Colorado — plumbing code & licensing
Verified
The code
| Code family | state-written |
| Edition in force | Colorado Plumbing Code - portions of the International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition, and the plumbing chapters of the International Residential Code, 2021 Edition, adopted and incorporated by reference with additions, revisions and deletions in 3 CCR 720-1, Rule 1.2 (the same rule adopts the Colorado Fuel Gas Code from the 2021 IFGC) |
| Effective date | 2023-04-14 |
| Adopted by | Colorado State Plumbing Board (Examining Board of Plumbers), Department of Regulatory Agencies, under C.R.S. 12-155-106 |
| Adoption source | https://osa.colorado.gov/sites/osa/files/documents/Exh-A-BldgCodesAmendments2025.pdf |
| State amendments | Amendments are inside the adoption instrument; no separate document |
Licensing
| Model | State individual licensing: Master Plumber (8,500 hours), Journeyworker Plumber (6,800 hours), and Residential Plumber (3,400 hours) licenses; apprentice registration; plumbing contractors must register with the Board and work under a responsible master plumber whose license number must be displayed (C.R.S. 12-155-125) |
| Authority | Colorado State Plumbing Board, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) |
| Licensing source | https://dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing |
| License classes | https://dpo.colorado.gov/Plumbing/Applications |
Permits & inspections
The State Plumbing Board conducts regular inspections for plumbing and gas pipe installations and reviews requests for exceptions to the code (DPO Plumbing home page); local jurisdictions also run permit/inspection programs under the state code.
How this record was verified
| Adoption | Verified |
| Amendments | Verified |
| Licensing | Verified |
| Permits & inspections | Verified |
Working notes
Effective-date split, recorded plainly: the Colorado Plumbing Code built on the 2021 IPC/IRC took effect April 14, 2023; the Board's revised rules (post-sunset HB24-1344) took effect April 30, 2025, and the Office of the State Architect's approved-codes exhibit lists the IPC 2021 adoption with that 2025 rule date. STALE SOURCES FLAGGED: Secretary of State PDFs circulating online adopt the IPC 2003 (eff. 2005), IPC 2009, and IPC 2012 versions of 3 CCR 720-1 - all superseded; the current Rule 1.2 text adopts the 2021 editions. Exams are based on the currently adopted codes (IPC, IFGC, and Board rules).
Reference only. Compiled from the cited official sources as of the date shown; adoptions and rules change. Confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before designing or permitting work.