Colorado does not issue statewide handyman licenses. Instead, licenses are primarily issued through city and county governments. The only statewide licensing requirements through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) are for electrical and plumbing work.
What Licensed Work Requires Permits
In Colorado, certain home improvement and repair work must be performed by licensed professionals:
Electrical work: All electrical installations and repairs require proper licensing and permits through DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations.
Plumbing work: Plumbing installations, repairs, and modifications must be performed by licensed plumbers with appropriate permits.
What Unlicensed Handymen Can Do
While each city has somewhat different requirements, in general, an unlicensed handyman in Colorado can perform various basic maintenance and repair tasks, like:
- Basic property maintenance and repairs
- Interior and exterior painting
- Basic woodworking and repairs
- Basic floor repairs and installations
- Basic landscaping and maintenance
Remember, county and city governments in Colorado can implement their own licensing requirements for contractors and handymen. Before starting any work, handymen should verify the specific requirements with their local municipality’s building department or licensing office.
Handyman License Local Requirements
Unlike states with statewide rules, Colorado leaves handyman licensing up to each city and county. This city-by-city approach means handypersons must know their local rules before picking up tools.
Here’s what handymen need to know about working in major Colorado cities:
Denver Handyman Requirements
Denver splits handyman work into two categories: basic maintenance and licensed contracting. No special license requirements exist for everyday maintenance tasks like:
Allowed work without a license:
- Basic maintenance and repairs
- Painting and decorating
- Installing pre-made cabinets
- Basic flooring installation
- Replacing fixtures (using existing connections)
- Minor carpentry work
However, Denver strictly regulates certain projects. Without proper licensing, handymen cannot legally handle:
- Any work requiring permits
- Structural modifications
- New electrical installations
- Plumbing system modifications
Denver requires both a supervisor certificate and a contractor license for bigger projects. Small repairs and basic maintenance are permit-free.
Aurora Handyman Requirements
Aurora’s regulations mirror many of Denver’s but maintain distinct requirements. Basic home maintenance requires no permits, while construction falls into clear categories.
Aurora requires two types of licenses for larger projects: Commercial Building Contractor licenses for business properties and Residential Building Contractor licenses for home construction through the city’s Building Division.
Colorado Springs Handyman Requirements
Colorado Springs requires business licenses for handymen running steady operations. More complex projects require contractor credentials and proper permits through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD).
According to PPRBD, work that doesn’t require a permit includes:
- Painting
- Tiling
- Flooring (if the subfloor remains unchanged)
- Cabinet installation
- Fixture replacement
- Roof or siding under 100 square feet
- Gutters
- Fencing under 7 feet tall
- Landscaping
- Masonry
For any work beyond these basics, you should contact the permit counter at 719-327-2883 to verify if a permit is required.
Fort Collins Handyman Requirements
Fort Collins doesn’t specifically regulate handyman services at the city level. However, the city strictly oversees construction work through its Building Services department and requires proper licensing for any construction, alteration, or repair work within city limits.
Without a license, you can do minor alterations and repairs but not:
- Significant structural alterations
- Changes to fire-resistive assemblies
- Electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system work (except emergency repairs)
- Roofing replacement exceeding one square
- Work exceeding value thresholds
Lakewood Contractor Registration Guide
Lakewood allows handymen to tackle many common household repairs without special licenses. The city permits basic maintenance work such as repairing doors, fixing minor drywall damage, or tightening loose hinges.
Handymen can handle:
- House painting, both inside and out
- Setting up ready-made cabinets
- Laying new flooring when no structural changes are needed
- Replacing old fixtures (but not existing electrical and plumbing connections)
Lakewood draws a firm line between basic repairs and serious construction work. Major changes or safety-related work demand proper licensing and permits.
Projects forbidden without licenses include:
- Building changes needing city permits
- Work on weight-bearing walls
- Fresh electrical wiring
- Changes to plumbing pipes and systems
Big remodel, structural changes, and utility work require licensed professionals. The city manages these processes through its eTRAKiT online system and strictly enforces rules to protect workers and homeowners.
Get Started Today
People value their time more than ever, which is why so many turn over their household maintenance and repair jobs to a handyman. So if you have the skills, there’s money to be made. Home Gnome gives handymen an edge by connecting you with jobs in your area, saving you time and money and letting you focus on the work. Sign up now.
Note: Home Gnome may get a referral fee for matching you with pros in your area.
Main Image Credit: Sergii Pavlovskyi / Adobe Stock / License created using Canva Pro
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