Colorado Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Colorado has no statewide masonry contractor license. Masonry contracting is regulated entirely at the municipal level — Denver Department of Community Planning and Development (DSD) requires a Class C or D Building Contractor registration that covers masonry, Aurora and Colorado Springs maintain similar local registries, and most mountain counties require only a building permit and proof of insurance. The state Division of Professions and Occupations does not license masonry. This page documents the verified path including the dominant Denver DSD framework, OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 10 (Building Code); Denver Building and Fire Code, City and County of Denver — Department of Community Planning and Development, Building Division (Denver DSD) (DSD) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Colorado residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Colorado Secretary of State.

Good moral character

Local building departments review prior license discipline. Felony history is reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure on the local registration application. Denver DSD does not fingerprint masonry contractors.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least 2 years of journey-level masonry experience documented to the local building department; Denver DSD Class C requires demonstrated competence on three projects. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Local building department experience affidavit
Project list with permits and addresses
W-2, 1099, or payroll records

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by ICC Pearson VUE for Denver DSD; no exam in most other Colorado jurisdictions. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Denver DSD Building Contractor Class C/D Examination — IBC Chapter 21, business and law — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $140 ICC Pearson VUE exam fee for Denver Class C/D.

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days at Denver DSD. Most other Colorado cities do not test masonry contractors.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

Denver DSD requires $1,000,000 per occurrence GL minimum for Class C registration. Other municipalities typically require $500,000–$1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Colorado employer with one or more employees under §8-44-101. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in Colorado.

Additional financial requirements

No state financial statement required. Denver DSD requires a current GL certificate at registration.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$175
Examination	$140
Initial license	$175
Renewal (every 2 years)	$175

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Colorado Masonry — Local Building Department Registration (No State License) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $175. Denver DSD registrations renew every two years. Other Colorado municipalities typically renew annually. Maintain GL and workers comp continuously.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Colorado for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

No state-level reciprocity exists because Colorado has no state masonry license. Local registrations are not transferable between Colorado municipalities.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Identify the jurisdiction. Each Colorado municipality has its own registration framework — Denver DSD, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Fort Collins are the largest and most demanding.
Form a Colorado entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Colorado Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Denver DSD requires $1,000,000 GL; other cities $500K+ — bind before applying.
Pass the Denver DSD exam (Denver only). Score 75% or better on the ICC Pearson VUE Class C/D Building Contractor exam covering IBC Chapter 21.
Submit local building department registration. File the Denver DSD Class C/D application ($175) or equivalent in your municipality.
Pull project permits. Each masonry job requires a building permit; Denver DSD requires the registered contractor of record on every permit.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Colorado; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Colorado Masonry filing.

Working without local registration

Pulling a permit without an active Denver DSD or municipal registration triggers stop-work orders and double-fee penalties.

Assuming statewide license

Many out-of-state contractors assume Colorado has a state license. Each city requires independent registration and the timelines stack.

GL below Denver minimum

Denver DSD will not issue Class C/D registration with GL below $1M per occurrence. Standard $500K policies are rejected.

Anchored veneer tie failures

Front Range wind events and Colorado seismic zones cause anchored veneer collapses; Denver and Boulder inspectors fail jobs with non-compliant ties or spacing.

Silica plan absent at altitude

OSHA targets Front Range masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations even on small residential jobs.

Recommended References

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

Denver DSD Building Contractor Reference Materials — Denver DSD. Official Denver Class C/D exam reference list.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (Colorado-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Adopted at most Colorado municipalities including Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DSD:

☐ Colorado Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Colorado Department of Revenue tax account
☐ GL insurance certificate ($1M minimum for Denver)
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ Denver DSD Class C/D exam pass certificate (Denver only)
☐ Local building department registration
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Other Colorado Trade Licenses

If the Masonry license is not the right fit, the following published Colorado trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Colorado have a state masonry license?

No. Colorado regulates masonry contractors at the municipal level only.

What does Denver DSD require?

Class C or D Building Contractor registration with a Pearson VUE/ICC exam, $1,000,000 GL minimum, workers compensation, and $175 fee.

Are local registrations transferable?

No. Each Colorado city issues its own registration. Working in multiple cities means multiple registrations.

Does Colorado enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Colorado; written exposure control plans are required for cutting and grinding masonry.

Are anchored veneer ties critical in Colorado?

Yes. Front Range high winds and Colorado seismic zones require corrosion-resistant ties at code spacing per TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21. Boulder and Fort Collins inspectors enforce strictly.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-09 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-07