When starting a new construction business or starting to practice business in Colorado, it's important to know all the licensing rules and regulations. In the State of Colorado, plumbing and electrical contractors must carry state-issued licenses, while general contractors have no statewide licensing requirements.
That said, it doesn’t absolve general contractors from licensing altogether. And all businesses need to register with the state.
Importantly, individual municipalities often have their own requirements for general contracting within their city lines. General contractors without those licenses won’t be able to bid on jobs or pull permits within those cities, so it’s vital that you know what those standards are.
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While the state does require licenses for electrical and plumbing contractors, Colorado chooses to leave general contractor licensing up to the individual municipalities throughout the state. What this means to general contractors is that they’ll have to contact each and every city they work in to figure out what their requirements might look like.
Very few municipalities allow for licensing reciprocity, meaning they’ll have to take and pass an exam and pay fees for every city they work in.
Depending on the city, some general contractor licenses break down into separate types. This is far from universal, but some of the largest cities do follow something similar:
Class A licenses are the most general licenses, allowing contractors to perform work on residential, commercial, and public projects of any size. However, they may not perform plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work without holding an additional license for that work.
Class B licenses allow contractors to perform work on the majority of buildings, whether they be commercial or residential. However, they’re not eligible to perform contracting work on buildings designated as IA or IIA by the International Building Code. Also, additional licenses are required for plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work.
Class C licenses allow contractors to perform work on residential buildings for single-family or multi-family buildings smaller than three floors and have less than four separate units. Again, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work require additional licenses.
Contractor licensing requirements vary wildly throughout the State of Colorado. Some municipalities will require contractors to pass certain exams, while others might require simply filling out the correct paperwork and providing proof of insurance.
Plumbers and electricians also have stringent requirements to meet. They’ll have to pass through apprenticeship programs and carry journeyman licenses for a set number of years before applying for a master electrician license. At that point, they’re able to apply for a contractor license and work independently.
Each of the following sections will break down the licenses required, as well as the requirements for those licenses, in a bit more detail.
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If you plan to work as an electrical contractor in Colorado, you’re going to need a license issued by the state. Licensing is a function of the Colorado Electrical Board. We’ve provided some background to help start your licensing journey.
Before you apply for an electrical license, you need to know which licenses you qualify for, and which you might need for your line of work.
There are three main types of electrical licenses:
1. Residential Wireman
Eligible for working in residential settings only Requires 4,000 hours of residential experience2. Journeyman Electrician
Requires 8,000 hours of electrical work, 4,000 of which must be in a commercial or industrial setting
Requires 288 hours of electrical education3. Master Electrician (select one of the following criteria):
Experience must include planning, layout, and supervision experience Experience must be while holding a Journeyman license Also show 2,000 hours of practical experience as a registered apprentice Also show 8,000 hours of practical experience as a JourneymanIf you are planning and laying out electrical projects, you’ll need a Master Electrician’s license. You can carry it, or you can hire a master electrician and work under their license.
Applying for a license is pretty straightforward. To apply for your license, you’ll have to fill out the appropriate application online, as well as the Acknowledgment of Responsibility form. You’ll also have to include a $210 non-refundable application fee by credit card or electronic check. The state will also require proof of unemployment and workers’ comp insurance.
Once your application is complete, it’s just a standard waiting game. But you can check the status of your application by logging into the contractor portal.
Keep in mind that once you have your license, you’ll also have to register with the State as an Electrical Contractor. It requires an additional $210 registration fee and paperwork.
Plumbing contractors must hold valid, state-issued licenses to work in the State of Colorado. Plumbing licensing falls under the auspices of the Colorado State Plumbing Board. This section will break down the requirements.
Along with an apprenticeship, there are three types of plumbing licenses. Each has its own on-the-job time requirements to meet.
1. Residential Plumber
Must verify two years (3,400 hours) of practical plumbing experience.
2. Journeyman Plumber
Must verify four years (6,800 hours) of practical plumbing experience.
3. Master Plumber
Must verify five years (8,500 hours) of practical plumbing experience.
To run a plumbing contracting business, you must either hold a Master Plumber’s license or employ someone who has one.
Colorado does its best to streamline the application process by allowing you to complete it all online. You’ll have to create a login for the contractor portal, but once you do, you can fill out the appropriate application.
Similar to the electrical license process, you’ll have to prove you carry the appropriate workers’ comp and unemployment insurance. Once you submit your application, your Affidavit of Experience, the Acknowledgement of Responsibility, and the $210 fee, you’ll wait to hear back about your exam.
Once you receive your license, or hire a master plumber, you’ll also need to apply for a Plumbing Contractor License, complete with an additional $210 fee and paperwork.
Even though you might not need a state-issued license to operate a general contracting business, there are many municipalities in Colorado that require you to hold a license or register your business with the local authorities.
The following is a breakdown of some of the most populated areas in Colorado with these types of regulations.
Contractors working anywhere in Aurora need to obtain a license with the city’s Building Division. State-licensed plumbers and electrical contractors need to register so the city has their licenses on file.
All licensing, regardless of trades, uses this application for license. As far as trades go, here are just a handful of the individual licenses available:
