General Contractors License Colorado

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has set statewide regulations to obtain your contractors license. Conversely, Colorado does not offer a statewide general contractors license. Instead, all general contractors licenses must be obtained at the municipal level. This means that your Colorado contractors license application process will be conducted through a different agency when applying in Denver, as opposed to Colorado Springs. As such, these departments may require that you meet varying conditions and expenses to get your general contractor’s license.

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[mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”wo2q3vgfbh6wwu7xv1a9″ ratio=”16:9″ thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1682470061/xllyxoejeeufssycnutg.jpg” title=”How To Become a Licensed Contractor in Colorado” volume=”70″] On the other hand, the process of obtaining a business license in Colorado will not differ throughout the state. If you are planning to own a contracting business, you will need to get the proper documentation to operate and perform contracting services as a business in Colorado. The Colorado Secretary of State will request a certificate of insurance, tax registration, and execution of other requirements before granting a Colorado business license. Since requirements are not uniform, let’s examine what it takes to become a general contractor in Colorado’s capital city.

Denver General Contractor License Applications & Process

General Contractors in Denver will have to become licensed by the Denver Community Planning and Development office before picking up any building permits. Your scope of work will determine which license you will apply for, and every license type will come with slightly different requirements. Before you create an account and fill out your Denver contractors license application, you will need to complete a Supervisor Certificate Application, in which you will be asked to:

Provide proof of education and experience
List previous licenses and certificates
Sign an Affidavit of Lawful Presence

Additionally, you will be required to take and pass an ICC exam before your license application will be processed. You will also be required to pay all licensing and application fees, as well as procure your own liability insurance or bond insurance.

Denver General Contractors License Classifications

The Denver Community Planning and Development department offers a variety of contractor licenses including:

Demolition/Moving
Fire Protection
Mechanical
Construction

As a general contractor, you will likely apply for a construction license. Denver’s construction licenses are separated into three categories:

General Contractor Class A: For the alteration, addition, repair, demolition, or construction of any structure or building.
Building Contractor Class B: For the alteration, addition, repair, demolition, or construction on buildings and structures classified as less than a high rise by the International Building Code.
Residential Contractor Class C: For the alteration, addition, repair, demolition, or construction on one- and two-family dwellings.

Your application will take seven to 10 days to review once it is submitted online. It may take up to 14 days if you mail in your application. You may also need to get bond insurance or a surety bond before you can begin construction on any projects, either from your insurance company or an independent bonding company. Your city planning department or licensing board will have more information on which bonds you may need.

Licensing and Registration Fee Summary

All construction licenses will cost $250 for a three-year license. You can pay the Denver Community Planning and Development agency online by credit card or electronic check. You can also pay in person or mail in your fee to:

Community Planning and Development
Contractor Licensing
201 W. Colfax Ave. #205
Denver, CO 80202

Colorado Business License

Depending on the nature of your company and business structure, you may need to register with the following agencies to conduct business in Colorado:

Colorado Tax ID Number

Businesses that operate within Colorado are required to register for one or more tax-specific identification numbers, licenses or permits, including income tax withholding, sales and use tax (seller’s permit), and unemployment insurance tax. Contact the Colorado Department of Revenue Tax Division for more information about business registration and your tax obligations.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements and Forms

Contractors with employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage through a commercial carrier, on a self-insured basis, or through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Workers’ Compensation webpage.

Colorado General Contractors License Search

To look up and verify any professional or business license in Colorado, use the DORA License Lookup provided by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

See General Contractor Licensing Information in Nearby States

For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become a General Contractor in another state, start here.

For information on other trades in Colorado, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements: