Retailer License shall pay an application fee of $75, a...
Secondhand Dealers
Boulder requires anyone operating a secondhand store, including consignment sales, to hold a city license under Section 4-17-3(a). Licensees must record every item bought or consigned, hold certain goods for up to thirty days, and report weekly to the police chief so officers can trace stolen property moving through the secondhand market.
Boulder Secondhand Dealer License and Records
Significant RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code § 4-17-3(a), (c)
(a)No person shall operate a secondhand store or a place for buying and selling, including, without limitation, selling on consignment, secondhand goods without first obtaining a license therefor from the city manager under this chapter.(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to apply to a garage sale or rummage sale, unless it is held at the same address more than twice per year.
Pawnbrokers
Boulder requires anyone in the pawnbroking business to hold a city license under Section 4-17-3(b), post a $5,000 surety bond, and cap loan interest at three percent per month under Section 4-17-12. Pledged items must be held at least six months before sale, and licensees file a weekly transaction report with the police chief.
Boulder Pawnbroker License and Interest Cap
Significant RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code § 4-17-3(b)-(c)
(b)No person shall engage in the business of pawnbroking without first obtaining a license therefor from the city manager under this chapter.(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to apply to a garage sale or rummage sale, unless it is held at the same address more than twice per year.
Towing Companies
Boulder requires every towing company operating in the city to hold a valid motor carrier permit and follow strict rules for non-consent tows: free release if the owner shows up before the vehicle leaves the property, no cash-only payment, capped after-hours gate fees, and mandatory notice to the registered owner and the Boulder Police Department.
Boulder's Non-Consent Towing Company Rules
Significant RestrictionsBoulder Revised Code § 7-7-11
(h)No towing company shall operate in the city without a valid motor carrier permit.(b)If the owner, authorized operator, or authorized agent of the owner of a motor vehicle that is parked without the authorization of the property owner appears in person to retrieve the motor vehicle after a tow truck is present and either backed up in alignment with such motor vehicle or tow equipment has come...
Looking for Boulder County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boulder city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Boulder County →