Denver, CO Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Size cap
- 20% of floor area, 300 sq ft max
- Residency
- Operator must live on-site
- Employees
- Only household residents, with license exceptions
- Signage
- One 1 sq ft flat sign per frontage
- Equipment
- Electric motors capped at 3 hp total
Summary
Denver caps home occupations at 20% of a dwelling's floor area (300 sq ft max) and requires the operator to live on-site, per Zoning Code Division 11.9.
One or more Home Occupation(s), whether located within a primary dwelling unit or a detached accessory structure, shall not in the aggregate utilize more than 20 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit primary use, but in no case shall exceed 300 square feet.
Full Breakdown
Denver Zoning Code Division 11.9 governs Home Occupations in every zone district. The business must be run by a resident of the dwelling, stay inside a completely enclosed structure (with narrow exceptions for child care play areas and produce sales), skip a separate external entrance, and post no more than one 1-square-foot flat sign per street frontage. Size is capped at 20 percent of the dwelling's gross floor area, never exceeding 300 square feet, and mechanical equipment is limited to electric motors under 3 horsepower combined. Unlisted occupation types need Zoning Administrator approval; a fixed list (adult business, commercial parking, commercial warehousing, and more) is barred outright.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Administrator enforcement; a Home Occupation zoning permit automatically expires once the applicant stops living at the property, and any use exceeding the size, signage, or enclosure limits is a zoning code violation subject to standard code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a Denver home occupation be?
Can a Denver home business have employees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
How Denver compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.