How to Check a Plumber's License in Colorado (DORA Lookup)
A plumbing license is the single easiest thing to verify, and the one most people skip. It takes two minutes, and it settles a lot of risk.
Colorado requires a license for plumbing work
Colorado law, at C.R.S. 12-155-108, requires plumbers to hold a license and requires apprentices to be registered and supervised. The state licenses residential plumbers, journeyman plumbers (also called journeyworkers) and master plumbers through the State Plumbing Board, part of the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies, known as DORA.
A plumbing company must have a licensed master plumber on record. A license is not a guarantee of good work, but an unlicensed person doing plumbing work is a legal and insurance problem for the homeowner as well.
What each Colorado plumbing license covers
| License | What it covers | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Residential plumber | Plumbing work on residential property, within the limits of that license | Is this job within a residential license? |
| Journeyman (journeyworker) | Plumbing work under a master plumber's supervision structure | Who is the master on this job? |
| Master plumber | Full plumbing authority, and the license a plumbing contractor must hold | Is the company registered and in good standing? |
| Apprentice | Registered, and must work under supervision | Who is supervising on site? |
Verifying a license with the state
- 1
Ask for the license number
A reputable plumber will give you the license number and the name it is held under without hesitation.
- 2
Open the DORA license lookup
Search the Colorado DORA license lookup for the name or number.
- 3
Check the status
Look for an active status and a current expiration date, since many Colorado plumbing licenses renew on a fixed annual cycle.
- 4
Match the name to the business
Confirm the person who will be on the job or the master of record for the company.
- 5
Confirm the permit plan
Ask who will pull the permit. The plumber of record should.
Warning signs when hiring a plumber
Be wary of a plumber who cannot or will not give a license number, one who asks you to pull the permit yourself, one who asks for a large cash deposit with no written scope, or one who pressures you to decide on the spot. A written scope and price before work starts is normal, not an extra.
Be especially careful with big jobs. A new sewer line, a repipe or a gas line is not a good place to save money by skipping verification. Sewer line repair and water heater installation and replacement both involve permits and inspections, and the license is what ties them together.
Questions to ask any plumber before hiring
- What is your license number, and under whose name is it held?
- Are you insured, and can you send a certificate?
- Who will pull the permit, and will you be listed on it?
- Can I have a written scope and price before work starts?
- Who will be on site, and are they licensed or registered apprentices?
- What happens if the inspector finds a problem?
Insurance and the written estimate
A licensed plumber should carry general liability insurance and, if employees work on site, workers' compensation coverage. Ask for a certificate of insurance. It takes a plumber a minute to send, and it protects you if something goes wrong on your property.
A written estimate should name the work, the materials, the permit, the price and any exclusions. For emergency work, a verbal price before work starts is reasonable, with the written invoice following. For larger jobs, insist on the written scope first.
When a homeowner may do the work
Colorado's exception for homeowners applies to work on a home they occupy. It does not cover rental properties or homes being flipped. Even where it applies, permits and inspections still apply, and a mistake with gas or drain venting can be dangerous. Many homeowners handle simple fixture swaps and hire out anything involving gas, sewer or the main supply.
Matching a license to a company
A company name on a truck is not a license. The license belongs to a person, and a plumbing company must have a licensed master plumber on record. Ask for the master's name and look it up, then ask who will actually be at your house.
If a lead-generation site or a call center sends the plumber, the same rule applies to the person who arrives. You are entitled to the license number of whoever works on your plumbing, and a refusal is information.
History and complaints
The State Plumbing Board accepts complaints about licensees, and a license lookup shows status and sometimes discipline. Online reviews are useful but uneven, so read the pattern and not the stars. A plumber with a handful of detailed, recent reviews that mention honesty about price is a better bet than one with many vague five-star notes.
If something goes wrong, document it, keep your invoice and photos, and raise it with the plumber in writing first. If it is not resolved, the Board is the place to take a licensing complaint.
Permits and licensing go together in Windsor
The Town of Windsor requires a building permit to install or move plumbing, and the plumber of record should appear on it. Inspectors check the work against the code the Town has adopted, which builds on the International Plumbing Code (IPC). The same logic applies in neighboring towns such as Timnath, where the Town and the county have their own offices. When in doubt, call the building department and ask who is on the permit.
Quick answers
Use the DORA license lookup run by the Division of Professions and Occupations. Search by name or license number.
A homeowner may do plumbing on a home they occupy, subject to permits and inspections. Hiring someone else generally requires a licensed plumber.
Do not hire until it is renewed. Ask the plumber directly, and check again.
No. It proves legal authority and a testing background. Ask for references and a written scope as well.
Need a plumber you can verify?
Ask for the license number when you call, then check it with the state.
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