General Contractor License in Fort Collins CO

General Contractor License in Fort Collins, CO

A general contractor license in Fort Collins, CO comes from the City, and for kitchens and bathrooms the class that matters is E(R), nonstructural alterations to a home; taking out a bearing wall needs a structural class such as D1. Every class except right-of-way needs $2,000,000 in aggregate liability insurance, and plumbers and electricians are licensed by the State. This guide lays out the classes, how to check a license and how the nearby towns differ.

General contractor license classes in Fort Collins

Fort Collins licenses contractors by what they build. The residential classes that come up in a kitchen or bathroom remodel are below; the larger commercial classes (A through C2) cover multi-story and multi-family buildings.

Fort Collins residential contractor license classes

Class	What it covers	Where it fits a remodel
D1	Single-family attached and detached, up to 2 dwelling units	Structural work on a house, such as removing a bearing wall
D2	Detached garages and additions to single-family homes up to 1,000 sq ft, plus decks	Not usually a kitchen or bath
D(DR)	Structural damage repair to residential units	Rebuilding after damage
E(R)	Nonstructural alterations to any residential building	Most kitchen and bathroom remodels
E(C)	Nonstructural alterations to commercial and residential structures	Remodels in mixed buildings
MM	Small detached structures up to 300 sq ft	Sheds and similar

City of Fort Collins Contractor Licensing page, read November 5, 2026. Most classes need a passing ICC exam from the current code year, taken through Pearson VUE.

Why E(R) vs D1 matters in a kitchen

Most kitchen and bathroom jobs are nonstructural: cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures and the plumbing and wiring behind them. E(R) covers that. Removing a bearing wall to open a kitchen, cutting joists for a curbless shower or reframing a floor is structural, and on a single-family home that is D1 territory. If your remodel includes any of those, ask the contractor which class they hold before you sign; the open concept kitchen page covers the wall itself.

White kitchen with an island, a brass faucet, a range hood and a knotty alder door — A white kitchen with an island and a knotty alder door beside the range wall.

Insurance, exams and the State trades

Insurance: $2,000,000 general aggregate liability for every class except right-of-way ($1,000,000).
Exams: ICC certification exams through Pearson VUE, from the most recent or current code year.
Plumbing and electrical: master plumbers and electricians must be licensed by the State of Colorado and registered with the City.
Owners: exempt from City licensing on their own single-family home, with conditions; a Homeowner Affidavit goes with the permit.

To check a contractor, call the City's licensing office at 970-224-6165. Before signing, ask for the license class, a certificate of insurance and the names of the licensed plumber and electrician, and confirm who will pull the permit; the Fort Collins permit guide explains what needs one.

How the nearby towns license contractors

Contractor licensing around Fort Collins

Place	Rule	Office
Fort Collins	City license for all contractors; E(R) or a structural class	Contractor Licensing, 970-224-6165
Loveland	City contractor license for structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work in rentals, multi-family and non-residential buildings; owners may work on their own primary residence	Building Division, 970-962-2505
Greeley	City contractor license required for permits and regulated work from January 1, 2027	Building Inspection, 970-350-9830
Wellington	Town license for all contractors and subcontractors before a permit	Building Department, 970-821-5078
Berthoud	Town license before a permit; Residential General Contractor - C covers remodels	Community Development, 970-532-2643
Severance	Town contractor license for work in the Town; registration through the online portal	Building Department, 970-692-7315
Timnath	Town contractor license application on its building page; ask whether your job needs one	Building Services, 970-449-4639

Fort Collins, Greeley, Wellington, Berthoud, Severance and Timnath read on their own pages; Loveland from its published permit guidance as shown in search results (its site blocks automated reading). Confirm with each office.

The town pages have the details: Loveland, Greeley, Wellington and Berthoud.

White kitchen with a long walnut island, a quartz top and three pendant lights — A long walnut island with a quartz top under three pendants.

The work itself: bathroom remodeling in Fort Collins and kitchen remodeling.

Fort Collins Contractor Licenses: Questions

Kitchen island with a white top, open to a living room with a stacked stone fireplace

A kitchen island open to the living room and its stone fireplace.

Does a remodeler need a license in Fort Collins?

Yes. The City of Fort Collins requires a license for all contractors working in the City. For residential kitchen and bathroom work that doesn't touch the structure, the class is E(R), nonstructural alterations to any residential building; structural work on a house falls under a class such as D1, which covers single-family homes up to two dwelling units.

What insurance does a Fort Collins contractor need?

General liability insurance with at least $2,000,000 in general aggregate coverage for every license type except right-of-way contractors, who need $1,000,000. Asking for the certificate of insurance before signing is reasonable.

How do I check a contractor's license in Fort Collins?

Call the City's contractor licensing office at 970-224-6165 with the contractor's business name and ask for the license class and status. Then ask the contractor which class they hold and whether it covers your scope, especially if a wall is coming out.

Who licenses plumbers and electricians in Fort Collins?

The State of Colorado. Fort Collins requires master electricians and master plumbers to hold State licenses and to register with the City, so the plumbing and electrical parts of a remodel are done under State-licensed tradespeople even when the remodeler holds the City license.

Can I do my own remodel without a license?

Owners working on their own single-family residence are exempt from City contractor licensing, with conditions, and still need a permit for regulated work. The City asks for a Homeowner Affidavit with the permit application when the owner does the work.

Does a Fort Collins license work in Loveland, Greeley or the towns?

No. Each city and town runs its own program. Loveland licenses contractors for certain work, Wellington requires every contractor and subcontractor to hold a Town license, Berthoud requires a Town license before a permit, Severance requires a Town contractor license, and Greeley starts requiring a City license on January 1, 2027.