Colorado Roofing License Requirements (2026)

Colorado has no statewide roofing contractor license. Roofing is regulated at the municipal level — Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, Lakewood, and most Front Range cities each issue their own roofer registrations with separate fees, bonds, and exams. State-level roofing is governed instead by SB 12-038 (the Roofing Contractor Act, C.R.S. §6-22-101 et seq.), which imposes contract, deposit, and insurance-claim rules on every Colorado roofer but does not license them. The practical path to working statewide is a combination of Denver Class D Unlimited Contractor or Colorado Springs roofer registration plus Secretary of State business registration, workers compensation, and general liability.

The Licensing Authority

City and County of Denver — Department of Community Planning and Development, Building Division (Denver DSD) (DSD) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No Colorado residency requirement.

Good moral character

Most Colorado municipalities require disclosure of construction-related felonies.

Background investigation

Denver requires a contractor license background check; other cities vary.

Experience and Education Requirements

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is no statewide experience threshold; individual cities set their own requirements (Denver Class D requires supervisor-level experience).

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Municipal application experience affidavit
Project list for the supervisor applicant

Education substitution

City-specific; Denver accepts degree substitution under DSD rules.

The Licensing Examination

ICC or local testing vendor depending on the city administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Denver Class D Unlimited Contractor — ICC Supervisor Exam (open-book on IBC/IRC) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Colorado Springs Roofer C2 (ICC Residential and Commercial Roofer exam) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: Denver Class D exam approximately $250; Colorado Springs $179.

Retake policy: Each city sets its own retake interval.

Financial Security and Insurance

A $12,000 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the DSD, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

Most Colorado cities require a minimum $1,000,000/$2,000,000 general liability certificate naming the city as additional insured. SB 12-038 requires the roofer to maintain commercial general liability.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every Colorado employer with one or more employees under C.R.S. §8-44-101. Sole proprietors may elect out.

Additional financial requirements

Denver DSD requires a $12,000 surety bond for Class D Unlimited Contractors. Colorado Springs requires a $15,000 bond for roofers.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$250
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

License Renewal

The Colorado — No State Roofing License (Municipal Registration Only) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $200. Annual renewal per city. Lapsed insurance or bond suspends the city registration immediately.

Continuing education: Most Colorado cities do not require CE. Denver requires annual bond and insurance updates.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Colorado Roofing 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
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Colorado has no state license to reciprocate. A Denver license is not valid in Colorado Springs and vice versa — you must register in each city you work.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Register the business entity with the Colorado Secretary of State. LLC or corporation filing plus EIN. Required before any municipal registration.
Pick the municipalities where you will work. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder, Lakewood, Arvada, Thornton — each has its own roofer license and fee.
Pass the required ICC or local exam. Denver uses the ICC Supervisor exam, Colorado Springs uses the ICC Residential/Commercial Roofer exam.
Post the city bond. Denver $12,000 Class D, Colorado Springs $15,000 roofer bond, other cities typically $5,000–$15,000.
Bind commercial general liability at $1,000,000. Required by most city ordinances and mandated by SB 12-038 for roofing contracts.
Bind Colorado workers compensation. C.R.S. §8-44-101 mandates coverage for one or more employees.
Comply with SB 12-038 Roofing Contractor Act. Written contract, cancellation right, deductible prohibition on insurance-claim work, pay-when-paid disclosure.
Renew annually in each city. Renewal fees range $50–$250 per city with updated bond, insurance, and workers comp.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to DSD, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Colorado Secretary of State business registration
☐ Municipal contractor application in each target city
☐ ICC Supervisor or Roofer exam pass certificate
☐ Municipal bond per city ($12,000 Denver, $15,000 Colorado Springs)
☐ $1,000,000 general liability certificate of insurance
☐ Colorado workers compensation declaration page
☐ SB 12-038 compliant written contract template

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Colorado Roofing application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Assuming one city license covers Colorado

Each Front Range city requires separate registration. Working in Aurora with only a Denver license is unlicensed contracting.

Waiving insurance deductibles

C.R.S. §6-22-105 bans waiving or rebating a homeowner's insurance deductible. Violations are unfair trade practices with treble damages.

Hail-storm chasing without cancellation rights

SB 12-038 requires a 72-hour cancellation right on any insurance-claim contract. Failing to disclose voids the contract.

Ignoring Class 4 impact-rated shingles

Many Colorado insurers require UL 2218 Class 4 impact-rated shingles for hail discounts. Installing Class 3 on a Class 4 spec invalidates warranty credits.

Forgetting Denver Green Roof Initiative

Denver Ordinance 18-0002 requires cool-roof or equivalent energy performance on roofs over 25,000 sq ft. Non-compliance fails permit closeout.

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.

ICC Residential and Commercial Roofer Exam Reference List — International Code Council. Source list for the roofer exam used by Colorado cities.
IBC/IRC Chapter 15 / R905 — International Code Council. Roof assembly code used across Colorado adoption.
Colorado Roofing Contractor Act SB 12-038 / C.R.S. §6-22 — State of Colorado. Required reading for every Colorado roofer.

Other Colorado Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Colorado trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Colorado have a state roofing license?

No. Roofing is regulated only at the municipal level. State law (SB 12-038) sets contract and insurance-claim rules but does not issue a state license.

What is SB 12-038?

The Colorado Roofing Contractor Act, codified at C.R.S. §6-22-101. It requires a written contract, a 72-hour cancellation right on insurance-claim work, prohibits deductible waivers, and mandates commercial general liability.

Can I work everywhere in Colorado with a Denver license?

No. Each city issues its own registration. A Denver Class D license does not authorize work in Colorado Springs or Aurora.

How much is the Denver bond?

$12,000 for a Denver Class D Unlimited Contractor. Colorado Springs requires a $15,000 roofer bond.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes for every employer with one or more employees under C.R.S. §8-44-101. Sole proprietors may elect out.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-10