Welcome to the City of Centennial A resource guide for starting and operating a business in centennial

Welcome to the City of Centennial's business resource guide for starting and operating a business. This guide includes helpful information and resources in a easy to navigate format. Below are some quick links to get started or you can scroll through the full guide for additional information.

Business Sales Tax & Licensing
Liquor Licensing
Temporary & Permanent Signs
Building Permits & Inspections
Parcels & Buildings Map

Centennial's Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

The City of Centennial is a connected community, where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued, and innovation absolute.

Mission Driven to provide exceptional service to the Centennial community.

Values Collaborative, Intentional, Service-Oriented, Innovative

Mayor Christine Sweetland

Welcome to Centennial! We’re proud to be home to a vibrant and diverse business community. Our vision is simple: Centennial is a connected city where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued, and innovation is essential. As you establish your business here, know that the City is committed to supporting your success. From local resources and permitting assistance to opportunities for networking and collaboration, we’re here to help. Explore all that Centennial offers and join us in building a thriving community. Warm Regards, Christine Sweetland, Mayor of Centennial

Centennial City Council pictured first row, left to right: Don Sheehan, Rik Holt, Cindy Sandhu and Ashish Vaidya. Second row, left to right: Durrell Middleton, Amy Tharp, Christine Sweetland and Ryan Dwiggins.
Find My Council Members
City Council Meeting Information

Economic Development

Centennial's access to an educated workforce, superior infrastructure and predictable policies provide an environment where businesses flourish.

Get Connected

Email us: ED@centennialco.gov. Schedule an appointment with Business Services Specialist. Sign up for our Centennial Business News or SPARK updates.

How can we support your business?

Small Business Support

SPARK Centennial is the City's six-month business accelerator program that provides Centennial small businesses with a platform to share their expertise, create memorable customer experiences and collaborate with fellow small businesses. This year's program will help businesses explore and address the question: What’s one project you’d love to tackle for your business, but haven’t been able to because of time, budget, or resource constraints?
SPARK
Check Out our SPARK Podcasts

Business Retention, Expansion & Engagement

The City of Centennial is where businesses are valued. We appreciate the investment and support into our community from our Centennial businesses. Our team strives for exceptional services through connecting, providing business resources, and any additional support. Contact us today so we can learn more about your business challenges and needs, big or small.

Centennial Business Support

Centennial Business Resources

The following resources include networking and consulting opportunities for your business along with industry partnerships and economic data.
Networking
The South Metro Denver Chamber is a nonpartisan, pro-business organization advocating for laws and regulations to create a strong business climate for their members.
The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented membership organization that serves as the leading business voice in the Eastern Metro area, as a catalyst, a convener and a champion for business.
Consulting
Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a non-profit small business lender committed to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their business.
The Aurora-South Metro SBDC serves dedicated entrepreneurs committed to their own path of success through business ownership.
As Colorado’s official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center, Manufacturer's Edge leverages local and national resources to provide on-site support, strategy and planning, and technical assistance to manufacturers of all sizes across our state.

Industry Partnership
The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus is a stand-alone college and career preparedness facility accessible for high school students in the Cherry Creek Schools.
Purpose-built for immersive, hands-on training, the Community College of Aurora Centennial Campus for Healthcare and First Responders empowers students to launch rewarding careers that keep our communities safe and healthy.
The EPIC Campus, opened to students in August 2023 and provides opportunities for students to experience hands-on learning using state-of-the-art technology and innovative processes.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works is a member of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's statewide network of workforce centers, which provide a variety of no-cost services to job seekers and businesses.
At Arapahoe Community College, we're dedicated to empowering organizations to thrive through innovative partnerships and customized employee development strategies.
Economic Data
For more than three decades, Denver South has been the nexus between public and private sectors, driving forward regional collaborations to make this one of the premier places in the world to start, grow and locate a business.
Arapahoe Libraries provide 1-on-1 research assistance, classes and a wide variety of resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
The mission of Arapahoe County is to enhance quality of life through exceptional delivery of services and efficient use of public funds.
The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation is the nation's first regional economic development entity, bringing together the entire nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region to promote and support the mutual growth of our region's talent and businesses, while also recruiting new talent and new business to join us living a prosperous and elevated life.
OEDIT promotes economic growth and long-term job creation by supporting small businesses and encouraging business expansion across the state. We also champion the industries that make Colorado unique, like the creative industries, outdoor recreation, and tourism.

Sales Tax & Business Licensing

The City of Centennial is a home rule City and administers and collects its own sales tax. Centennial tax and licensing laws may differ from those of other local jurisdictions and the State of Colorado.

The Centennial Municipal Code imposes a sales tax upon the purchase price paid for tangible personal property and certain taxable services purchased, sold, leased or rented in the City. Read about our Sales Tax Rates.

The above breakdown is the combined sales tax rate for Centennial, with a total rate of 6.75 percent.

We offer informational guides that are summaries of the relevant Centennial tax law for the topic, industry or business segment indicated. Read about our important Tax Information and Guides.

The City’s Business Registration program is an important registration process that allows the City to know the number, type, location and size of the businesses located in and doing business in the City. Read about our Business License requirements.

Sales Tax and Licensing Forms

Liquor Licensing

Liquor license applications require approval of both the City of Centennial and the State of Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division. For most licensing matters, local approval must be obtained prior to final approval by the State Liquor Enforcement Division. Our City Clerk's Office manages Liquor License applications for Centennial.
Liquor Licensing Process and Forms
Request a Special Event Permit

Community Development

Planning and Zoning

We ensure development in the City of Centennial occurs in an orderly, safe and attractive manner. Our goal is protecting the economic and physical vibrancy expected by our community. We are responsible for the entire development review process, which includes:
  • Annexations
  • Building and Inspections
  • Engineering
  • Plats
  • Site Planning
  • Zoning

Land Development Code

The Land Development Code (LDC) is the primary set of development and zoning regulations for the City of Centennial.

Centennial's Land Development Code

Future Land Use

The City has adopted a number of long-range planning studies to guide the growth and development of the City.

Centennial NEXT is an initiative that engaged the public in defining a shared vision for the City between now and 2040.

Midtown Centennial is the vision for the future city center for Centennial.

Contact Us

Building

The Building Division manages permits and inspections for construction projects, approves contractor licenses and much more.

Do You Need a Building Permit?

A building permit is required if your project involves constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing or changing the occupancy of a building or structure. Additionally, a permit is required for any work on electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems.

Permits, Licensing & Inspections

Sign Regulations

A permit is required for all new signs and replacement of, or modifications to existing signs. These regulations apply to permanent and temporary signs.

Temporary Signs

With some exceptions, banners, flags, sidewalk signs and other similar elements may be permitted as a temporary sign through an approved Temporary Sign Permit. Review our Temporary Sign Guide for helpful information.

Permanent Signs

Allowed signage depends on the zoning of the property. Properties are zoned under the Land Development Code and sign regulations are governed based upon Article 6, Signs and Lighting.

Apply for a Sign Permit

Centennial Fiber Infrastructure

The City of Centennial owns a 55-mile, 432-fiber strand dark fiber network that connects key City assets and provides fiber leasing opportunities for businesses and internet service providers. The City’s network also offers connectivity options to multiple data centers in the Denver Metro area, including 910Telecom, Coresite, Databank and Flexential. Centennial offers flexible lease options suited to the needs of our business community members and is able to expand the network to underserved areas. If you’re interested in leasing from the City’s dark fiber network for a point-to-point lease connecting your facilities or to connect to a data center, please email FiberWorks@CentennialCO.gov or call 303-325-8000 for more information.

Centennial Interactive Fiber Map