Colorado Plumber License Lookup

DORA's License Lookup Tool

Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) maintains a free online license verification tool at dora.colorado.gov/check-a-license. This is the authoritative source for confirming whether a plumber or plumbing contractor holds a valid, active credential in the state.

The lookup works for all license types DORA administers — apprentice registrations, residential plumber licenses, journeyworker plumber licenses, master plumber licenses, and plumbing contractor registrations. You can search by name, license number, or business name.

What the Status Fields Tell You

When you pull up a record, the status field is the most important piece of information:

• Active: The license or registration is current and in good standing. The holder is legally authorized to work at the scope their credential allows.
• Expired: The credential has lapsed. The holder cannot legally perform plumbing work until they renew or reinstate.
• Need Master Hire — Cannot Practice: This applies to contractor registrations. The business has lost its designated master plumber and cannot operate until a replacement is filed. The business has 20 days from the loss to designate a new master.
• Revoked/Suspended: The credential has been pulled or suspended by the Board, typically due to disciplinary action. The holder cannot legally work.

The record also shows the license issue date, expiration date, and the type of credential held. For contractor registrations, it will show the designated master plumber's name and license number.

Why Verification Matters

If you're a homeowner hiring a plumber, this lookup is your primary tool for avoiding unlicensed work. Colorado law requires plumbing work to be performed by licensed individuals working for registered contractors. Hiring an unlicensed plumber means the work can't be legally permitted or inspected, and any complaint must go through DORA's complaint process.

If you're a plumber, you may need to verify your own license status to confirm that renewals have processed, check on a co-worker's credentials before a job site audit, or verify a potential employer's contractor registration before accepting a position. Job site inspectors have the authority to check licenses during any standard inspection, and working under an expired credential carries disciplinary consequences.

Checking Disciplinary History

DORA's lookup tool also shows whether a license holder has any disciplinary actions on record. These can include administrative fines, formal reprimands, license suspensions, or revocations. The Board takes complaints about unlicensed work, apprentice supervision violations, and code violations seriously — and the outcomes are public record.

If you're researching a contractor for a project, checking their disciplinary history alongside their active status gives you a more complete picture. A clean record plus an active registration is what you want to see.

The State Plumbing Board

The State Plumbing Board, housed within DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations, is the regulatory body behind all of this. The Board administers examinations (through PSI), issues individual licenses, registers contracting entities, and enforces safety rules. They also set the continuing education requirements, the apprentice supervision ratios, and the experience hour standards.

What the Board doesn't do is provide business advisory services, resolve wage disputes, or mediate contractual conflicts. If you need help with the licensing process itself — understanding which credential you need, how to document your experience hours, or how to set up a contractor registration — the Colorado Plumber License Guide walks through every step from apprentice registration through contractor setup.

See more Colorado guides →