Centennial, CO Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 12-2-404
- License required
- City business license, Ch. 6
- Non-resident staff
- One employee maximum
- Prohibited uses
- Kennels, restaurants, vehicle repair, more
Summary
Centennial permits home-based businesses inside a residence as an accessory use under LDC Section 12-2-404, but bans butchers, kennels, restaurants, on-site retail, exterior signage, and unlicensed short-term rentals outright.
A home-based business is any business, occupation or activity conducted by a business that is required to obtain and maintain a business license pursuant to Chapter 6, Business Licenses and Regulations of the Centennial Municipal Code from within a residential structure, including accessory structures or buildings, where such use is incidental and accessory to the use of the structure or building as a residence by the person engaged in the home-based business. It is the policy of the City to encourage the use of the home for business purposes that do not negatively affect the character and quality of life in the City's neighborhoods. This Section sets out the standards for the physical features, building character, and operations of home-based businesses to ensure that the uses are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.2.The standards of this Section apply to home-based businesses that are specified in Table 12-2-302, Residential, Home, and Institutional Uses, as "L."
Full Breakdown
A home-based business is any licensed business conducted from within a residential structure in Centennial, including accessory structures, where the use is incidental to the home as a residence. The Land Development Code applies these standards to home occupations listed as an L use in Table 12-2-302. Section 12-2-404 flatly prohibits certain businesses, including butchers, kennels, funeral homes, medical or dental offices, vehicle sales or repair, and unlicensed short-term rentals, while other home businesses must skip exterior signage, outdoor storage, extra building entrances, and more than one non-resident employee. Operators must hold a City business license.
Violations & Fines
Operating a prohibited home business, adding business signage or a dedicated entrance, or running the business without a Centennial business license violates Section 12-2-404 and can trigger code enforcement and license revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a retail shop from my Centennial home?
Do I need a permit for a home business in Centennial?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Centennial
How Centennial compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Centennial to another location·View the Colorado home business overview
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Zoning & Home Occupation Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle zoning & home occupation permits.