Colorado plumbing license lookup: how to check and get a license
Colorado plumbing license lookup: who issues plumber licenses (DORA), how to check one online, the license types, and 2,603 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors by county.
Do plumbers need a license in Colorado?
| Who licenses them | Colorado State Plumbing Board, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) |
|---|---|
| License types | Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, Master Plumber, Plumbing Contractor (registration) |
| When a license is required | License required for plumbing work regardless of job size |
Colorado licenses individual plumbers at three levels and requires plumbing businesses to register as plumbing contractors. Plumbing work generally needs a permit and inspection from your city/county building department or, where there is none, from the state.
How do you look up a plumber's license in Colorado?
- Ask the plumber for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the Colorado plumbing license lookup run by DORA.
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the plumber about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact DORA.
What plumbing licenses does Colorado issue?
- Residential Plumber
- Journeyworker Plumber
- Master Plumber
- Plumbing Contractor (registration)
How do you get a plumbing license in Colorado?
Licenses are issued by the Colorado State Plumbing Board, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA). Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official DORA source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
Which Colorado city is the job in?
How many plumbers are there in Colorado?
The Census Bureau counted 2,603 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with employees in Colorado in 2023. The counties with the most:
| Jefferson County | 316 |
|---|---|
| Adams County | 268 |
| El Paso County | 260 |
| Arapahoe County | 251 |
| Larimer County | 185 |
| Denver County | 159 |
| Weld County | 149 |
| Douglas County | 122 |
What do Colorado homes mean for plumbing work?
The median home in Colorado was built in 1987, 34% of households rent and 69% of homes are single-family houses. 67% of homes heat with utility gas and 25% with electricity.
How do you choose a plumber in Colorado?
- Ask for the license number and look it up yourself on the state or city license search. Licensing is set by the state in some places and by the city or county in others.
- Ask whether the job needs a permit. Water heater swaps, gas work and moving fixtures often do, and the licensed plumber pulls it.
- Get the price in writing: a flat rate for the job, or the hourly rate, the trip fee and how parts are billed.
- For emergencies, ask what the after-hours rate is before the plumber drives out.
- Ask who does the work. A licensed master can send helpers, but the license holder is responsible for the job.
Plumbers in other states
Sources: Colorado licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.