Colorado General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Colorado does not issue a state-level general contractor license. General contracting is regulated city by city, and each municipality runs its own licensing program. The dominant authority is the City and County of Denver, where the Department of Community Planning and Development (Denver DSD) issues four building contractor classes — Class A (unlimited), Class B (buildings up to four stories or 50 feet), Class C (one and two-family dwellings and accessory structures), and Class D (specific minor scopes). Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department), Aurora, and Fort Collins each operate parallel programs with their own examinations, fees, and qualifying-party rules. Working in multiple Front Range cities means holding multiple municipal licenses.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with City and County of Denver — Department of Community Planning and Development, Building Division (Denver DSD) (DSD), which issues and polices it under Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 10 (Building Code); Denver Building and Fire Code. Denver DSD licenses building contractors (Class A, B, C, and D) inside the City and County of Denver, issues permits, performs inspections, and enforces the Denver Building and Fire Code. Colorado does not issue a state general contractor license; municipal authority is the only path.

Official portal: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Community-Planning-and-Development/Building
Address: 201 W Colfax Avenue, Department 205, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 865-2705

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Colorado residency requirement; the qualifying supervisor must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer of the licensed business.

Good moral character

Denver DSD reviews fitness for every supervisor certificate applicant. Felony convictions, prior license revocations, and unresolved complaints are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. Denver may require fingerprint-based background checks for certain Class A applicants.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is five years of verifiable construction supervisory experience for Denver Class A; three years for Class B; two years for Class C; one year for Class D. The qualifying supervisor must demonstrate hands-on responsibility for projects matching the class scope., and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Denver Supervisor Certificate experience verification form signed by each prior employer or general contractor
Project list with addresses, permit numbers, dollar values, and roles
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or notarized affidavits covering the qualifying period
College transcripts for any claimed education substitution

Education substitution

Accredited construction management or engineering coursework substitutes for portions of the experience requirement. Denver allows up to two years of substitution for an accredited bachelor's degree.

The Licensing Examination

ICC (International Code Council) under contract to Denver DSD; computer-based testing at PSI test centers administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Denver Supervisor Certificate Examination — building code, planning, zoning, and life safety — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Denver Business and Law Examination — Colorado business law, mechanics liens, contracts, and Denver licensing rules — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $129 per ICC examination part. Re-take fees match the original.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 30-day wait by paying a new $129 fee. Application records remain valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Denver requires the licensed business to carry general liability insurance with minimums of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate for Class A; $300,000/$500,000 for Class B; and $100,000/$300,000 for Class C and D.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Colorado under CRS 8-44-101 et seq. for any business with one or more employees, including part-time and family members.

Additional financial requirements

Denver does not impose a state-style net worth requirement, but proof of insurance and an active Colorado business registration are required at issuance and at every renewal.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$258
Initial license	$350
Renewal (every 2 years)	$250

License Renewal

The Denver Building Contractor (Class A, B, C, or D) — Municipal License must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $250. Denver Contractor Licenses renew every two years. Other Colorado municipalities operate separate cycles that must be tracked individually.

Continuing education: Continuing education is required for Denver Class A and B at each two-year renewal cycle. Denver publishes the approved provider list and hour requirement.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Colorado General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Colorado grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Colorado Springs	—	Pikes Peak Regional Building Department accepts comparable Denver supervisor certificates after a Colorado Springs business and law exam.
Aurora	—	Aurora Building Division accepts the Denver Supervisor Certificate examination as a substitute for the Aurora trade exam; a separate Aurora business license is still required.
Fort Collins	—	Fort Collins Building Services accepts the ICC examination at the Denver pass score; a separate Fort Collins license application is still required.

There is no statewide Colorado contractor license, so reciprocity is municipal and inconsistent. A contractor active in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora typically holds three separate licenses.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Confirm the city or jurisdiction. Identify every Colorado municipality you intend to work in. Each runs its own program. Denver is the dominant authority for the metro area.
Choose the Denver class. Class A (unlimited), B (up to four stories or 50 feet), C (one and two-family dwellings), or D (limited minor scopes).
Document the qualifying supervisor experience. Five years for Class A, three years for Class B, two years for Class C, one year for Class D. The supervisor must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer.
Pass the ICC Denver Supervisor Certificate exam at 75%. Schedule both the trade exam and the business and law exam through PSI. Both required for any class above D.
Register the business with Colorado and Denver. File a Colorado Secretary of State business registration and a Denver business license application before submitting the contractor license application.
Submit proof of insurance and workers compensation. Upload general liability and Colorado workers compensation certificates naming Denver as a certificate holder.
File the Denver Contractor License application. Submit the license application with all documentation, exam pass certificates, and the application fee. Denver issues the license after review.

Preparation Resources

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

Denver Building and Fire Code (current adopted edition) — City and County of Denver. Primary technical reference for the supervisor certificate examination.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — NASCLA. Standard reference for the business and law portion of the ICC exam.
International Building Code (current Denver-adopted edition) — International Code Council. The IBC is adopted by Denver with local amendments and is open-book at the ICC test center.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to DSD:

☐ Denver Contractor License application with classification and fee
☐ Denver Supervisor Certificate naming the qualifying supervisor
☐ Experience verification covering the years required for the chosen class
☐ ICC Denver Supervisor Certificate exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ ICC Denver Business and Law exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ General liability insurance certificate at the class minimum naming Denver
☐ Colorado workers compensation certificate (any business with one or more employees)

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Colorado General Contractor applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Assuming Colorado has a state license

There is no state general contractor license. Contractors who try to work in Denver on a Colorado Springs license get red-tagged at permit pull.

Picking the wrong Denver class

A Class C contractor cannot pull permits for a four-story project. Upgrading classes requires a new exam and additional experience documentation.

Missing the workers compensation threshold

Colorado requires workers compensation for any business with one or more employees including part-time and family. The threshold is stricter than most neighboring states.

Borrowing a qualifying supervisor

The Denver Supervisor Certificate holder must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer of the licensed business. Denver audits W-2 records.

Letting insurance lapse mid-cycle

Denver suspends contractor licenses immediately when general liability or workers compensation lapses. Reinstatement requires fees and proof of continuous coverage.

Other Colorado Trade Licenses

For a different Colorado credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Colorado issue a state general contractor license?

No. Colorado has no state-level general contractor license. General contracting is regulated city by city. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Fort Collins each run their own program with separate exams, fees, and qualifying-party rules.

What are the four Denver building contractor classes?

Class A is unlimited. Class B covers buildings up to four stories or 50 feet. Class C covers one and two-family dwellings and accessory structures. Class D covers specific minor scopes such as small additions and tenant finishes.

Do I need a separate license for every Colorado city I work in?

Usually yes. There is limited municipal reciprocity, but most Front Range cities require their own license application even when they accept the same ICC examination.

What is a Denver Supervisor Certificate?

It is the individual credential a qualifying party must hold to anchor a Denver Contractor License. The supervisor passes the ICC examination, then is named on the business license.

How often does the Denver Contractor License renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires current insurance, an active business registration, and (for some classes) continuing education.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-20 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-18