Colorado contractor license lookup: what the state covers
Colorado licenses electricians and plumbers statewide but not general contractors. Learn what to look up, where, and what to ask a subcontractor for.
Colorado does not issue a statewide general contractor license. Electricians and plumbers are licensed statewide by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations. Most other contractor licensing, including general contractors, is handled by cities and counties. So "is this sub licensed in Colorado?" has no single answer: it depends on the trade and on where the work is.
Who issues what in Colorado
Licensed statewide by DORA
DORA licenses electricians (master, journeyman, and residential wireman levels) and plumbers (master, journeyman, and residential levels). These licenses are issued to individual people, not to companies. A plumbing or electrical company is expected to be backed by a licensed individual, so the person is who you verify.
Licensed or registered locally
General contractors, and many specialty trades, are regulated by the city or county where the work happens. Local rules vary: some jurisdictions issue a contractor license, some require registration, and some require a business license plus permits. HVAC and roofing are not covered by the statewide electrician and plumber licenses described above, so treat them as local unless the building department tells you otherwise, and confirm with the jurisdiction where the job is.
How to verify a license on the DORA lookup
DORA runs a public license lookup. Start from DORA's check a license page. You can search by name or license number. The license number is the most precise, because common names return several people.
On a record you can generally see:
- The license holder's name and license type, such as master electrician or journeyman plumber
- The license number
- Status, for example active, expired, or a status showing discipline
- Issue and expiration dates
- Any public disciplinary action
DORA does not show a subcontractor's insurance certificate, so the lookup tells you nothing about coverage. That comes from the certificate of insurance.
What to ask a subcontractor for
- The license number and the name of the license holder for each licensed trade on your job
- A statement of who the licensed master or responsible individual is for the company
- For general contractors and other locally licensed trades, the local license or registration number and the jurisdiction that issued it
- Proof of any city registration needed to pull permits where the work is
Common traps
- Company name versus license holder. Searching a company name on the DORA lookup may return nothing for an electrical or plumbing business, because the license is held by a person. Search the individual.
- Wrong level for the work. A journeyman or residential-level license may not cover the same work as a master license. Ask what the license permits, and check the rules for the job.
- Expired is not the same as active. An expired or suspended license does not authorize the work, even if the number looks valid. Read the status and the expiration date, not just the existence of a record.
- A state license is not always the last step. Some cities ask state-licensed trades to register locally before pulling permits.
- Stale screenshots. Status can change after a sub sends you a record. Check again near the start of the job and at renewal.
When a license is not required statewide, check city and county
For a trade without a state license, the answer lives with the city or county building department. Call or search the website for the jurisdiction where the work will happen. Ask three things: is a license or registration required for this trade, how do I verify it, and what do I need for permits. Keep the answer with the vendor file. Licensing rules change, so confirm current requirements with DORA or the local building department rather than relying on a summary, including this one. This is not legal advice.
If your subs work across Colorado, California, Texas, and Florida, see the guides for California, Texas, and Florida. To set license and insurance rules into a contract, see writing subcontract insurance requirements and subcontractor prequalification.
Check this automatically
ComplySub covers license status for Colorado, California, Texas, and Florida. It records the status, license number, and expiration date, and flags problems such as an expired license, next to the insurance checks. You set the requirement once, vendors upload their documents through a link without creating an account, and reminders go out before things lapse. It does not replace checking the official record when it matters, and where a state or trade has no usable source, you can enter the license manually.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Insurance and licensing rules vary by state, carrier, and contract; confirm what applies to you with your insurance professional, attorney, or licensing board.