Pressure Washing Permit Requirements in Denver, CO

Complete permit and license guide for starting a pressure washing in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.

Verified 2026-09-03 6 stops $150–$750 est. 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses and insurance
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

State of Colorado

2 stops

  1. Colorado Sales Tax License

    Required for businesses selling taxable tangible goods in Colorado. Colorado does not tax services (§39-26-102(15)(a)(I) C.R.S.), so wedding-planning fees and pressure-washing labour are not subject to state sales tax. Register with the Colorado Department of Revenue; the state license covers state and state-collected local taxes only, and home-rule cities such as Denver require their own 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 remittedImmediate when filed online through MyBizColorado or Revenue Online

  2. Insurance for a Pressure Washing Business

    Colorado does not require a pressure washing business to carry general liability insurance - no state licence conditions it. What Colorado law does require is workers' compensation: under C.R.S. 8-44-101 any employer subject to the Workers' Compensation Act must secure coverage through Pinnacol Assurance, an authorised insurer, or an approved self-insurance permit, and it is unlawful to make an employee pay any part of the cost. The Division of Workers' Compensation at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment administers this. Commercial general liability cover is optional as a matter of law but is normally demanded contractually by property managers and commercial clients, who will ask for a certificate of insurance; commercial auto cover applies if you use a company vehicle. Insurers writing these policies are licensed by the Colorado Division of Insurance.

    Official government source

    Premiums are set by the insurer and depend on payroll, revenue, claims history and coverage limits; no government body publishes a rate. Workers' compensation rates are filed with the Colorado Division of Insurance. Get quotes from several carriers.General liability and commercial auto cover can usually be bound the same day online. Workers' compensation must be in place before your first employee starts work.

City of Denver / Denver County

3 stops

  1. Denver: No General Business License for Pressure Washing

    Denver does not require a general business licence of all businesses, and no city agency issues one - Community Planning and Development handles zoning, building permits and contractor licensing, not business licensing. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (formerly Excise and Licenses) issues only the roughly 68 categories in its published licence directory, and pressure washing is not one of them, so no city licence and no gross-receipts-based fee applies. If the business sells taxable goods or has employees working in Denver it must still register with Denver's Treasury Division for tax purposes, and discharging wash water to the street or storm sewer is regulated - check the stormwater discharge rules before working in the city.

    Official government source

    No Denver business licence fee applies because no such licence exists. The Denver Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodger's Tax License, where needed, is free.There is no city business licence to wait for; Denver tax registration is completed online in the eBiz Tax Center.

  2. Denver Stormwater Discharge Compliance (pressure washing)

    Pressure washing businesses in Denver must comply with local stormwater rules: wastewater containing detergents, oils or other pollutants may not be allowed to enter storm drains, and must be contained and properly disposed of. The local agency is Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) — Denver is a consolidated city and county with no separate 'Denver County Environmental Health' office. Colorado's stormwater programme is administered statewide by CDPHE's Water Quality Control Division, which issues Denver's municipal stormwater permit. There is no Denver pressure-washing licence: Denver's License Directory lists exactly 68 categories and none covers pressure washing or wash-water discharge.

    Official government source

    $0 — no permit fee or registration exists; this is an ongoing compliance obligation, enforceable by fines.Applies from the first job; there is no application or approval step.

  3. Colorado Statutory Trade Name Registration (Secretary of State)

    If a pressure-washing business operates under a name other than the owner's or entity's true name, it must file a Statutory Trade Name statement with the Colorado Secretary of State before trading under that name. Colorado has no county-level DBA or 'fictitious business name' filing — this is not filed with Denver County or the Denver Clerk and Recorder.

    Official government source

    $20 Trade Name Statement; $5 trade name renewal; $10 to change, correct or withdraw a trade nameFiled online and processed immediately

Terminus

Open for business — est. $150–$750 · 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses and insurance

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