How to Hire a Contractor in Vail: Licenses, Permits and Estimates

Does Colorado license general contractors?

There is no statewide license for general contractors or handymen here. Instead, Colorado leaves most contractor rules to cities, towns and counties. So if you searched for a Vail contractor license or an Eagle County contractor license, the real answer depends on which local government covers the address.

Plumbing and electrical licenses come from the state

Electrical and plumbing work is different. Eagle County’s Building Division says those licenses are verified through the State of Colorado, through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Whoever runs your project, the people doing the wiring and plumbing should hold a state license for that trade. On a remodel, ask your contractor who will do that work and how they are brought into the job.

What Eagle County requires in unincorporated areas

Eagle County states that it does not require contractor licensing specific to unincorporated Eagle County. That covers places like Edwards, Eagle-Vail and Beaver Creek. The county still requires building permits for work that constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a structure, and it inspects that work. For more on that, read do you need a permit to remodel in Eagle County.

Vail, Avon, Eagle and the other towns: ask the building department

Vail, Avon, Minturn, Eagle and Gypsum each run their own building departments and handle their own permits and inspections. A town may have its own contractor registration or other requirements for anyone pulling a permit there. Rules change, so the reliable move is to ask the town’s building department directly, or ask the contractor how they handle registration and permits in your town and then confirm it.

Questions to ask any contractor before you hire

These questions work whether you are hiring for a small repair or a full remodel.

1. Will I get a written estimate? It should describe the work, the price and what is not included.
2. How are changes handled? Ask what happens if something unexpected turns up behind a wall. A good answer is that work stops, you get photos and options, and nothing moves forward until you approve the cost.
3. Who will actually be on site? Some companies sell the job and send a crew you never met. Know who is doing the work and who you call with questions.
4. Who handles permits and inspections? The contractor should know which office covers your address and should plan for review time.
5. Can you provide the documents my building asks for? Many condo buildings and HOAs request a certificate of insurance and an approved work plan before work starts. Ask early and check what you receive.
6. Can I see photos of past work? Photos of real jobs, ideally similar to yours, say more than a general description.
7. Do you have references? Ask whether you can talk with a past client about a similar job.

Warning signs worth noticing

Be careful with a price that comes without a written scope, pressure to start before permits are sorted out, vague answers about who is doing the work, or reluctance to put changes in writing. A contractor who explains the plan clearly before starting is usually the one who communicates well during the job.

How Edgar answers these questions

At Chino’s Remodel & Build, the answers are simple because Edgar owns the business and does the work himself:

• You get a written estimate before work starts, and a call before anything in it changes.
• Edgar is the person on site and the person who answers the phone.
• Permit applications, inspections and the paperwork buildings ask for are handled as part of the job.
• For plumbing and electrical, Edgar coordinates tradespeople who hold a state license.
• You can see real job photos on the projects page, and Edgar can talk through similar work he has done.

For whole-house or structural projects, see general contractor services and home remodeling. For smaller lists of fixes, start with handyman services.