Manitou Springs, CO Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Home Occupation Permit required before operating
- Floor area cap
- 49% of dwelling's interior floor area
- Non-resident employees
- Maximum of one
- Home Occupations per dwelling
- Maximum of two
- Operator residency
- Must reside in the dwelling
- Enforcement option
- Civil abatement action under §1.01.100(D)
Summary
Before operating almost any business from a Manitou Springs home, the operator needs a Home Occupation Permit, must live in the dwelling, can use no more than 49 percent of its interior floor area, and can hire at most one employee who lives elsewhere; the standards apply to any home business that isn't the narrow zero-impact or daycare exemption.
1.Permit Required. A Home Occupation Permit is required prior to the operation of any Home Occupation unless exempted by Section 18.04.24.4(B).2.Operating Standards. The following operating standards shall apply to all Home Occupations unless exempted by Section 18.04.24.4(B).i.Home Occupations shall be in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations of the City.ii.No more than two home occupations shall be permitted per dwelling unit.iii.The operator of the Home Occupation shall reside in the dwelling unit.iv.The Home Occupation(s) shall not have more than one employee who does not reside in the dwelling unit.v.For Home Occupations located within a primary structure no more than 49 percent of the total interior floor area of the dwelling unit may be used in connection with the Home Occupation(s).
Full Breakdown
4(B). 4(C)(2) sets a full package of operating standards: no more than two Home Occupations may run from the same dwelling unit (ii); the operator must actually reside there (iii); the business can employ no more than one person who does not live in the dwelling (iv); and, when the business is located within the primary structure, it can occupy no more than 49 percent of the dwelling's total interior floor area, with the same square-footage ceiling carrying over if the business instead uses an accessory structure (v, vi).
The code also bars any interior or exterior alteration that changes the dwelling's residential character (vii), confines the business to the enclosed dwelling, accessory structure, or garage rather than porches (ix), and forbids outdoor storage or direct retail sales on-site except incidental sales tied to a personal service (xi, xii). 3). 100(D) separately authorizes the city to bring a civil action in municipal court to declare and abate the violation, on top of the general penalty.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted Home Occupation, exceeding the 49 percent floor-area cap, employing more than one non-resident worker, or otherwise violating § 18.04.24.4 exposes the operator to the citywide general penalty under § 1.01.100(A), a fine of up to $2,650, up to ninety days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; § 1.01.100(D) additionally lets the city file a civil action specifically for Title 18 violations to enjoin, abate, or order removal of the noncompliant use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my Manitou Springs house can I use for a home business?
Do I have to live in the house where I run my home business?
Can I hire outside employees for my home business?
What can the city do if I operate a home business without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
How Manitou Springs compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Manitou Springs to another location·View the Colorado home business overview
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Zoning & Home Occupation Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle zoning & home occupation permits.