Quick answer: Colorado only licenses two building trades statewide: electricians and plumbers, both through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions & Occupations (DPO) – the State Electrical Board and the State Plumbing Board. There is no statewide general contractor license. General contractors, HVAC/mechanical contractors and roofers are licensed at the local (city/county) level, so requirements vary by jurisdiction. Painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and cleaners need no state license at all. Roofers have no license but must follow Colorado's residential roofing consumer-protection law (C.R.S. Title 6, Article 22).
The table below shows which of the common trades need a Colorado state license and which are licensed locally or not at all.
Which trades need a license in Colorado?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | State license required – Colorado State Plumbing Board (DORA/DPO). Residential, Journeyworker and Master plumber licenses are issued statewide. |
| Electrician | Yes | State license required – Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA/DPO). Residential Wireman, Journeyman, Master and Electrical Contractor licenses are issued statewide. |
| HVAC | Local | No statewide HVAC/mechanical license. Cities and counties (e.g., Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora) license mechanical contractors locally. A state electrical or plumbing license may still be needed for tie-in wiring or gas/water piping. |
| General Contractor | Local | No statewide general contractor license. Each city and county licenses GCs locally, with its own classes, exams and insurance rules. Most do not honor other jurisdictions' licenses. |
| Roofer | Local | No state roofing license and no state-issued credential; any licensing is local. Residential roofing contractors must follow Colorado's roofing consumer-protection law (C.R.S. Title 6, Art. 22 / SB 12-038). |
| Painter | No | No state license for painting. A local business/sales-tax license may apply, but Colorado does not license painters at the state level. |
| Carpenter | No | No state license for general carpentry, framing, cabinetry or trim – unless the job crosses into a licensed trade such as electrical or plumbing, or a local building permit/GC license is required. |
| Landscaper | No | No state contractor license for general landscaping or lawn care. Separate rules apply to pesticide application (Colorado Dept. of Agriculture) and to any plumbing tie-ins for irrigation. |
| Handyman | No | No state handyman license. Handymen may still need a local business license and building permits, and cannot perform work reserved for a licensed electrician or plumber. |
| Cleaner | No | No state occupational or contractor license required for residential or commercial cleaning. |
"Yes" means a DORA-issued state license is required; "Local" means the trade is licensed by individual cities/counties rather than the state; "No" means no license specific to that trade. Locally licensed and unlicensed trades may still need a local business license, permits, and insurance.
How Colorado licenses building trades
Colorado is a split-authority state. Only two building trades are licensed at the state level, both through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and its Division of Professions & Occupations (DPO): the State Electrical Board licenses electricians, and the State Plumbing Board licenses plumbers. These state licenses are valid everywhere in Colorado.
Everything else – general contracting, HVAC/mechanical work, roofing, concrete, framing and other specialties – is regulated by local jurisdictions. There is no statewide general contractor license in Colorado. Each city and county sets its own contractor classes, exams, bonding, insurance and permit rules, and most do not accept a license issued by another jurisdiction. That means a contractor working across the Denver metro area may need separate local licenses in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood and unincorporated county areas.
The two state-licensed trades: electricians and plumbers
Electricians are licensed by the State Electrical Board across tiers: Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor. Apprentices must register with the Board and work under supervision. Journeyman licensure generally requires about 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience plus classroom hours and a passing exam (70%), and a master requires additional supervisory experience.
Plumbers are licensed by the State Plumbing Board at three levels: Residential, Journeyworker and Master. Experience requirements scale from roughly 3,400 hours (Residential) to 6,800 hours (Journeyworker) and about 9,780 hours (Master), each with a passing exam (70%). Colorado has no separate plumbing-contractor license: to run a plumbing business you hold a Master license and register as a plumbing contractor with the Board. Both electrical and plumbing licensees must complete continuing education to renew.
Trades licensed locally, not by the state
Because Colorado has no state GC license, general contractors, HVAC/mechanical contractors and roofers are licensed by individual cities and counties – or in some rural areas, not licensed at all beyond a building permit. Large jurisdictions such as Denver, Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department) and Aurora run their own contractor-licensing programs with local exams, financial statements and insurance requirements.
Even where a trade is locally licensed, the state trades still apply: an HVAC installer who runs new electrical circuits needs a state-licensed electrician, and gas or water piping may require a state-licensed plumber. Always confirm the exact classes and permit thresholds with the local building department where the work will be performed.
Roofers and the residential roofing law
Colorado famously has no state roofing license – DORA does not license or register roofers, and any licensing is left to local jurisdictions. However, residential roofing is governed by a consumer-protection statute (C.R.S. Title 6, Article 22, enacted by Senate Bill 12-038). It requires a written, signed contract that lists the scope of work, materials and price, and the roofer's insurer and surety information; gives the property owner a rescission right (to cancel within a set window after an insurance claim is denied); requires the roofer to hold deposits in trust until materials are delivered or work begins; and prohibits paying, waiving or rebating a homeowner's insurance deductible. These rules apply to roofers even though there is no license to obtain.
Trades with no Colorado license
Several common home-service trades are not licensed by the state and generally not by a dedicated local trade license either: general painting, carpentry, landscaping and lawn care, handyman work, and cleaning. Being unlicensed does not mean unregulated – these businesses still typically need a local business or sales-tax license, must carry appropriate insurance, and must pull building permits where required. Critically, they cannot cross into the state-licensed trades: a handyman, carpenter or landscaper cannot legally perform electrical or plumbing work reserved for a state-licensed electrician or plumber. Separate rules also apply to related activities such as pesticide application, regulated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
How to get licensed in Colorado
- Identify your trade and where you'll work: only electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by DORA; general contractors, HVAC and roofers are licensed by the specific city or county where the job is located.
- For electricians or plumbers, register with the State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board and log the required on-the-job hours (and classroom hours) under a licensed supervisor for your license tier.
- Apply to sit for the state exam through DORA's testing vendor (PSI) and pass with at least 70% – for the Residential, Journeyman/Journeyworker or Master level you're seeking.
- Submit your license application to DORA's Division of Professions & Occupations with proof of experience, exam results and fees; Master plumbers who run a business also register as a plumbing contractor.
- For all other trades, contact each local building department (e.g., Denver, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Aurora) to obtain the local contractor license, then keep every license current with required continuing education and renewals.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado have a state general contractor license?
No. Colorado does not issue a statewide general contractor license. General contractors are licensed by individual cities and counties, each with its own classes, exams, bonding and insurance requirements. Most jurisdictions do not accept a contractor license issued elsewhere, so you may need multiple local licenses to work across the state.
Which trades does Colorado license at the state level?
Only two building trades: electricians (State Electrical Board) and plumbers (State Plumbing Board), both under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions & Occupations. These state licenses are valid throughout Colorado. HVAC, roofing and general contracting are licensed locally, not by the state.
Do roofers and HVAC contractors need a license in Colorado?
There is no state license for either. Roofers are not licensed by DORA at all, though residential roofing work must follow Colorado's roofing consumer-protection law (C.R.S. Title 6, Article 22), which requires written contracts and bars paying or rebating a homeowner's insurance deductible. HVAC/mechanical contractors are licensed by local cities and counties, and their electrical or gas-piping work may still require a state-licensed electrician or plumber.
Does a handyman or painter need a license in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not license handymen, painters, carpenters, landscapers or cleaners at the state level. They may still need a local business or sales-tax license, must carry insurance, and must pull permits where required. They cannot legally perform work reserved for a state-licensed electrician or plumber.
Sources: Colorado DORA – Divisions of Professions and Occupations (DPO), DPO – State Electrical Board: Licensing Services, DPO – State Plumbing Board: Licensing Services, Colorado DORA – Apply for/Renew a License or Permit, Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 6, Article 22 – Residential Roofing (SB 12-038), 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.