COS Business Navigator Frequently Asked Business Questions

Colorado Springs does not have a general business license. There are only 12 types of businesses that need a business license in the City of Colorado Springs: 

To view the list of required business licenses, visit the City Clerk’s website. 

Contact the City Clerk's office by calling 719-385-5901, option 1, or send an email to businesslicense@coloradosprings.gov.  

Business and individuals are prohibited from providing, selling, serving, allowing or offering alcoholic beverages to the public without a proper liquor license. This applies whether or not the business charges, provides samples free of charge or allows patrons to “self-serve.” 

The City Clerk’s office can help walk you through the process for both the City of Colorado Springs and the State of Colorado. 

You can find more information for liquor and beer licensing at the City Clerk’s website.

If you have any questions about liquor and beer, you can call the City Clerk’s office at 719-385-5901, option 2, or send an email to businesslicense@coloradosprings.gov.  

Whether online or in-person, if you’re doing business in Colorado Springs selling goods or performing taxable services, you need a sales tax license. Additionally, if your business comes into the city to sell at special events or as a mobile vendor like a food truck, you will need a license. 

If you’re unsure if you’d need a license, or which items are taxable, you can visit the City's Sales Tax Office website.

You can also contact the City's Sales Tax Office by calling 719-385-5903, option 1, or send an email to salestax@coloradosprings.gov.   

It's also important to note that there may be other requirements, depending on the type of business. If you have questions about the State of Colorado, El Paso County or Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority sales tax, please contact the Colorado Department of Revenue.    

Remember, there are only 12 types of businesses that actually do need a business license in the City of Colorado Springs, so be sure to double check that yours is one of those.  

You can access all of the City Clerk’s licensing services in the City of Colorado Springs Permits, Licenses and Records portal. By creating an account, you will be able to view, apply and submit business applications, check the status of a pending request, access payment information and much more. 

More information is available on the City Clerk’s website. Contact the City Clerk's office by calling 719-385-5903, option 1, or email salestax@coloradosprings.gov.   

Liquor and beer licensing in Colorado is dual-jurisdictional with both Colorado Department of Revenue and City of Colorado Springs licensing required.  

All matters related to liquor and beer licensing must be directed to the City of Colorado Springs’ Office of the City Clerk. Liquor and beer license application packets are available at the City Clerk’s Office or can be downloaded on the City Clerk’s website. Completed applications with the applicable State and City fees must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office. 

All applications for sales tax licenses must be filed online. There is no cost to apply for a sales tax license with the City of Colorado Springs.  

Register as a user in the City of Colorado Springs’ Sales Tax Application and Payment Portal. Once registered and verified, you can apply for a new sales tax license. Please make sure you have your basic business information on hand such as your federal employer ID number or social security number, mailing and physical addresses, account point of contact and your legal business name. Once the application is filed it must be approved by the Sales Tax Office before the license can be printed or returns can be filed. 

More information is available on the City's Sales Tax Office website. 

You can also contact the City's Sales Tax Office by calling 719-385-5903, option 1, or send an email to salestax@coloradosprings.gov.   

You must verify that the zone district that the property is located in and the kind of business you plan to operate are a match for the business to be permissible in a specific location. 

Once you determine if your business is or is not allowed in a specific location, you can work one-on-one with a planner to learn about the requirements and processes associated with developing a vacant property. All vacant sites must be brought up to city standards, which means updates to things like on-site landscaping, drainage, infrastructure. 

It’s highly encouraged to find out all you can about a location and property before signing a lease or purchase agreement. 

This depends on the type of business and how the business may impact your neighborhood. Most home-based businesses will require a Home Occupation Permit through the City of Colorado Springs’ Planning and Development department. A home-based business must meet certain criteria and requirements: 

Work with a planner one-on-one by requesting a free pre-application meeting online. 
 

You must verify that the zone district that the property is located in and the kind of business you plan to operate are a match for the business to be permissible in a specific location. 

Once you determine if your business is or is not allowed in a specific location, you can work one-on-one with a planner to learn about the requirements and processes associated with developing a vacant property. All vacant sites must be brought up to city standards, which means updates to things like on-site landscaping, drainage, infrastructure. 

It’s highly encouraged to find out all you can about a location and property before signing a lease or purchase agreement. 

It’s important to check the occupancy classification for a property to make this determination. This determines what a space can be used for. If the classification is the same occupancy classification as what you’d need for your business, then you’re good to go! An example of this would be a new restaurant concept opening up in a building that housed an old restaurant. It’s always worth double checking the occupancy classification before signing a lease or purchasing a building. 

If the occupancy classification does not match what you’d need for your business, then this might not be the best space for you. Doing a Change of Occupancy can be difficult, expensive and the project could end up taking longer than expected. 

You can always contact the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department to check the occupancy classification by calling 719-327-2880 or by entering your request on their website. 

With a sales tax license, all city taxes can be filed online. Simply navigate to the City’s Sales Tax Office website, click on “Online Services” and then click on “Sales Tax Services.”  

You can also contact the City's Sales Tax Office by calling 719-385-5903, option 1, or send an email to salestax@coloradosprings.gov.   

The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free one-on-one confidential consulting to discuss the individual business needs and the solutions to the challenges of business entrepreneurship. These consultations can be done in-person or virtually and are always free and confidential.  

The SBDC also provides low-cost and free business classes, with over 100 educational opportunities throughout the year to get involved.  

To see a class schedule or schedule an appointment with a business consultant, call 719-667-3803, email info@pikespeaksbdc.org, or visit the Pikes Peak SBDC website.