Two minutes before you hire

How to Check a Plumber's License in Colorado

Ask for the license number. A real plumber gives it without a pause. Then look it up.

State license lookup
City contractor license
Ask for the number

Call (720) 953-7060Describe the problem. No obligation to book.

Plumber License Check in Colorado: Steps

Ask the plumber for the license number and the name it is under.
Look it up on the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) license lookup. Search under the State Plumbing Board.
Check that the license is active and the name matches the person or company on your estimate.
Ask whether the company holds a City of Brighton contractor license if the job needs a permit. The City describes contractor licensing on its Contractor Licensing page.
Ask for proof of insurance.

Plumber License Check Colorado Homeowners Can Finish in Five Minutes

A plumber license check Colorado residents can run needs a name, a license number and a phone. The State Plumbing Board is part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, and the public license lookup is on the DORA site.

Get the full name and license number the plumber will work under. Not a nickname and not a truck logo.
Open the DORA license lookup and search the plumber by name or number.
Read the license type and status. Look for active, not expired, not suspended.
Match the name on the license to the person who arrives, and to the company on the estimate.
Look for public discipline or complaints on the record.
If a permit is needed, ask which City of Brighton contractor license the company holds.

What the License Types Mean: Apprentice, Residential, Journeyworker, Master

Type	What it means for your job
Apprentice	Registered with the state and works under supervision. Should not be the only person on your job unsupervised
Residential plumber	Licensed for residential work of a defined scope
Journeyworker plumber	Licensed to do plumbing work, typically on a crew
Master plumber	Highest state license, and a plumbing contractor registered with the state must employ one

Ask who will do the work, and who owns the business is a separate question. A master plumber may run the company while a journeyworker or an apprentice does the labor. Apprentices are legitimate, and supervised training is how the trade works. The point is to confirm that a licensed plumber is responsible for the job.

Brighton Contractor Licensing Is a Second, Separate Check

The City of Brighton licenses contractors separately from the State. Its Contractor Licensing page says a City license is required to perform work the license covers, including plumbing and mechanical classes. Licenses on that page run for twelve months from the date of issue, and the page lists minimum liability insurance limits for license holders.

To verify plumber license Brighton CO jobs properly, check both. A plumber who does Brighton permit work ideally holds both a valid state license and a valid City contractor license. Ask for the City license class and expiration, and ask whether the permit is pulled under that license.

Questions worth asking on the phone

What is your DORA license number and your license type?
Do you hold a current City of Brighton contractor license?
Who pulls the permit, and when is the inspection?
Can you send a certificate of insurance before the work?
Is the estimate in writing, and what does it include?
Who will be on site, and are they licensed or registered apprentices?

Red Flags Before You Hand Over a Deposit in Brighton

A plumber license check Colorado homeowners run often turns up these warning signs first. None of them proves wrongdoing alone. Two or three together should end the call.

No license number given, or a number that will not match a name in the lookup.
A license that is expired, suspended or under a different person or company.
Pressure to pay cash up front or to skip the permit to save time.
An estimate that is verbal only, with no scope and no materials listed.
A price that changes as soon as the work starts, with no written change order.
Door knocking after a storm or a City water notice, with no company address or license.
A plumber who will not say who pulls the permit.

If a licensed plumber does poor work, the State Plumbing Board takes complaints. The DORA site has the complaint page. For permit and inspection questions, contact the City permit office.

Next Step After a License Check

A license check is easiest before the work starts. If the job is a full inspection, see plumbing inspection in Brighton, and read the Brighton plumbing permits guide so you know which jobs need a permit. For an urgent leak or backup, an emergency plumber call still starts with the same license questions.

About Calls to This Site

This site is a lead generation help line. It is not itself a plumbing contractor and does not hold a plumbing license. When you call, you are connected with an independent plumber. Ask that plumber for their name, company and license number on the call, and check it with the steps above.

Plumbing problem in Brighton?

Ready to hire? Call and ask for the license number first.

Call (720) 953-7060

Local case study

Colorado, 2025: New License Display Rules and a DORA Warning About Fake Notices

Colorado, statewide. The State Plumbing Board posted the rule on its DORA plumbing news page. This is what the rule says, not a story.

After June 30, 2025, plumbing contractors must show registration and master plumber numbers on vehicles, on billing, at the top of bid sheets, and on the homepage, Contact and About pages of their websites. The same notice warns of a phishing email posing as a DORA code violation notice. Do not click its links. Call the department using a number from the official site.

Lesson: ask any plumber for the number and check it with DORA. This site is a referral line to independent licensed plumbers, so verify whoever shows up. See plumbing permits for the next step.

The number for plumber license check Colorado is (720) 953-7060. Callers also ask about verify plumber license Brighton CO and verify plumber license Brighton CO.

Plumber License Questions

How do I check if a plumber is licensed in Colorado?

Ask for the license number and look it up in the state license lookup run by DORA.

Does Brighton license contractors?

The City has a contractor licensing page describing how to apply. Ask the City which license your job requires.

Is this website a licensed plumber?

No. This site is a help line that connects callers to independent plumbers.

What if the plumber will not give a license number?

Do not hire them.

Should I ask for insurance?

Yes. Ask for proof of liability insurance.

Can a handyman do plumbing?

Some small tasks yes. Larger plumbing work needs a licensed plumber. Ask the City if unsure.

Do I get a written estimate?

Ask for one before work starts.

Who do I complain to?

The state licensing board handles complaints about licensed plumbers.

Where do I look up a plumber license in Colorado?

Use the DORA license lookup, reached from the Division of Professions and Occupations plumbing page. Search by name or license number, then check the type and the status. If the plumber gives only a company name, ask for the individual plumber's license number as well.

What is the difference between a state license and a City of Brighton contractor license?

The state license says the person is qualified to do plumbing work. A City contractor license lets a company pull permits and work in Brighton, and it has its own insurance requirements and twelve month term. Ask for both, since they are issued by different offices.

Can a homeowner skip the license check if the plumber is a friend of a friend?

No. Colorado law exempts owners working on their own residence, not friends working on yours. If someone else does the work, the license and the permit both matter. A quick DORA lookup takes minutes and confirms who is responsible if something goes wrong.

Is an apprentice allowed to work on my house alone?

Apprentices are registered with the state and work under a licensed plumber's supervision. Ask who supervises and whether that person will be on site. An unsupervised apprentice doing a permit job is a question to raise before work starts.

How do I file a complaint against a plumber in Brighton?

The State Plumbing Board takes complaints about licensed plumbers and unlicensed activity. For permit or code issues, contact the City permit office. Keep your estimate, photos, messages and permit number in one place, since a complaint goes further with a record.

Talk to a plumber

Call and describe what is happening. You will hear next steps on the call.