Photography Business Permit Requirements in Colorado Springs, CO

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Also useful for opening a business bank account and separating personal and business finances. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (Drone Photography)

   Required if you offer commercial aerial photography using drones (unmanned aircraft systems). Must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved testing center. Operating commercially without this certificate can result in significant fines. This is a federal requirement enforced by the FAA regardless of state.

   Official government source

   $175 (exam fee)·2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

   $175 (exam fee)

   2–4 weeks to study and schedule exam

1. Colorado — No State Photography License Required

   Colorado does not require a state license or certification to offer paid photography services. DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations publishes the complete list of regulated occupational professions — accountancy, architects/engineers/land surveyors, barber and cosmetology, combative sports, electrical, landscape architects, nontransplant tissue banks, outfitters, passenger tramway, plumbing and radon professionals — and photography appears nowhere on it, so there is no state board or licensing agency for photographers.

   Official government source

   $0 — no state photography license exists·Not applicable

   $0 — no state photography license exists

   Not applicable

2. Colorado Department of Revenue — Sales Tax License

   Colorado photographers must collect sales tax on tangible goods sold (prints, albums, USB drives with images); Colorado does not tax services, so shooting fees are generally not taxable. The Colorado Springs rate is 2.9% state plus 3.07% city, with El Paso County (1.23%) and PPRTA (1%) bringing the combined rate to 8.20%. Colorado Springs is home rule and collects its own city tax, so a separate city sales tax licence is required in addition to the state license.

   Official government source

   $16 for the two-year license period when applying January–June of an even year, prorated to $12, $8 or $4 later in the cycle, plus a one-time refundable $50 deposit for a new account ($66 total for a first location); the deposit is refunded once $50 in state sales tax has been remitted·Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

   $16 for the two-year license period when applying January–June of an even year, prorated to $12, $8 or $4 later in the cycle, plus a one-time refundable $50 deposit for a new account ($66 total for a first location); the deposit is refunded once $50 in state sales tax has been remitted

   Immediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

1. Colorado Springs — No General Business License for Photographers

   Colorado Springs requires a City Clerk business license only for an enumerated list of business types: concrete contractor, escort, funeral escort, bicycle-share, massage business, mobile food vendor, pawnbroker, pedal-cab, security, sexually oriented business, tree service and excavation (plus liquor/beer and marijuana licensing, handled separately). Photography is not on the list, so no city business license applies. A home-based photographer receiving clients at a residence needs a Home Occupation Permit from the city's Development Review Enterprise. Colorado Springs is a home-rule city that collects its own 3.07% sales tax, so a photographer selling prints or albums needs a city sales tax license in addition to the state one.

   Official government source

   $0 for a general business license (none exists); listed license types are mostly $110 a year. A Home Occupation Permit is a $120 one-time, non-refundable fee with no renewal.·Not applicable for a business license; the Home Occupation Permit is submitted through the city's online submittal system and never needs renewing unless the business moves.

   $0 for a general business license (none exists); listed license types are mostly $110 a year. A Home Occupation Permit is a $120 one-time, non-refundable fee with no renewal.

   Not applicable for a business license; the Home Occupation Permit is submitted through the city's online submittal system and never needs renewing unless the business moves.

2. Colorado Springs Commercial Film Permit (public locations)

   Commercial photography and filming on City of Colorado Springs public property is permitted through the city's Office of Special Events, which issues a Commercial Film Permit alongside its park, block party and special event permits. Requirements depend on the location, crew size and duration, and shoots in specific parks or facilities may also need a park permit or reservation. The city's Permit Partner portal estimates which permits and fees your shoot will need before you apply.

   Official government source

   Fees depend on the permit type and location; use the city's Permit Partner portal or contact the Office of Special Events for an estimate·Apply well before your shoot date; the Office of Special Events coordinates any additional park or street approvals

   Fees depend on the permit type and location; use the city's Permit Partner portal or contact the Office of Special Events for an estimate

   Apply well before your shoot date; the Office of Special Events coordinates any additional park or street approvals

Official Sources

• Colorado Springs Business Licensing
• Colorado Department of Revenue — Sales Tax License
• FAA — Become a Drone Pilot (Part 107)

Related Guides