Is it legal to own a pet armadillo?
Prohibited
Colorado bans private possession of exotic wildlife unless a regulation specifically allows it.
CO · State hub
Colorado
Every QuirkMaps topic for Colorado, grouped by category. Each answer links to the official source it comes from.
Exotic pets
Vehicles
Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Sunday car sales banned
Colorado bans selling, trading, or offering motor vehicles for sale on Sunday.
Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
Only some riders
Colorado requires helmets only for motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18.
Do you need a front license plate?
Front and rear plates
Colorado requires passenger cars to display license plates on both the front and the rear.
Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Self-serve allowed
Colorado has no ban on self-service gas; state rules require stations to follow the national fuel code that covers self-service.
Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Allowed with limits
Colorado has no named train horn ban, but horns may not be unreasonably loud or harsh, and extra audible devices are barred.
Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
No safety inspection
Colorado has no safety inspection for private cars; emissions tests apply in the Denver metro and North Front Range areas.
Home & property
Are fireworks legal?
Sparklers and ground fireworks only
Colorado allows fountains, sparklers, wheels and similar 'permissible fireworks,' but bans aerial devices and firecrackers.
Food & drink
Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Allowed
Colorado has no state law or rule limiting happy hour drink prices at bars and restaurants.
Is there a bottle deposit?
No bottle deposit
Colorado has no bottle deposit law; its 2022 packaging recycling law charges producers, not shoppers, and pays no refunds.
Where can you buy liquor?
Private licensed stores
Colorado licenses private retail liquor stores to sell spirits in sealed containers; the state does not buy or sell liquor.
Time & calendar
Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Observes DST, law to go year-round
Colorado observes daylight saving time, but a 2022 law would make it year-round if Congress allows and four other Mountain states agree.
Money & taxes
Are groceries taxed?
Groceries exempt
Colorado exempts food for home consumption from its state sales tax, but cities and counties may still tax groceries.
Does the state have a lottery?
Has a state lottery
Colorado runs a state lottery, in operation since 1983, that mainly funds parks, wildlife, open space and school construction.
Does the state have a sales-tax-free weekend?
No tax-free period
Colorado has no state sales tax holiday; back-to-school holiday bills failed in 2024 and 2026.
Voting & elections
Do you need an ID to vote?
ID required, non-photo accepted
Colorado requires in-person voters to show ID, and non-photo documents such as a utility bill or bank statement count.