Doing Business

Salida is a business-friendly City that supports its local business owners and operators. We recommend anyone forming a new business start by reading through the resource guide developed by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

For more specific information about operating a business in Salida, contact the Deputy City Clerk.

Getting Started

In order to begin doing business in Salida, you must:

Register your business with the State of Colorado

You must register your business with the Secretary of State. The City does not require a general business license. Certain types of businesses, however, must register with the City and/or apply for special licenses (eg. arborist, alcohol sales, marijuana sales, short-term property rentals). 

Register for a sales tax license and/or employee withholding

If you will have sales and/or employees, you must register with the Colorado Department of Revenue for sales tax, state wage withholding and unemployment insurance.

If you already have an existing Colorado sales tax license for another area in the state, you must add your Salida location to your existing license.

Zoning Verification

If you are thinking of opening a new business, be sure that what you are planning meets the zoning requirements of the proposed location. Zoning requirements can be found at on the Zoning and Land Use page or by calling the City Planner at 719-530-2626. If the use of the building is changing, a change of use application may be required prior to opening your business.

Verification of Customer Classification for Water & Wastewater Service

Businesses operating out of a residential property may trigger a change of use for the classification of the customer account with Salida utilities. Customers must notify the City of any property changes and are responsible for the payment of any additional system development fees.

Pass an inspection by the Salida Fire Department

For business locations open to the public, the fire department inspects new business locations before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Existing business locations are inspected once a year. In some cases, the business may qualify to do a self-inspection. We recommend business owners complete a checklist in advance to prepare for the inspection. Small fees do apply for inspections by fire department personnel.

Obtain required permits or licenses from the City of Salida

Salida does not require a general business license, but if your business falls into one of the following categories, you will need to obtain the appropriate permit:

  • Alcoholic beverage sales
  • Arborists
  • Marijuana sales
  • Short-term lodging facilities