Apply for a Contractor's License

Prerequisite Reminder:

  • Supervisor Certificate Holder or State Electrical/Plumbing License

A “supervisor certificate holder” is a qualified individual who has been issued a supervisor certificate by the City and County of Denver. Before applying for a contractor’s license, an applicant must hold a supervisor certificate, employ a supervisor certificate holder, or hold a Colorado electrical or plumbing license. License applications are not accepted until supervisor certificates have been approved. 

Note: If you are applying for a right-of-way (ROW) or sewer license do not follow the below steps. Go to the ROW licenses information page to learn how to apply.

Online

Step 1.Learn About Your Responsibilities

Read Chapter 1 of the Denver Building and Fire Code. Chapter 1 explains your responsibilities as a license holder in the City and County of Denver.

Step 2.Supervisor Statement of Responsibility  

The supervisor certificate holder must fill out a Supervisor Statement of Responsibility(PDF, 125KB). If the supervisor certificate holder is not a company owner, officer, partner, member, or sole proprietor, the supervisor must also submit a letter on company letterhead stating they will be the “Supervisor of Record” for the company for this license type. The letter must be signed by an owner, officer, partner, member, or the sole proprietor.

Step 3.Secretary of State Documents 

Compile these Secretary of State documents according to the firm's legal status of the company.

Please note: Any company officer, member, partner, or sole proprietor signing and submitting documentation for a contractor’s license must be listed on current Secretary of State filings. Alternatively, you may provide notarized meeting minutes or a notarized list of current owners, officers, members, or partners along with the Secretary of State documents. 

Step 4.Affidavit of Lawful Presence 

Sole proprietors using a trade name and individuals using a personal name must fill out and notarize the Affidavit of Lawful Presence(PDF, 119KB) and upload a notarized copy of your “Secure and Verifiable Identification” as listed on the affidavit. (This requirement does not apply to corporations, partnerships, or LLCs.)

Step 5.Additional Documents

Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors must upload a current State of Colorado Electrical Contractor card along with a copy of the Master Electrician’s drivers license or ID.

Plumbing Contractors 

Plumbing contractors must upload a current State of Colorado Plumbing Contractor card along with a photocopy of the Master Plumber’s drivers license or ID.

Fire Protection A & B Contractors 

Fire Protection A & B contractors must upload a current State of Colorado Fire Suppression certificate with their application.

Step 6.Submit Online

After completing the above steps, go to e-permits and register for a free, online account. Click Contractor Licensing and Apply for a License or Certificate. Select the appropriate contractor license type and click Continue Application. Make sure to read the instructions carefully, follow the prompts, attach all required documents, and submit your application.

Note: Applications submitted online will take approximately 14-20 business days for review.

Apply now

By Mail

Step 1.Learn About Your Responsibilities

Read Chapter 1 of the Denver Building and Fire Code. Chapter 1 explains your responsibilities as a license holder in the City and County of Denver.

Step 2.Complete Application

Fill out the Contractor License Application(PDF, 153KB). All applications must be signed by an owner, officer, partner, or member and that individual must also submit a photocopy of their state-issued photo ID. 

Step 3.Supervisor Statement of Responsibility  

The supervisor certificate holder must fill out a Supervisor Statement of Responsibility(PDF, 125KB). If the supervisor certificate holder is not a company owner, officer, partner, member, or sole proprietor, the supervisor must also submit a letter on company letterhead stating they will be the “Supervisor of Record” for the company for this license type. The letter must be signed by an owner, officer, partner, member, or the sole proprietor.

Step 4.Secretary of State Documents 

Compile these Secretary of State documents according to the legal status of the company. 

Please note: Any company officer, member, partner, or sole proprietor signing and submitting documentation for a contractor’s license must be listed on current Secretary of State filings. Alternatively, you may provide notarized meeting minutes or a notarized list of current owners, officers, members, or partners along with the Secretary of State documents. 

Step 5.Affidavit of Lawful Presence 

Sole proprietors using a trade name and individuals using a personal name must fill out and notarize the Affidavit of Lawful Presence(PDF, 119KB) and provide a notarized copy of your “Secure and Verifiable Identification” as listed on the affidavit. (This requirement does not apply to corporations, partnerships, or LLCs.)

Step 6.Additional Documents 

Electrical Contractors 

Electrical contractors must submit a current State of Colorado Electrical Contractor card with their application along with a copy of the Master Electrician’s drivers license or ID.

Plumbing Contractors 

Plumbing contractors must submit a current State of Colorado Plumbing Contractor card with their application along with a photocopy of the Master Plumber’s drivers license or ID.

Fire Protection A & B Contractors 

Fire Protection A & B contractors must submit a current State of Colorado Fire Suppression certificate with their application.

Step 7.Submit by Mail

After completing the above steps, compile all documents and mail them to: 

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

Note: Mail-in applications will take approximately 14-20 business days for review once we receive your application.

In Person

Step 1.Learn About Your Responsibilities

Read Chapter 1 of the Denver Building and Fire Code. Chapter 1 explains your responsibilities as a license holder in the City and County of Denver.

Step 2.Complete Application

Fill out the Contractor License Application(PDF, 153KB). All applications must be signed by an owner, officer, partner or member and that individual must also submit a photocopy of their state-issued photo identification.

Step 3.Supervisor Statement of Responsibility  

The supervisor certificate holder must fill out a Supervisor Statement of Responsibility(PDF, 125KB). If the supervisor certificate holder is not a company owner, officer, partner, member, or sole proprietor, the supervisor must also submit a letter on company letterhead stating they will be the “Supervisor of Record” for the company for this license type. The letter must be signed by an owner, officer, partner, member, or the sole proprietor.

Step 4.Secretary of State Documents 

Compile these Secretary of State documents according to the legal status of the company. 

Please note: Any company officer, member, partner, or sole proprietor signing and submitting documentation for a contractor’s license must be listed on current Secretary of State filings. Alternatively, you may provide notarized meeting minutes or a notarized list of current owners, officers, members, or partners along with the Secretary of State documents. 

Step 5.Complete Affidavit of Lawful Presence 

Sole proprietors using a trade name and individuals using a personal name must fill out and notarize the Affidavit of Lawful Presence(PDF, 119KB) and bring your “Secure and Verifiable Identification” as listed on the affidavit. (This requirement does not apply to corporations, partnerships, or LLCs.) 

Step 6.Additional Documents

Electrical Contractors

Electrical contractors must present a current State of Colorado Electrical Contractor card with their application along with a copy of the Master Electrician’s drivers license or ID.

Plumbing Contractors 

Plumbing contractors must present a current State of Colorado Plumbing Contractor card with their application along with a photocopy of the Master Plumber’s drivers license or ID.

Fire Protection A & B Contractors 

Fire Protection A & B contractors must present a current State of Colorado Fire Suppression certificate with their application. 

Step 7.Submit In Person

After completing the above steps, bring all documents to the Contractor Licensing counter. The counter is located on the second floor of the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building at 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver.

Note: Applications submitted in person will take approximately 14-20 business days for review.

Contact Us

Phone

720-865-2770

Email

Contr.Licensing@denvergov.org

License Cards

A license card will only be issued to a corporate officer, partner, member, or sole proprietor listed on the submitted documentation, unless a corporate officer, partner, member, or sole proprietor submits a dated and signed letter authorizing another individual to pick up the license card. Duplicate license cards are $25 each. 

Denial of a License

License denials may be appealed to the Board of Appeals as outlined in Chapter 1 of the Denver Building and Fire Code. 

Payments

View current fee amounts. If you are receiving multiple license types, you must pay for each license separately. For mail-in or in-person applications, please make checks payable to “Manager of Finance.” Online applicants will be prompted to pay through e-permits once the license application is approved.

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