Colorado's state licensing agency says plainly: "Not all occupations are licensed, such as roofers and general contractors." In Colorado, general contractors are licensed locally, by cities and counties such as Denver and Boulder County. Electricians and plumbers are the exception, because the state licenses those two trades.

What DORA tells homeowners

DORA's home and repair consumer page says roofers and general contractors are not licensed by the state, and advises consumers to "check with your city before hiring an unlicensed professional." So the first call for a general contractor is your city or county building department.

Two examples: Boulder County and Denver

Boulder County. The county says "All contractors working in unincorporated areas of Boulder County are required to obtain a Boulder County Contractors License," except plumbers and electricians, "as those two trades are licensed with the State of Colorado." The county's categories include Class A, B and C, Class M, residential and commercial mechanical, and roofing (Boulder County contractor license).

Denver. Denver's Community Planning and Development department issues contractor licenses and certificates to individuals and companies (Denver contractor licensing). It has a contractor license search, and you can reach the licensing office at Contr.Licensing@denvergov.org or (720) 865-2770.

Other cities and counties set their own rules. If you live in a city, check with the city. In unincorporated areas, check with the county.

What about heating and air conditioning?

We did not find a DORA page that licenses HVAC contractors at the state level. Boulder County lists residential and commercial mechanical contractor licenses among its local categories. Ask your city or county which license an HVAC contractor needs where you live.

How to check the whole job

• Look up the general contractor with your city or county.
• Ask for the state license number of the electrician and the plumber who will work on the job, and check them with DORA or our free Colorado contractor check, where each contractor's page has a button to send them a message.
• Ask who will pull the permit. In cities and counties with their own inspection program, the permit comes from the local building department. DORA lists those places on its permits page.

Our guide on checking a Colorado electrician or plumber license covers the state side.

FAQ

Does Colorado license general contractors? Not at the state level. DORA says roofers and general contractors are not licensed by the state and tells consumers to check with their city.

Does Colorado license roofers? Not at the state level, according to DORA. Some counties, such as Boulder County, license roofing contractors locally.

Do I need a city license for an electrician in Boulder County? Boulder County's contractor license excludes plumbers and electricians, because the state licenses those two trades.

How do I check a Denver contractor license? Use Denver's contractor license search on the Community Planning and Development site, or contact Contr.Licensing@denvergov.org.

Sources: DORA consumer protection, home and repair, Boulder County contractor license, Denver contractor licensing, DORA electrical and plumbing permits.

Colorado licenses electricians and plumbers at the state level, through the State Electrical Board and the State Plumbing Board in DORA's Division of Professional Licensing. A business that does electrical or plumbing work registers with the state as a contractor. Ask for the license or registration number, then look it up with DORA.

What the electrical board licenses

The State Electrical Board licenses Residential Wiremen, Journeyman Electricians and Master Electricians, and registers apprentices. The board says "To perform Electrical Contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State," and the contractor must hold or employ a licensed master electrician as the responsible individual for the company. Licenses and contractor registrations expire on 30 September every three years.

What the plumbing board licenses

The State Plumbing Board licenses Residential Plumbers, Journeyworker Plumbers and Master Plumbers, and registers apprentices. Plumbing businesses register as a Plumbing Contractor. A Master Plumber license takes five full-time years (8,500 hours) of experience, according to the board.

How do I look up a license?

The electrical board's page links to DORA's Lookup a License/Licensee tool. It also offers a downloadable licensee and discipline list.

You can also use our free Colorado contractor check, which reads DORA's public electrical and plumbing data into one search. Each contractor's page there has a button to send them a message. DORA is the official record, so confirm with DORA before you sign.

Who inspects the work?

It depends on where you live. DORA says "The State does not inspect in local jurisdictions having its own Electrical Inspection Program," and lists the cities and counties that run their own, including Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Douglas and Adams, with exceptions (DORA permits page). Outside those areas, homeowners and contractors buy state electrical and plumbing permits through DORA's online permitting system.

Where do I file a complaint?

The electrical board links to DORA's File a Complaint Against a Licensee form. The board's office is at 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, and its phone number is 303-894-7800 (State Electrical Board).

FAQ

Who licenses electricians in Colorado? The State Electrical Board in DORA's Division of Professional Licensing. Electrical contractors must also register with the state and have a licensed master electrician as the responsible individual.

Who licenses plumbers in Colorado? The State Plumbing Board. It licenses Residential, Journeyworker and Master Plumbers and registers plumbing contractors.

How often do Colorado electrical licenses renew? The board says electrician licenses and contractor registrations expire on 30 September every three years.

Does the state inspect electrical work in Denver? No. DORA says the state does not inspect in local jurisdictions with their own electrical inspection program, and Denver is on that list.

Next step

Ask for the contractor's registration number and the license number of the electrician or plumber who will do the work. Look both up before you pay a deposit. General contractors are a separate question, covered in who licenses general contractors in Colorado.

Sources: DORA State Electrical Board, Electrical applications, Plumbing applications, DORA electrical and plumbing permits, DORA license lookup, DORA complaint form.