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1. Do I need a license to conduct any business in Windsor?

The Town of Windsor requires that any entity with a physical presence engaged in business within the town limits obtain a Business/Sales Tax License. This includes businesses making retail sales, wholesalers, and businesses that provide services only. A business with more than one establishment engaged in business in the Town would also need to obtain a separate license for each location.  The license is an annual license based on the calendar year and does not transfer from one location to another, nor does it transfer to new owners.  

The term “engaged in business” includes, but is not limited to, the following acts or methods of transacting business:

1. Maintaining within the Town, directly or indirectly or by a subsidiary, an office, building, structure, store, distributing house, salesroom or a house, warehouse, mobile vendor, or other place of business;
2. Maintaining within the Town an office for employees, agents, or commissioned sales persons to solicit business or to install, assemble, repair, service, or assist in the use of its products, or for demonstration or other reasons;
3. Owning, leasing, renting, or otherwise exercising control over real or personal property within the Town;
4. Make more than one (1) delivery into the Town within a twelve-month period.

Service-only businesses may include:

daycare providers, physicians or dentists, bookkeepers, insurance agents, home healthcare providers, all therapists, pet sitters and groomers, cosmetologists and barbers, painters, roofers, contractors, construction companies, realtors, etc.

Any entity without a physical presence, making retail sales within Windsor’s taxing jurisdiction is not required to obtain a Windsor license but must obtain a state standard retail license through the State of Colorado Department of Revenue.

2. What type of license do I need before doing business in Windsor?

Business License – Any business with a physical presence conducting any kind of business in Windsor is required to obtain a Business License.  There is no cost and can be obtained through Windsor MUNIRevs.

Any entity without a physical presence, making retail sales within Windsor’s taxing jurisdiction is not required to obtain a Windsor license but must obtain a state standard retail license through the State of Colorado Department of Revenue.

Important:  There may be State or Federal agencies or other Service Areas inside the Town of Windsor that have special permit or licensing requirements in addition to or prior to obtaining a Windsor Business License:  i.e. daycares, home occupation businesses, gun shops, liquor sales etc.  

Retail Sales Tax License – The Retail Sales Tax License is a DUAL license that includes both the Business License and the Retail Sales Tax License for Windsor.  There is no cost and can be obtained through Windsor MUNIRevs.

Important:  It is prohibited to make sales inside Windsor if there is not an active State of Colorado Sales Tax License issued to the business first. Prior to applying for the Windsor Retail Sales Tax License, you must obtain a State of Colorado Department of Revenue license account number. The Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) license is in addition to the Windsor license and is not the same as the business registration number issued by the Colorado Secretary of State.  If you have not yet obtained a CDOR license, it highly recommended that in-lieu of applying for the State license on-line,  you go directly to the Colorado Local Service Center nearest you.  The CDOR Front Range office is located at 3030 S. College Avenue, Ft. Collins CO  80526, or call them at 970-494-9805.  The CDOR sales tax license number will be issued on-site the same day the State license is applied for at the Service Center, versus having a 30 day or more waiting period for an on-line application response. 

A State of Colorado Department of Revenue Sales Tax License is not  required if the business does not make any taxable sales of tangible personal property or provide any taxable services inside the State of Colorado.  The State of Colorado website, FYI Sales 9 will provide more information on licensing.  A local phone call to the State of Colorado Department of Revenue is suggested, 970-494-9805.

Mobile Food Vendors - Mobile Food Trucks are retail sales vendors and a Windsor Business and Retail Sales Tax License is mandatory prior to making sales inside the city limits.  The cost is $25.00 per year and can be obtained through Windsor MUNIRevs.  After obtaining the retail sales tax license number from the State of Colorado Department of Revenue, a Mobile Food Vendor can then start the process to set up and make sales inside Windsor.  Review by Zoning will be performed and upon their approval, the Windsor Business and Retail Sales Tax License will be issued. Restrictions do apply as per the Windsor Zoning Code in Section 16-10-110.  Questions concerning the mobile food vendor zoning code regulations should be directed to Planning and Zoning, 970-674-2430. 

Special Event Retail Sales Tax License – A Windsor “Special Event” is defined as a retail sales event where three (3) or more people, businesses, or organizations are making sales of tangible personal property, at one location in Windsor, for less than seven (7) consecutive days.  Windsor requires only the Event Organizer to obtain a Special Event license through Windsor MUNIRev. This Windsor license serves as a “blanket license”, therefore individual retail vendors are not required to obtain a Windsor license for the pending event.  Within 10-days prior to the start of the event, the Event Organizer must also prepare a Vendor Worksheet, included with the application, listing the contact information for all vendors attending the event.  You may email Revenue Technician or call 970-674-2486 if you have questions.

If the event is going to be held on city-owned property, parks, or buildings, the Event Organizer must contact the Recreation Coordinator for Community Events at 970-674-3510 to obtain the complete Special Event Guidelines (PDF) packet prior to applying for the Windsor Special Event Retail Sales Tax License.  When any event or sales are taking place on city-owned property, the Recreation Coordinator must first approve the event before the Windsor Special Event Retail Sales Tax License is issued.

The cost of the Windsor Special Event Retail Sales Tax License is $25.00 per event, per year.  Other City Departments or agencies outside of the Town may require additional fees. Other regulations may also apply.

When issued, this Windsor license authorizes the “Event Organizer” to become the Tax Collection Agent for Windsor.  Although individual participants are not required to hold a Windsor license, each participant is required to report their total gross sales and turn over the total Windsor sales tax directly to the Event Organizer at the conclusion of the event.  It is then the responsibility of the Event Organizer to prepare the final Windsor sales tax return and make payment in full to Windsor Finance within fifteen (15) days following the event.  If you have any questions concerning Windsor sales tax & reporting, email Revenue Technician or call 970-674-2486.

Depending on how the Event Organizer has licensed with the State of Colorado will determine how individual participants license and report State of Colorado sales taxes. The State also allows the Event Organizer to obtain a “blanket license” that works the same way as the Windsor license. It can be obtained and issued at the Colorado Local Service Center at 3030 S. College Avenue, Ft. Collins CO  80526, or call them at 970-494-9805.