Licensing Exemptions#

The following are exemptions to the Fort Collins contractor licensing regulations:

1. A building owner and any unpaid volunteers or paid workers employed by said owner who perform only minor alterations and repairs to such building, provided that all such work is under the continuous personal supervision of said owner. For the purposes of this Section, minor alterations and repairs shall not include:
   • Significant structural alterations (except for the repair and replacement of existing window and door headers provided that such repair or replacement does not create larger openings or greater spans for such headers);
   • Alterations to fire-resistive assemblies as defined in the building code;
   • Alterations to or the installation of electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems, except for fixture replacement and emergency repairs, and except as otherwise permitted in this Article;
   • Replacement of more than a total of one (1) square of roofing; or
   • Any nonstructural construction, alterations or repairs to a building or buildings performed by the building owner(s) and which alterations or repairs are otherwise exempted pursuant to this Section and which involve such elements as concrete slab-on-grade floors, masonry walls that are seventy-two (72) inches or less in height, wood or steel frame systems, and wallboard; when the total construction value of all work (including the related work done on the project by licensed specialized trade contractors), within any twelve month period exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000.) for any one (1) such building or collectively exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000.) for all such buildings combined.
2. An owner of a detached single-family dwelling and associated accessory buildings or any unpaid volunteer under the continuous personal supervision of the owner of such buildings who personally performs any construction on the owner's personal residence and associated accessory buildings, provided that the owner commences construction of no more than one (1) such dwelling within any twenty-four month period. In the event such dwelling is destroyed or damaged, reconstruction thereof shall be exempt from the foregoing time period. Prior to performing any such construction, the owner must demonstrate sufficient knowledge and proficiency required to perform said construction as determined by the Building Official.
3. An owner or any unpaid volunteer under the continuous personal supervision of the owner of such building who personally demolishes any detached building housing an R-3 occupancy, as defined in the building code, or any building no larger than one thousand (1,000) square feet.
4. An employee of a contractor who is not otherwise regulated under this Article.
5. A partner, owner, or other company official of a licensed contractor who performs on-site construction under the direction of a qualified supervisor.
6. An exempt specialized trade subcontractor as defined in this Article.
7. Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, other organization or any combination thereof performing specialized construction related to a particular trade which is not otherwise regulated by this Article, including any such trade engaged in one (1) of the following types of construction or installations: plumbing and electrical work (regulated elsewhere in this Code); wallboard; masonry; nonstructural wood frame systems; finish and trim carpentry; nonstructural concrete floors, sidewalks, stairs, landings, and drives; structural and non-structural steel systems; siding; ceramic and synthetic tile; counter surfaces and cabinets; flooring and carpet; wall and ceiling finishes; insulation; glazing; windows and doors and associated hardware; rain gutters; fences; swimming pools and spas; entertainment, data, and communication systems within any building including related wiring supplying not more than fifty (50) volts and which does not require a state electrical license; excavation and grading; landscaping; irrigation systems excluding back-flow prevention devices; sewer lines downstream of any building drain as defined in the Colorado Plumbing Code; elevators and escalators; and radon piping systems.
   Note: Any person personally performing the work listed above can do so without obtaining a contractor's license. However, any person who is paid for arranging for or supervising the overall construction or alteration to a building, including work involving any of the City licensed specialized trades or plumbing or electrical trades regulated by the City building codes is, by definition, a general contractor and must have an appropriate license. General contracting for basement and other interior finish work requires at least a Class D2 or Class E license.
8. Any person who is, without pay or compensation of any kind, performing construction or a specialized trade regulated under this Article and who is supervised directly by a licensed contractor and supervisor as specified in this Article to ensure that such work conforms to the applicable code(s).