Plumbing Contractor Permit Requirements in Denver, CO
Complete permit and license guide for starting a plumbing contractor in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.
Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .
Federal — start here
1 stopEIN (Employer Identification Number)
Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.
Official government sourceFreeImmediate (online application)
Free
Immediate (online application)
State of Colorado
3 stopsColorado Master Plumber License
Colorado licenses plumbers through the State Plumbing Board within DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations. A master plumber applicant must furnish evidence of five full-time years (8,500 hours) of practical experience — one month of full-time experience counts as 163 hours — verified by Affidavit of Experience forms from current and former employers; applicants may not verify their own experience. Journeyworker requires 4 years (6,800 hours) and residential plumber 2 years (3,400 hours). The written exam is administered by PSI and covers the adopted International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code. Licenses run on a two-year cycle (March 1 to February 28) and every active residential, journeyworker and master plumber must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education in each year of the two-year period.
Official government sourceApplication, exam and biennial renewal fees are charged by PSI and the Division; DORA does not publish them on the program webpage. The claimed '$60 application + $30 exam; $40/year renewal' is not a published Division figure, and renewal is biennial rather than annual.Experience affidavits must be accepted before the exam is authorised; the Division does not publish a standard processing time.
Application, exam and biennial renewal fees are charged by PSI and the Division; DORA does not publish them on the program webpage. The claimed '$60 application + $30 exam; $40/year renewal' is not a published Division figure, and renewal is biennial rather than annual.
Experience affidavits must be accepted before the exam is authorised; the Division does not publish a standard processing time.
Denver Plumbing Contractor License and Insurance
Colorado licenses individual plumbers through the State Plumbing Board at DORA but does not issue a statewide plumbing contractor license. To contract in Denver you need a Denver plumbing contractor license from Community Planning and Development; a Colorado plumbing license substitutes for the Denver supervisor certificate. Denver requires proof of general liability insurance with the license, and you must renew your state contractor card and master plumber card with DORA before renewing the Denver license.
Official government source$160 for the Denver Plumbing A contractor license, renewed every 2 years. Liability insurance is purchased from a private carrier at market rates.Hold the state plumbing license first; Denver issues the contractor license through e-permits once the application is approved and fees are paid
$160 for the Denver Plumbing A contractor license, renewed every 2 years. Liability insurance is purchased from a private carrier at market rates.
Hold the state plumbing license first; Denver issues the contractor license through e-permits once the application is approved and fees are paid
Colorado Business Entity Registration (if applicable)
LLCs and corporations must register with the Colorado Secretary of State.
Official government source$50 (LLC filing fee)Immediate (online filing)
$50 (LLC filing fee)
Immediate (online filing)
City of Denver / Denver County
2 stopsCity and County of Denver — Plumbing Contractor License
Denver requires a separate city-issued plumbing contractor license from Community Planning and Development. A Colorado state plumbing license substitutes for the Denver supervisor certificate, and the Colorado DORA plumbing contractor card and master plumber card must be renewed before the Denver plumbing license can be renewed. The Denver license is separate from the individual state master plumber license. Denver does not accept or reciprocate contractor licenses from other counties or states.
Official government source$160 for the Plumbing A License, renewed every two years (Denver's other construction licenses are $250 on a three-year cycle)Apply and pay online through Denver e-permits; the fee is paid after the application is approved.
$160 for the Plumbing A License, renewed every two years (Denver's other construction licenses are $250 on a three-year cycle)
Apply and pay online through Denver e-permits; the fee is paid after the application is approved.
Denver Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodger's Tax License
A plumbing contractor selling materials as part of its work must register for a Denver Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodger's Tax License with the Treasury Division of Denver's Department of Finance. Denver is a home-rule city that collects and administers its own taxes: the Denver general sales/use rate is 5.15%, and with 2.90% state, 1.00% RTD and 0.10% special district the combined rate is 9.15% — not 4.81%. Denver also participates in the state SUTS filing system for sales and use tax.
Official government source$0 — Denver no longer charges a licence fee with the biennial Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodger's Tax License; there is no $50 one-time registration fee.Registration is completed online through Denver's eBiz Tax Center; Treasury mails licences on December 1 each year.
$0 — Denver no longer charges a licence fee with the biennial Retailer's Sales, Use, Lodger's Tax License; there is no $50 one-time registration fee.
Registration is completed online through Denver's eBiz Tax Center; Treasury mails licences on December 1 each year.
Terminus
Open for business — est. $700–$2,500 · 6–10 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits
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Official Sources
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