(1) Any person selling or dealing in plumbing materials or supplies, but not engaged in the installation, alteration, repairing, or removal of plumbing, shall not be required to employ or have a licensed plumber in charge.
(2) Nothing in this article 155 requires an individual to hold a license to perform plumbing work on the individual's own property or residence or prevents a person from employing an individual on either a full- or a part-time basis to do routine repair, maintenance, and replacement of sinks, faucets, drains, showers, tubs, toilets, and domestic appliances and equipment equipped with backflow preventers; except that, if such property or residence is intended for sale or resale by a person engaged in the business of constructing or remodeling the facilities or structures or is rental property that is occupied or is to be occupied by tenants for lodging, either transient or permanent, or is a commercial or industrial building, the owner is responsible for and the property is subject to the provisions of this article 155 pertaining to licensing, unless specifically exempted therein.
(3) Nothing in this article 155 shall be construed to apply to the manufacture of housing that is subject to the provisions of article 32 of title 24 or the installation of individual residential or temporary construction units of manufactured housing water and sewer hookups inspected pursuant to section 12-155-105 (2).
(4) Individuals who are engaged in inspecting, testing, or repairing backflow prevention devices are exempt from licensure under this article 155. Individuals who engage in the installation or removal of backflow prevention devices are not exempt from licensure under this article 155, except when the individuals are installing or replacing a backflow prevention device on a stand-alone fire suppression system, as defined in section 24-33.5-1202 (6).
(5) Nothing in this article 155 shall be construed to require either that employees of the federal government who perform plumbing work on federal property shall be required to be licensed before doing plumbing work on the property or that the plumbing work performed on the property shall be regulated pursuant to this article 155.
(6) (a) Nothing in this article 155 requires a plumbing license, registration, or permit to perform:
(I) The installation, extension, alteration, or maintenance, including the related water piping and the indirect waste piping, of domestic appliances equipped with backflow preventers, including lawn sprinkling systems; residential ice makers, humidifiers, electrostatic filter washers, or water heating appliances; building heating appliances and systems; fire protection systems except for multipurpose residential fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses that are part of the potable water supply; air conditioning installations; process and industrial equipment and piping systems; or indirect drainage systems not a part of a sanitary sewer system; or
(II) The repair and replacement of garbage disposal units and dishwashers directly connected to the sanitary sewer system, including the necessary replacement of all tail pipes and traps, or the repair, maintenance, and replacement of sinks, faucets, drains, showers, tubs, and toilets.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (6)(a) of this section, plumbing does not include:
(I) Installations, extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions, and alterations in water and sewer systems owned or acquired by counties pursuant to article 20 of title 30, cities and towns pursuant to article 35 of title 31, or water and sanitation districts pursuant to article 1 or article 4 of title 32;
(II) Installations, extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions, and alterations performed by contractors employed by counties, cities, towns, or water and sewer districts that connect to the plumbing system within a property line; or
(III) Performance, location, construction, alteration, installation, and use of on-site wastewater treatment systems pursuant to article 10 of title 25 that are located within a property line.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1002, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2022: (3) amended, (HB 22-1242), ch. 172, p. 1137, � 31, effective August 10. L. 2024: (2) and (4) amended, (HB 24-1344), ch. 343, p. 2326, � 18, effective July 1. L. 2025: (4) amended, (HB 25-1077), ch. 39, p. 187, � 1, effective March 28.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-58-113 as it existed prior to 2019.
12-155-119. Plumbing inspectors - qualifications - enforcement of licensing and apprentice-supervision-ratio requirements - rules - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) (a) The director is authorized to appoint or employ competent persons licensed under this article 155 as journeyworker or master plumbers as state plumbing inspectors.
(b) For purposes of conducting compliance checks specified in subsection (5) of this section, the director shall appoint or employ two individuals to conduct the compliance checks. The director may appoint or employ individuals who are licensed under this article 155 or may appoint or employ individuals who are not licensed under this article 155 but who demonstrate substantial prior work experience in the plumbing or construction industry. Individuals appointed or employed pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) shall limit their activities to conducting compliance checks of matters specified in said subsection (5).
(2) State plumbing inspectors and individuals conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section may be employed either on a full-time or on a part-time basis as the circumstances in each case warrant. State plumbing inspectors and individuals conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section have the right of ingress and egress to and from all public and private premises during reasonable working hours where this article 155 applies for the purpose of making plumbing inspections, conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, or otherwise determining compliance with this article 155.
(3) (a) Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article 155 or who are certified as residential plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect residential plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article 155 or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.
(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article 155 or who are certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect commercial plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article 155 or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.
(4) (a) Plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education shall be certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization and possess a valid journeyworker or master plumber license issued by the state. In addition, the plumbing inspectors shall possess the same qualifications required of state plumbing inspectors under this article 155, shall be registered with the board prior to the assumption of their duties, shall not inspect any plumbing work in which the inspector has any financial or other personal interest, and shall not be engaged in the plumbing business by contracting, supplying material, or performing plumbing work as described in this article 155. In addition, a plumbing inspector inspecting a medical gas installation shall hold the national inspection certification ASSE 6020 or recognized equivalent.
(b) As part of their duties, plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education have the authority to verify the plumbing licenses or apprenticeship registration cards issued by the state for those people performing the plumbing work on a project and to verify compliance with section 12-155-124 (1).
(5) (a) Consistent with section 12-155-101 and the state's duty to safeguard the public health by ensuring that individuals who plan, install, alter, extend, repair, or maintain plumbing systems have the skills necessary to perform those tasks, the general assembly finds and determines that board enforcement of the licensing requirements in this article 155 and the limits on the number of plumbing apprentices a licensed plumber is permitted to supervise specified in section 12-155-124 (1) is a matter of statewide concern and is essential to protect public health.
(b) The board shall direct individuals appointed or employed pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section to:
(I) Conduct compliance checks to ensure compliance with the licensing and supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements specified in this article 155 on projects throughout the state where plumbing systems are being planned, installed, altered, extended, repaired, or maintained, regardless of whether the permit for the plumbing work was issued by the board, an incorporated town or city, a county, a city and county, or a qualified state institution of higher education; and
(II) Prioritize for compliance checks projects that provide or will provide critical services to residents of the state.
(c) To ensure compliance with the licensing and supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, individuals appointed or employed pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section shall conduct compliance checks at projects throughout the state where plumbing is being performed to ensure that:
(I) The individual performing the plumbing work is licensed as a master, journeyworker, or residential plumber or is a registered plumbing apprentice being supervised by a licensed master, journeyworker, or residential plumber; and
(II) A master, journeyworker, or residential plumber is complying with the limit on the number of plumbing apprentices the plumber may supervise per job site specified in section 12-155-124 (1).
(d) Nothing in this subsection (5) affects the ability of a local government to permit or inspect plumbing or gas piping installations in any new construction or remodeling or repair located within the boundaries of the local government.
(e) As used in this subsection (5):
(I) Local government means an incorporated town or city, a county, or a city and county.
(II) Project that provides or will provide critical services means a project involving the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any public structure, building, road, or other public improvement of any kind, including:
(A) A public building;
(B) A public school or institution of higher education;
(C) An airport;
(D) A train station or public transit station;
(E) A hospital, nursing facility, assisted living residence, or other health-care facility licensed or certified by the department of public health and environment under title 25;
(F) A renewable energy installation or a project of a utility regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to title 40; and
(G) Any other commercial or multifamily residential public project specified by the board by rule.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1003, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2022: (1), (2), and (4)(b) amended and (5) added, (HB 22-1346), ch. 483, p. 3511, � 5, effective January 1, 2023. L. 2024: IP(5)(c) amended, (HB 24-1344), ch. 343, p. 2327, � 19, effective July 1; (1)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(c) amended, (HB 24-1344), ch. 343, p. 2327, � 20, effective July 1, 2025.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-58-114.2 as it existed prior to 2019.
12-155-120. Inspection - plumbing permits - application - standards - definition. (1) (a) Any plumbing or gas piping installation in any new construction or remodeling or repair, other than manufactured units or tiny homes inspected in accordance with article 32 of title 24, and except for new construction or remodeling or repair in any incorporated town or city, county, or city and county, or in a building owned or leased or on land owned by a qualified state institution of higher education where the local entity or qualified state institution of higher education conducts inspections and issues plumbing permits, referred to within this section as permits, must be inspected by a state plumbing inspector.
(b) A state plumbing inspector shall inspect any new construction, remodeling, or repair subject to this subsection (1) within three working days after the receipt of the application for inspection.
(c) (I) Prior to the commencement of any plumbing or gas piping installation, the person making the installation, who must be a qualified applicant, shall apply for a permit and pay the required fee.
(II) (A) Only a qualified applicant may apply for a permit pursuant to this subsection (1). A licensed master plumber who is not a registered plumbing contractor and who is operating as an independent contractor for another business shall not apply for a permit pursuant to this subsection (1).
(B) Before issuing a permit pursuant to this subsection (1), the board or, if applicable, the local entity or qualified state institution of higher education that conducts inspections and issues permits shall verify that the permit applicant is a qualified applicant.
(C) The entity issuing the permit may use the permit application process to verify compliance with this subsection (1).
(d) Every mobile home, tiny home, or movable structure owner shall have the plumbing and gas piping hookup for the mobile home, tiny home, or movable structure inspected prior to obtaining new or different plumbing or gas service. An inspection of a tiny home performed in accordance with section 24-32-3329 complies with this subsection (1)(d).
(e) A qualified state institution of higher education with a building department that meets or exceeds the minimum standards adopted by the board under this article 155 shall process applications for permits and inspections only from the institution and from contractors working for the benefit of the institution, and shall conduct inspections only of work performed for the benefit of the institution. Each inspection must include a contemporaneous review to ensure that the requirements of section 12-155-108 have been met. A qualified state institution of higher education shall enforce standards that are at least as stringent as any minimum standards adopted by the board.
(2) (a) A state plumbing inspector shall inspect the work performed, and, if the work meets the minimum standards set forth in the Colorado plumbing code referred to in section 12-155-106, the inspector shall issue a certificate of approval.
(b) (I) If the installation is disapproved, the inspector shall give written notice together with the reasons for the disapproval to the qualified applicant. If the installation is hazardous to life or property, the inspector disapproving it may order the plumbing or gas service to the installation discontinued until the installation is rendered safe. The qualified applicant may appeal the disapproval to the board, and the board shall grant the qualified applicant a hearing within seven days after notice of appeal is filed with the board.
(II) After removing the cause of the disapproval, the qualified applicant shall apply for reinspection in the same manner as for the original inspection and pay the required reinspection fee.
(3) (a) All permits issued by the board are valid for a period of twelve months. The board shall close a permit and mark its status as expired at the end of the twelve-month renewal period, except in the following circumstances:
(I) If a qualified applicant demonstrates at the time of application for a permit that the plumbing or gas piping work is substantial and is likely to take longer than twelve months, the board may issue a permit to be valid for a period longer than twelve months, but not exceeding three years.
(II) If the qualified applicant notifies the board prior to the expiration of the twelve-month period of extenuating circumstances, as determined by the board, during the twelve-month period, the board may extend the validity of the permit for a period not to exceed six months.
(b) If a qualified applicant requests an inspection after a permit has expired or has been canceled, the qualified applicant must apply for and be granted a new permit before an inspection is performed.
(4) Each application, certificate of approval, and notice of disapproval shall contain the name of the property owner, if known, the location and a brief description of the installation, the name of the general contractor if any, the name of the plumbing contractor or licensed plumber and state license number in the case of any plumbing installation, the name of the installer in the case of any liquefied petroleum gas piping installation, the state plumbing inspector, and the inspection fee charged for the inspection. The original of a notice of disapproval and written reasons for disapproval and corrective actions to be taken shall be mailed to the board, and a copy of the notice shall be mailed to the plumbing contractor in the case of any plumbing installation or the installer in the case of any liquefied petroleum gas piping installation, within two working days after the date of inspection, and a copy of the notice shall be posted at the installation site. The forms shall be furnished by the board, and a copy of each application, certificate, and notice made or issued shall be filed with the board.
(5) Notwithstanding the fact that any incorporated town or city, any county, or any city and county in which a public school is located or is to be located has its own plumbing code and inspection authority, any plumbing or gas piping installation in any new construction or remodeling or repair of a public school shall be inspected by a state plumbing inspector.
(6) If an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education intends to commence or cease performing plumbing or gas piping inspections in its respective jurisdiction, or for its buildings owned or leased or on its land, written notice of such intent must be given to the board.
(7) (a) A person claiming to be aggrieved by the failure of a state plumbing inspector to inspect the person's property after proper application or by notice of disapproval without setting forth the reasons for denying the permit may request the program director to review the actions of the plumbing inspector or the manner of the inspection. The request may be made by the person's authorized representative and must be in writing.
(b) Upon the filing of the request, the program director shall cause a copy of the request to be served upon the state plumbing inspector complained of, together with an order requiring the inspector to answer the allegations of the request within a time fixed by the program director.
(c) If the request is not granted within ten days after it is filed, it may be treated as rejected. A person aggrieved by the action of the program director in refusing the review requested or in failing or refusing to grant all or part of the relief requested may file a written complaint and request for a hearing with the board, specifying the grounds relied upon.
(d) Any hearing before the board shall be held pursuant to the provisions of section 24-4-105.
(8) If an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education intends to commence or cease performing plumbing inspections in its jurisdiction or for the buildings owned or leased by or on land of a qualified state institution of higher education, it shall commence or cease the same only as of July 1 of any year, and written notice of intent must be given to the board on or before October 1 of the preceding calendar year. If notice is not given and the use of state plumbing inspectors is required within the respective jurisdiction or building affected by the notice requirement, the respective local government or qualified state institution of higher education of the respective jurisdiction or building requiring inspections shall reimburse the board for any expenses incurred in performing inspections, in addition to transmitting the required permit fees.
(9) A qualified state institution of higher education may choose not to require fees as part of the permitting process. A documented permitting and inspection system must be instituted by each qualified state institution of higher education as a tracking system that is available to the board for the purpose of investigating any alleged violation of this article 155. The permitting and inspection system must include information specifying the project, the name of the inspector, the date of the inspection, the job site address, the scope of the project, the type of the inspection, the result of the inspection, the reason and applicable code sections for partially passed or failed inspections, and the names of the contractors on the project who are subject to inspection.
(10) (a) An inspector performing an inspection for the state, an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education, referred to in this subsection (10) as an inspecting entity, shall verify compliance with this article 155.
(b) (I) Inspections performed by an inspecting entity must include, for each project, a contemporaneous review to ensure compliance with sections 12-155-108 and 12-155-124. A contemporaneous review may include a full or partial review of the plumbers and apprentices working at a job site being inspected.
(II) To ensure that enforcement is consistent, timely, and efficient, each inspecting entity employing inspectors shall develop standard procedures to advise its inspectors on how to conduct a contemporaneous review. An inspecting entity's standard procedures need not require a contemporaneous review for each inspection of a project, but the procedures must preserve an inspector's ability to verify compliance with sections 12-155-108 and 12-155-124 at any time. Each inspecting entity's procedures must include provisions that allow for inspectors to:
(A) Conduct occasional, random, on-site inspections while actual plumbing work is being conducted, with a focus on large commercial and multi-family residential projects permitted by the inspecting entity; and
(B) Request documentation indicating who performed the plumbing work to ensure compliance with sections 12-155-108 and 12-155-124.
(III) Each inspecting entity subject to subsection (10)(b)(II) of this section, including the state, shall post its current procedures regarding contemporaneous reviews in a prominent location on its public website and provide the director with a link to the web page on which the procedures have been posted or, if an inspecting entity does not have a website, provide its current procedures to the director for posting on the board's website.
(IV) An inspector may file a complaint with the board for any violation of this article 155.
(c) (I) The board shall ensure compliance with this section. If the board determines, as a result of a formal complaint, that an inspecting entity is conducting plumbing inspections that do not comply with this section, the board may issue to the inspecting entity an order to show cause, in accordance with section 12-155-105 (1)(m), as to why the board should not issue a final order directing the inspecting entity to cease and desist conducting plumbing inspections until the inspecting entity comes into compliance to the satisfaction of the board.
(II) The board shall not issue a cease-and-desist order to an inspecting entity because the inspecting entity approved the occupancy of one or more tiny homes if the tiny homes have been approved in accordance with section 24-32-3329.
(III) If the use of state plumbing inspectors is required after the issuance of a final cease-and-desist order pursuant to this subsection (10)(c), the inspecting entity shall reimburse the board for any expenses incurred in performing the inspecting entity's inspections, in addition to transmitting the required permit fees.
(11) As used in this section, qualified applicant means:
(a) A licensed master plumber, including a licensed master plumber who is operating as a sole proprietor, so long as the licensed master plumber is also a registered plumbing contractor;
(b) A licensed master plumber who is directly employed by a registered plumbing contractor; or
(c) A homeowner performing work on the homeowner's home.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1004, � 1, effective October 1; (10) added, (HB 19-1086), ch. 109, p. 404, � 4, effective January 1, 2020. L. 2022: (1) and (10)(c) amended, (HB 22-1242), ch. 172, p. 1137, � 32, effective August 10; (1), (2), (3), (7)(a), and (10)(b) amended and (11) added, (HB 22-1346), ch. 483, p. 3513, � 6, effective January 1, 2023. L. 2024: (7)(a) to (7)(c) amended, (HB 24-1344), ch. 343, p. 2328, � 21, effective July 1.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former � 12-58-114.5 as it existed prior to 2019.
(2) Amendments to subsection (1) by HB 22-1242 and HB 22-1346 were harmonized.