Verify any Aurora plumber’s license in two minutes by searching the Colorado DORA database at dora.colorado.gov, then confirming city registration at auroragov.org. Colorado licenses every plumber statewide through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Plumbing Board. Aurora additionally requires every state-licensed plumber in Aurora, CO to register with the Aurora Building Division before pulling permits inside city limits. Skipping either check is the most common way Aurora homeowners end up with unpermitted work, failed inspections, and repairs that fail the next time the clay soil shifts.
How to Verify a Plumber’s License in Aurora, CO (5 Steps)
- Go to dora.colorado.gov and click “Verify a License”
- Enter the plumber’s first and last name
- Select Plumbing from the license type dropdown
- Confirm the license status reads “Active” and the expiration date is current
- Open auroragov.org and check the Aurora Building Division contractor lookup
A legitimate Aurora plumber appears in both databases. The DORA record shows the state credential (Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, or Master Plumber), the expiration date, and any public disciplinary history. The Aurora Building Division record confirms the plumbing company is registered to pull permits inside the city. For direct verification, the Colorado State Plumbing Board can be reached at 303-894-7800.
Do plumbers have to be licensed in Colorado?
Yes. Every plumber working in Colorado must hold an active license issued by the Colorado State Plumbing Board, which operates under the DORA Division of Professions and Occupations. The board issues four credential tiers: Apprentice (registration only), Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, and Master Plumber. A separate Plumbing Contractor registration is required for the business itself, tied to a responsible master plumber. There are no exceptions for small jobs, side work, or claimed experience. Unlicensed plumbing work, whether from an out-of-state contractor or an unregistered Aurora plumber, violates Colorado state law.
How do I find out if a contractor is licensed in Colorado?
It depends on the trade. Plumbers and electricians are licensed statewide through DORA at dora.colorado.gov. General contractors, roofers, and HVAC technicians are licensed by individual cities and counties because Colorado does not issue a statewide general contractor license. In Aurora, general contractors register through the Aurora Building Division at auroragov.org. For plumbing work, homeowners hiring plumbers in Aurora, CO should verify both the DORA state license and the Aurora city registration.
How to check if someone is a master plumber
Master plumber status is verified through the DORA License Lookup at dora.colorado.gov. Search the plumber’s name, then read the license type field on their record. It will specifically say “Master Plumber” if the credential is current. The Master Plumber license is the highest tier issued by the Colorado State Plumbing Board. It authorizes the holder to pull permits, supervise journeyworkers and apprentices, and operate a licensed plumbing company in Aurora or anywhere else in the state. A business card or truck wrap claiming “master plumber” is not verification. The DORA record is.
Are Colorado contractors required to be licensed?
Yes for plumbing and electrical, locally for everything else. Plumbing and electrical contractors must hold active DORA-issued state licenses. General contractors are licensed at the city or county level, with requirements that vary across Colorado. Aurora requires every contractor performing work inside the city to register with the Aurora Building Division before pulling permits, regardless of trade. A plumber in Aurora, CO who cannot produce both the DORA license and the city registration should be considered unlicensed for Aurora work.
DORA License vs Aurora Building Division Registration
DORA license and Aurora Building Division registration are two separate checks that confirm different things. The DORA license, issued by the Colorado State Plumbing Board at dora.colorado.gov, confirms the plumber holds a state credential to perform plumbing work anywhere in Colorado. The Aurora Building Division registration, verified at auroragov.org, confirms the plumber is cleared to pull permits inside Aurora city limits. A legitimate Aurora plumber holds both. The DORA license is portable across the state. The Aurora registration is city-specific. Plumbing companies operating across multiple Front Range cities, including Aurora, Centennial, Denver, and Englewood, typically register with each city’s building department separately.
What an Active DORA Plumbing Record Shows
An active DORA plumbing record shows four fields homeowners should check:
- License type: Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber, Master Plumber, or Plumbing Contractor
- License status: “Active” (not expired, suspended, or revoked)
- Expiration date: Colorado plumbing licenses renew on a two-year cycle
- Disciplinary history: All public board actions are listed on the record
Active Aurora plumbers must complete 8 hours of continuing education per year during each year of the two-year license cycle. An expired DORA record means the plumber has not completed renewal requirements and cannot legally work in Colorado until reinstated.
Why This Matters in Aurora Specifically
Aurora’s geology and climate make unpermitted plumbing work especially risky. The bentonite clay soil under most of the metro area expands and contracts with moisture changes, cracking sewer joints and shifting underground lines in neighborhoods like Saddle Rock, Aurora Highlands, and Centennial. Hard water from the municipal supply scales up water heater elements faster than typical, shortening unit lifespan. High-altitude freeze-thaw cycles split copper lines in unheated crawl spaces. An unlicensed repair from an unregistered Aurora plumber can pass inspection for one year and fail the second winter, often during a home inspection when the property is being sold. Hiring a licensed plumbing company in Aurora that understands these local soil and water conditions is the difference between a repair that lasts and one that fails on resale.
Need a Licensed Plumber in Aurora, CO?
Call Superior Mile High Plumbing at (303) 304-0784. We’re DORA-licensed, registered with the Aurora Building Division, and ready to get on your schedule.