How to Get a Colorado Contractor License

Do you want to run your own handyman business or work for a construction company in Colorado? How about running the show as a general contractor?

To make that dream happen, you’ll need to get a Colorado contractor’s license. And to help you get started, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to get a contractor’s license in Colorado.  

Do You Need a Contractor’s License in Colorado?

If you work as an electrician or plumber, a license is legally required in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies¹ (DORA) manages electrical and plumbing licenses at the state level. To obtain a license, you’ll need to pass an exam, provide proof of experience, and fill out the required paperwork for the Colorado contractor license application.

Not an electrician or plumber? General contractors should get their licenses through local municipal departments. The process varies by city and county — for instance, a handyman in Colorado Springs would take different steps from a handyman in Fort Collins.

Wherever you’re located, the Colorado contractor license application is worth the effort. You’ll receive an official title, and getting a contractor license has a lot of other benefits:

• It can help you land bigger, higher-paying jobs. Right now, you can probably take on small handyman services like door-framing, grouting, and caulking. But getting a contractor’s license likely means you can build your skills on larger projects or dive into specialized — and highly lucrative — electrical and plumbing work.
• An official “stamp of approval” provides more credibility. People want to hire someone they trust. After all, you’re doing work on their homes and businesses. A license makes you look professional and trustworthy to potential customers.

We’ll walk you through Colorado contractor license requirements so you can jump into your application right away.

How Do I Get a Contractor’s License in Colorado?

Let’s start with getting a state license for electrical and plumbing professionals. Later, we’ll cover getting a City of Denver contractor license as an example of a municipal application process for general contractors and handyman jobs. 

1. Requirements for a Colorado Electrical License. 

In Colorado, there are three levels of electrician licenses: Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, and Master Electrician. Each level has its own experiential and education requirements. For details on how to obtain your Colorado electrical license, check out this helpful application checklist. ²

2. Requirements for a Colorado Plumbing License.

Similar to electrical licenses, there are three types of plumbing licenses for different experience levels: Residential Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, and Master Plumber. The State Plumbing Board³ outlines Colorado contractor’s license requirements once you’ve verified your plumbing experience. For details on what you’ll need to get your Colorado plumbing license, check out this application checklist.⁴ 

Once you apply online, it’s easy to check the Division of Professions and Occupations portal⁵ for your application status. 

3. Registering for a Business License.

If you’re planning on working for yourself, you may need to get a Colorado business license⁶ through Colorado’s Secretary of State.⁷

Typically, to get a business license in Colorado, you’ll need to submit general information about you and your business, as well as supporting materials based on your occupation.

To make the application process faster, it’s a good idea to have the following information handy:

• Your name and driver’s license number
• Your address and phone number
• Your SSN or Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN)
• Your business name
• A photo for your license
• A Certificate of Insurance (COI), if applicable

We’ll Help Demystify the Business Insurance Process 

You may have noticed during your Colorado contractor license application that certain types of business insurance, such as workers’ compensation, may be required — and for good reason. Workers’ comp and other business insurance coverage, such as general liability, can help protect your company in case there’s an accident or loss.

At Simply Business, our online quote tool can get you coverage from leading insurers. We also have licensed insurance agents who can help answer questions and take care of your coverage on the phone, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Just call 844-654-7272.

Either way, we can get you covered in just about 10 minutes. It’s fast, easy, and friendly. Plus, because we work with many of the nation’s top insurers, we can find coverage and prices to fit your budget.

Your Colorado General Contractor License Search, Continued

For contractor work that mostly involves general home repairs and remodeling, you generally should consider applying for a general contractor license. The right license to get all depends on your skills and the services you want to provide.

Bear in mind that if you don’t have a license for a particular trade, you typically can’t provide that service — even if you have the skills. So without an electrician’s license, you can’t  rewire a room (even if you know how to do it).

If you don’t have experience yet and want to obtain a license to perform work, there’s another option in some states. One of the easiest ways is to get licensed as RMO (Responsible Manager Officer) or RME (Responsible Managing Employee).⁸

As an RMO, you’re a licensed contractor who allows your license number to be used by an existing business to take on construction projects over $500. It’s the same for RME, except the contractor qualifying the company is an employee.

With this approach, you’re hiring a licensed RMO as a project manager, and in essence operating under someone else’s license while you build your own experience. 

It’s important to make sure you double check the state and local requirements where you’re located, though.

Colorado General Contractor License Classes

General contractor licenses are divided into three classes.⁹ Each one allows you to work on specific types of projects. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Class A — The Class A contractor’s license generally allows you to work on residential, commercial, and public projects of any size. While the range of projects is fairly broad, it’s important to know that to do any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work you’ll need an appropriate license.
• Class B — With a Class B contractor license in Colorado, you can work on a majority of residential and commercial buildings. A key restriction is that you cannot perform contract work on buildings classified as Type IA or IIA by the International Building Code.

The same restrictions on electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work also apply to a Class B license.

• Class C — If you hold a Class C license, you can generally work on residential buildings for single-family or multi-family residential buildings with fewer than three floors and fewer than four separate units.

How to Get a General Contractor License in Colorado

Every city and county in Colorado handles the general contractor licensing process a bit differently. If you’re a Mesa County¹⁰ handyman, Grand Junction requires a license within city limits. But Colorado Springs and other cities are within the area of  the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.¹¹

When in doubt, check with your local municipal department before doing any work. 

We’ll cover how to get a City of Denver contractor’s license as an example of local license requirements. 

Getting a Denver, Colorado Contractor License

Head to the Denver Community Planning and Development¹² office, which handles all contractor’s licenses. Then:

1. Download the application form or apply online.
2. Fill out and attach the required paperwork¹³ for your business type. 
3. Review the extra requirements for electricians, plumbers, and fire protection contractors. You’ll need to show your state certifications.
4. Pay the licensing fee.

For more information, you can contact the City of Denver contractor licensing department¹⁴ at [email protected] or at 720-865-2770.

Does a Handyman Need a License in Colorado?

Similar to general contractors, municipalities often have laws that may require handymen to have a general contractor license.

It’s a good idea to check with local government agencies in the city, town, or area you’ll be working in.

Can I Use My Contractor’s License from Another State in Colorado?

Colorado has a reciprocity agreement with several states¹⁵ for certain electrical contractors. This means you may not have to take the trade examination in Colorado if you already have a valid contractor’s license as a journeyman electrician in another state.¹⁶ There is no reciprocity agreement for plumbers. It is important to double check the specific requirements where you’re located, though.

Can I Be My Own General Contractor in Colorado?

Technically, yes — you do not need a license to work on your own home,¹⁷ even when that work is plumbing or electrical.

But don’t open up any walls or start digging yet!  

Depending on the project, you may need to pull the required permits to complete the work and will need to adhere to local regulatory codes. If you don’t, you could be looking at civil penalties, or even a requirement that your project be torn down.

Before doing any work, it’s a good idea to check with the local building department or permit office for more information. Additionally, there may still be rules around having a license even when you’re working on your own home so it’s important to double check.

More Considerations for General Contractors and Handymen in Colorado

Getting the proper licenses, permits, and insurance coverage are important steps to starting your contractor business. Check out some other key steps in this article.

Want to learn more? We’ve created an entire resource center to cover relevant topics like creating a business plan, developing and honing your skills, and passing a Colorado contractor license test. We recommend starting with these:

• General Contractor Insurance: Everything You Need To Know
• Protect Your Growing Handyperson Business During Busy Times
• FREE Contractor Invoice Template

If you still have questions about how to get a contractor’s license in Colorado, we encourage you to speak with local legal and tax professionals who can assist you.

1. https://www.colorado.gov/dora ↩︎
2. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NzbmFl7IJQAluLooKbsTomwGpZoYMDD7/view ↩︎
3. https://dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/Applications ↩︎
4. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jp-noJtEao-gvgcwa7pdOBygfoyJ-fwA/view ↩︎
5. https://apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Default.aspx ↩︎
6. https://www.simplybusiness.com/simply-u/articles/2020/12/how-to-get-a-business-license-in-colorado/ ↩︎
7. https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/businessChecklist.html ↩︎
8. https://blog.scitraining.com/how-to-get-contractors-license-without-experience/ ↩︎
9. https://www.pprbd.org/Licensing/LicenseTypes ↩︎
10. https://www.mesacounty.us/departments-and-services/community-development/building/contractor-licensing-building-department ↩︎
11. https://www.pprbd.org/Home/contractors ↩︎
12. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/community-planning-and-development/contractor-licenses.html ↩︎
13. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/community-planning-and-development/contractor-licenses/secretary-of-state-documents.html ↩︎
14. https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Community-Planning-and-Development/Contractor-Licensing ↩︎
15. https://www.levelset.com/blog/contractor-license-reciprocity/ ↩︎
16. https://dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical/Applications ↩︎
17. https://www.shouselaw.com/co/defense/laws/unlicensed-contracting/ ↩︎