Taxes, Licenses, Permits for the City of Cortez Colorado

Carnival and Circus | Contractors, Building Permits | Home Based Businesses |
Liquor Sales | Pawn Brokers | Plumbers / Gasfitters | Private Security
Transient Vendors | Tree Pruners | Sales Tax License

The following businesses wishing to operate in Cortez are required to obtain licenses from the City prior to beginning operation.
Carnival and Circus

The City of Cortez requires that any carnival or circus wishing to operate within the city limits first obtain a license. Licenses are issued by the City Clerk Office in City Hall. Fees are $150 per day.

Contractors, Building Permits

While contractors are not required to be licensed by the City, it is necessary to obtain the proper permits prior to beginning any construction project.

The City has adopted and continues to enforce the 2000 International Building Code, 2000 International Residential Code, 2000 International Energy Conservation Code, 2000 International Property Maintenance Code, 1997 Uniform Mechanical Code, 1994 Uniform Plumbing Code and the 2001 Land Use Code.

REMEMBER: Before you dig, call UNCC to request a line locate. They can be reached toll-free at 800.922.1987

For more information on permits required by the City, please click here.

Home Based Businesses

A home occupation may be allowed as an accessory use to a dwelling unit. However, before starting your business, you must apply for and receive an approved Home Occupation Permit from the City of Cortez. The application can be picked up at the office of the Zoning Administrator at the City Service Center. See Map

You must supply the following information or the application is incomplete and will not be reviewed:

Name of applicant

Address of home occupation

Proposed activity

Statement of assurance that the business will comply with the requirements of the Land Use Code.

The one-time non refundable filing fee for the application is to be paid. Each home occupation is subject to certain conditions as shown below:

The City Zoning Administrator will go over the above criteria with you and will answer any questions and/or explain any of the conditions for operation of the home occupation.

Once the application and filing fee are received by the City, a brief inspection of the home is conducted. Access to and from the business area is noted and the actual square footage to be used for the home occupation is determined.

At the conclusion of the inspection, the application is forwarded to the City Manager for review, with a recommendation for approval or denial from the Zoning Administrator.

A letter will then be written to you stating whether the permit was approved or denied.

If approved, a copy of the approved application will be enclosed.

Liquor Sales

Liquor licenses are divided into seven categories: Beer and Wine, Hotel and Restaurant, Tavern, Brew Pub, Liquor Store, 3.2% Beer Retail and Club. To receive information on applying for a new liquor license contact the City Clerk. Offices are located in City Hall.

Pawn Brokers

The City requires that a Pawnbrokers License be obtained before the business is open.

A Pawnbrokers License requires that a copy of a current $1,000 Surety Bond be on file with the clerk.

An Individual History Record is required on the owners of the business and a background check is completed by the Police Department.

The license costs $100 per year and is renewed each January.

For more information on obtaining a license, contact the City Clerk located at City Hall.

Plumbers / Gasfitters

The City requires that a Plumber/Gasfitter License be obtained before any work is done in the City limits.

City Plumber license requires that a copy of a current State Plumbing license, a $1,000 Bond and a $1,000,000 Liability Insurance Certificate be on file with the clerk. The City Plumber License costs $25 per year and is renewed each January.

A City Gasfitter license requires that a $1,000,000 Liability Insurance Certificate is on file with the clerk. The City Gasfitter License costs $25 per year and is renewed each January.

To receive information on applying for a license contact the City Clerk. Offices are located in City Hall.

Private Security

Any person who wishes to provide private security within the city limits is required to obtain a license from the City Clerk Office located at City Hall.
Annual fees for this license are as follows:

Individuals $10 per year

Partnerships and corporations employing fewer than six agents or employees $25 per year

Partnerships and corporations employing six to nine agents or employees $50 per year

Partnerships or corporations employing ten or more agents or employees $75 per year

Licenses are renewed July 1 of each year.
Transient Vendors

Anyone who wishes to conduct business in Cortez for less than three months and does not have a city business street address is considered a transient vendor. Prior to beginning operations, transient vendors are required to obtain a license from the City Clerk Office, located at City Hall.

An application fee of $75 is required at the time of filing the application, and the license fee is $100 per year or $10 per day.

Tree Pruners

The City requires that a Tree Pruners License be obtained before any work is done in the City limits. A Tree Pruners License requires that a copy of a current insurance certificate ($25,000 for each person, $50,000 property damage and aggregate and $100,000 for each accident or occurrence) be on file with the clerk. The City Tree Pruners License costs $25 per year, renewed each January. A test is administered by the Parks and Recreation Department before the license is issued.

The license can be obtained at the City Clerk's office, located at City Hall.

Sales Tax License

Any person wishing to sell merchandise within the City limits is first required to obtain a sales tax license from the City of Cortez Finance Department.
Our current City Sales Tax rate is 4.05%. For a printable sales tax application, please click here. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to access this application. If you do not already have that program, click here for a free, downloadable copy. Applications should be filled out completely and returned, with the $10 license application fee, to the Finance Department at City Hall.

Recommend this page to a Friend!

Top of Page