Hiring a plumber in Denver is a credentials question before it is a price question. Colorado plumbing sits under two layers of licensing, Denver runs its own permitting, and the city's housing stock rewards a plumber who diagnoses before quoting. This guide covers what to check.
Two layers of licensing
The state layer
Colorado has no statewide general-contractor licence. Plumbing is licensed by the Colorado State Plumbing Board within the Department of Regulatory Agencies, with tiers of Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber and Master Plumber, plus a plumbing contractor registration. Denver adds its own layer: a contractor licence through Community Planning and Development, with registration required for state-licensed plumbing contractors working in the city. Ask which licences a plumber holds, and check them with the State Plumbing Board and Denver Community Planning and Development.
The 30 June 2025 display duty
Since 30 June 2025, Colorado contractors must display their plumbing contractor registration number and the licence number of the responsible master plumber on vehicles, billing, bids and the company website. Our Master Plumber licence was verified by Thumbtack in September 2026. Registration and licence details are available on request and will be listed here once confirmed.
Permits
Denver requires a permit to replace a water heater, and a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit may apply to main-line sewer work — confirm the trigger with Denver before work starts. Like-for-like fixture swaps in one- and two-family homes are generally exempt under the Denver Building Code. Ask whether your job needs a permit and whether the permit is included in the quote. The 2025 Denver Building Code, based on the 2024 International Plumbing Code, was adopted on 13 June 2025.
Quotes
A quote should say what it covers: the scope, the method, the parts, and whether a permit and inspection are included. Be wary of a quote that does not say what it covers, or a price given without seeing the job. For sewer work, a camera inspection should come before any quote you rely on: it shows the material, the damage and the length. For drain work, ask whether a camera is included.
Reviews and reputation
Check reviews on the platform they were left on, and read the text, not just the stars. We publish no individual review text on this site. The BBB rates our business A+; we are not BBB accredited, and no complaints have been filed in the last 3 years.
Denver-specific questions
- Has the service line been checked against Denver Water's Lead Reduction Program? Pre-1951 homes are the most likely to have lead lines, and the program replaces them at no direct cost.
- Is the house on galvanized supply or a clay lateral? Denver's median home was built in 1975 and 55.5% of the housing was built before 1980.
- Does the job need a Denver permit, and is it included?
- Will you camera a drain or sewer line before quoting the fix?
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