Starting a business in Westminster, Colorado: a practical checklist
Updated
Requirements, fees and rules change, and Westminster sits across two counties, so confirm each step with the linked offices before you act. This is a checklist, not legal or tax advice.
Start with zoning, before you sign anything
Westminster's order of operations is unusual: the city asks you to check zoning first. The city's zoning page says that before applying for a business license you should email the Planning Division with the property address, the proposed use and a description of daily activities, so staff can check the zoning for the site. Do this before you sign a lease, because a location that does not fit the zoning is much harder to fix than a form.
Working from home? Home-based businesses complete a supplemental form stating the use complies with section 11-4-10 of the Westminster Municipal Code, according to the city's business license FAQ. The full code is in the city's municipal code library.
Every business needs a city license, and it is free
The city's business license page says every business needs a license to operate, whether or not it collects sales tax. There is no fee for the business or sales tax license (specialty and liquor licenses have their own charges, per the FAQ above).
- How to apply: through the city's online licensing portal, linked from that page, by choosing the online license application under the Registration tab.
- Timing: the city says applications take 4 to 6 weeks, because Planning, Building, Fire and Sales Tax each have to approve before you open. Apply early.
- Renewal: commercial licenses renew annually through the portal. Home occupation licenses do not expire.
Sales tax: Westminster runs its own program
Westminster is a home-rule city that administers its own sales and use tax, independent of the state, according to the city's sales and use tax page. So the city license above doubles as your city sales tax license, and returns are filed with the city. If you collect no sales tax, the FAQ says you file a $0 return.
That does not replace the state. The Colorado Department of Revenue explains how to apply for a state sales tax license, and notes that it covers state-collected jurisdictions only, while home-rule cities such as Westminster are handled by the city. Which taxes apply to what you sell is the part to ask about. Professional services, for instance, are generally not taxable under the city's page, but check your own case.
The city page also lists the combined rate separately for Adams County and Jefferson County addresses, so the rate depends on which side of the line you are on. Look up the current numbers on the city's page rather than from memory, since they changed at the start of 2026.
Register the entity with the state
If you are forming 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 LLC Periodic Report, with a $50 late filing penalty. Confirm the current numbers on that page before you file.
Local help
- City economic development: the Westminster Economic Development site has step-by-step opening guides in English and Spanish, with separate checklists for restaurants and non-restaurants. It also lists grant and scholarship programs for new and existing businesses. Ask about eligibility directly.
- SBDC: the North Metro Denver SBDC is part of the Colorado SBDC network, hosted at Front Range Community College in Westminster, and offers free, confidential consulting plus low-cost training.
- Chamber: the Westminster Chamber of Commerce lists a Business Launchpad program and member networking.
A business email address
Licenses, state reminders and bank forms all want a contact email, so pick one you will keep. Two sensible routes: your own domain with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, which suits a brand with staff because you own the domain, or a short local address like [email protected] from us. The local one is $19 a month for a personal name (trade names like plumber@ cost more), needs no domain or DNS and takes about five minutes. The catch is that you rent the address and do not own the domain. See the cost comparison or the home page.