Business Licensing & Operations in Denver, CO (2026)
8 verified business licensing & operations rules for Denver, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Denver bans adult businesses citywide except inside its Adult Use Overlay District, where they still need 500 feet from homes, schools, and daycares.
Denver Adult Business 500-Foot Spacing Rule
Significant RestrictionsDenver Zoning Code § 9.4.4.6.C
No adult business use listed in this table row shall be established within 500 feet of one or more of the following zone districts or uses...: All Residential Zone Districts • Dwelling Use, Single-Unit • Dwelling Use, Multi-Unit • Dwelling Use, Two-Unit • Religious Assembly • Elementary or Secondary School...Day Care Center...Not more than 2 of the uses listed in this table row shall be establi...
Massage Establishments
Denver requires anyone operating a massage business to hold a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses, effective July 1, 2022, with exemptions for licensed massage therapists working solo and certain health professionals.
Massage Establishment License Required in Denver
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 33.5-2(a)(1)
On and after July 1, 2022, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a massage business without a valid massage business license issued by the department pursuant to this article.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Denver requires a body artist license and a separate body art establishment license from Excise and Licenses before anyone tattoos, pierces, or operates a tattoo shop, mobile unit, or temporary event booth.
Denver Tattoo and Body Art Licensing
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 24-361(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to advertise an offer to perform, solicit another person for purposes of performing, agree to perform, or perform any body art procedure on another living person, in exchange for anything of value, unless he or she has a valid body artist license or temporary body artist permit issued by the director of excise and licenses.(b)It shall be unlawful for any lice...
Tobacco Retail License
Denver requires a retail tobacco store license to sell vapes, e-cigarettes, or any nicotine product, and the city must deny that license if the shop sits within 1,000 feet of a school or a city-owned recreation center or outdoor pool.
Denver Requires a License to Sell Vapes
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 24-420; § 24-422(b)
On and after July 1, 2021, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a retail tobacco store without first having obtained a valid retail tobacco store license pursuant to this division 2... An application for a retail tobacco store license shall be denied under this division 2 if... [t]he applicant's proposed location is within one thousand (1,000) feet of any school... [or] any city-owned...
Secondhand Dealers
Denver requires a secondhand dealer license from Excise and Licenses before buying or trading used goods, with a mandatory 10-day hold and police reporting on every transaction.
Denver Secondhand Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 45-101
It shall be unlawful for any person to be a secondhand dealer as described in section 45-66 without first having applied for and obtained a secondhand dealer license from the director of excise and licenses. In the event that two (2) or more separate business entities shall be located in the same building, each such entity doing business under this article shall be required to have an individua...
Pawnbrokers
Denver requires pawnbrokers to hold a director of excise and licenses permit, post a $5,000 bond, and keep detailed transaction records for the Denver Police Department.
Denver Pawnbroker Licensing, Bond, and Hours Rules
Significant RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 45-51
It shall be unlawful for any person to be a pawnbroker except as provided in and authorized by this article and without first having obtained a license from the director of excise and licenses.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Denver zoning bars vehicle repair services as a home occupation, and residential lots may not store automobile parts, tools, or supplies for auto repair outdoors, even accessory to a permitted use.
Denver Bans Auto Repair as a Home Business
Heavy RestrictionsDenver Zoning Code § 11.9.5.7
The Zoning Administrator shall not allow any of the following uses as Home Occupations: ... 11.9.5.7 Vehicle or equipment sales, rentals, and services, including repairs.
Towing Companies
Denver bars towing a vehicle off private property without the owner's or property owner's authorization, requires police notice within 30 minutes, and caps the drive-off fee at $15 if the owner shows up before the tow is complete.
Denver Private-Property Tow and Drive-Off Rules
Some RestrictionsDenver Revised Municipal Code § 55-178
It shall be unlawful: ... (7)For a public towing service or operator to require an owner or custodian of a vehicle located on private property, which vehicle the public towing service or operator has been authorized to tow or otherwise move, to pay a service charge in excess of fifteen dollars ($15.00) when the owner or custodian arrives on the scene before such vehicle is removed and said vehi...