Starting a business in Arvada, Colorado: a practical checklist
Updated
Arvada is a home-rule city that runs its own business licensing and its own sales tax, which changes the order of the usual startup steps. Requirements, fees and rules change, so confirm each item with the linked offices before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.
Start with the city license, because it is also your sales tax account
The City of Arvada says a business license is required for any business located in the city, and for any business that comes in to sell, lease, rent, deliver or install tangible personal property. Applications go through the city's online portal, MUNIRevs. According to the city, the licenses are free and do not expire, except food trucks and short-term rentals, which renew every year.
Once licensed, you get a sales and use tax account and are required to file returns to keep the license active. If you close, the city has a closure form, and it says delinquent accounts cannot close until all returns are filed and paid. Questions go to the city Revenue department at 720-898-7100.
Sales tax: city and state are separate
The city's sales tax page says Arvada collects its own sales tax as a home-rule municipality. Returns are filed and paid online through MUNIRevs and are due on the 20th of the month, covering the previous period. The same page lists the city rate, so read it there rather than relying on a copy.
The state is a separate account. The Colorado Department of Revenue explains how to apply for a state sales tax license, and says its license covers only state and state-collected jurisdictions, and that if you are in a home-rule city you should contact the city for its license requirements. In practice, a retailer in Arvada should expect to deal with both offices. The state's local government sales tax page is the place to check how county and special-district taxes apply to your sales.
Register your entity with the state
If you want an LLC, you file Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State. The fee schedule (revised July 1, 2024) lists $50 online for Articles of Organization and $25 online for the annual Periodic Report. Check the page for the current figures before you file. You can also start at the Secretary of State's site.
Where the business will operate
The city's license page lists steps that depend on location. For a commercial space, it points to Planning Department approval of zoning (720-898-7435) and Building Department approval (720-898-7620). For a business run from home, it says to submit a home supplement form with the license application. Read the city's own requirements before you sign a lease or print cards, because zoning can rule out a location.
If your business is a short-term rental
Arvada's short-term rental rules got a rewrite this year, and this is where it is most different from nearby cities. The city's short-term rental page says you need both a permit and a business license, and that updated rules took effect May 1, 2026. The city's FAQ says a permit applies to rentals of fewer than 30 nights, with a 2 night minimum. It also describes limits on how many properties one owner may operate and on days of occupancy, and annual inspections.
The application info page lists the documents the city asks for, including proof of ownership, a floor plan, a home inspection form, and proof of $1 million in liability insurance. It also says processing typically takes 10 business days. Fees are on the city's fee schedule, so check there.
Local help
- City and economic development. The Arvada Economic Development Association offers a new business checklist, licensing and sales tax guidance, local lender connections and storefront improvement grants, and says it has workforce resources for both Adams and Jefferson counties. Its contact page is at arvadaeconomicdevelopment.org/contact.
- Chamber. The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce lists a Business Resource Center among its services. Call 303-424-0313 for what it offers now.
- Free advising. The Colorado Small Business Development Center network has a center locator. Find the center that serves Jefferson or Adams county, depending on your address.
Setting up a business email address
You will need one for the license portal, state filings and your bank. The most flexible option is your own domain with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365: you own the domain and can add staff. Our alternative is a short local address like [email protected]. A personal name is $19 a month, and trade names like plumber@ cost more. There is no domain to buy and no DNS, and setup takes about five minutes. The tradeoff is that you rent the address and do not own the domain, so a brand with staff is better served by its own domain. The cost guide compares the options, or check a name on the home page.