You may complete several types of projects yourself—without hiring a contractor—by passing a homeowner exam offered by the City and County of Denver.
Exams are required in order to demonstrate your proficiency in a specific area, as well as to obtain a building permit for your project. There are no fees for homeowner exams.
You may also have unpaid help from friends and relatives providing that a designated worker form is filed with Denver before the work begins. (download form)
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Exams Offered
Electrical
Mechanical
Plumbing
Refrigeration
Hot Water/Boiler
Evaporative Cooling
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Exam Hours and Location
Offered Monday through Friday
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Contractor Licensing Office
201 W Colfax, 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 720-865-2770
Fax: 720-865-2791
Homeowner Exam Requirements
- The Homeowner must take the exam. You must be listed on the Assessor’s website as the property owner or provide us a property deed listing you as an owner of the property. To determine your property ownership status as determined by the City Assessor, click here.
Copies of your deed may be available from the Clerk and Recorder for a small fee. No other forms of ownership will be accepted by Contractor Licensing.
- The Homeowner must be living in the dwelling. Click here to see Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #3C excerpt below.
- The Homeowner must be performing the work himself or herself. Click here to see Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #3C excerpt below.
- The Homeowner must intend to occupy the dwelling for 12 months after performing any electrical work. Click here to see Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #3C excerpt below.
- The dwelling must not be a condominium, apartment, or commercial building. Click here to see Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #5 excerpt below.
- The Homeowner must supply a current Colorado Photo ID or Driver’s License. A Colorado temporary Driver’s License, other State-Issued Photo ID or Driver’s License, Passport, or Federal issued Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) may also be accepted with Department approval.
- The Homeowner may have the assistance of one “Designated Worker” in taking the test. The “Designated Worker” is an individual who will be assisting the homeowner with the work as well as the test, and cannot accept payment from the Homeowner. The “Designated Worker” must also provide us with a current Colorado photo ID as listed in step six above.
- The Homeowner must agree to the testing rules as set forth by the Department.
- Taking or using notes is prohibited during the exam. Relevant codebooks are provided for your use on a “first-come, first-served” basis. You may bring your own codebooks or instructional books, but they may be scanned or rejected for notations or other inappropriate material.
- Cell and mobile phones, 2-way radios and pagers are prohibited during the exam.
- Contact with other individuals is prohibited during the exam.
- If either the Homeowner or Designated Worker needs to leave the testing table for any reason they must return all test materials immediately.
- In the event that the Homeowner fails an exam, they must wait a minimum of thirty minutes before re-taking the exam. The final exam given for the day is at 3:30 p.m. Permitting closes at 4:00 pm and Contractor Licensing closes at 4:30 p.m. All tests must be completed by 4:20 p.m. to be evaluated before we close.
NOTE: As of June 26, 2001, an owner of a townhouse may perform electrical, heating, cooling or plumbing work when s/he holds an appropriate Certificate of Qualification or shall pass an examination appropriate in the work to be performed, and s/he performs the work himself or herself.
The Denver Building Code is available online, click here (http://www.denvergov.org/Building_Code).
Some relevant excerpts (emphasis added):
Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #3C: Any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work that is done on a homeowner’s permit shall be restricted to work in an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, the owner-occupied unit of a duplex or Group U occupancy. When the applicant does electrical work, he must intend to occupy the unit for at least 12 months after the completion of the permitted work and shall submit a written statement to the Department before an electrical permit will be issued. (back to items: #2, #3, or #4).
Denver Building Code, Section 151.2 #5: Any work to the exterior or common elements of a townhouse or condominium apartment building must be approved by the Homeowner’s Association and the permit issued to a Licensed Contractor. (back to item #5)
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