Hiring a Licensed General Contractor in Denver: What You Should Know First
Hiring a general contractor for a home remodel in Denver is one of the most significant decisions a homeowner makes, and it is also one where the gap between a good outcome and a bad one often comes down to a few things that most people do not know to ask about in advance.
Here is what actually matters, from a team that has been building in Denver for years.
Licensing in Colorado: What It Means and What to Verify
Colorado does not issue a statewide general contractor license. Licensing is handled at the municipal level. In Denver, contractors who pull permits must be licensed with Denver Community Planning and Development. In Jefferson County, Lakewood, Aurora, and surrounding municipalities, each jurisdiction has its own licensing requirements.
This matters because it determines who can legally manage your project. A contractor who is not licensed in your municipality either works without permits or routes permits through someone else's license, which means the legally responsible party is not the one managing your project day to day. Neither situation is one you want.
When interviewing contractors, ask directly: are you licensed to pull permits in my specific city or county? The answer should be immediate and specific.
Insurance: What You Need to See
Any legitimate residential contractor carries general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. General liability covers property damage or injury that occurs during construction. Workers' compensation covers subcontractors and employees who are injured on site.
Ask for a certificate of insurance before work begins and confirm that both policies are current and that the coverage limits are appropriate for your project scope. A contractor who hesitates on this request, or who provides a certificate that has lapsed, is not someone you want managing your home.
The Permit Question
Permits exist to protect homeowners, not to create paperwork. They ensure that structural changes, electrical work, and plumbing modifications are reviewed against building code and inspected at key milestones. Unpermitted work can create problems at resale, create liability if something fails after the fact, and in some cases require demolition and rework to bring into compliance.
Ask any contractor how they handle permitting on a project like yours. They should be able to tell you specifically which permits are required, roughly how long approval takes in your municipality, and how inspections are managed through the build. If a contractor suggests skipping permits to save time or money, that is a clear signal to walk away.
The Estimate: What Reliable Looks Like
A reliable construction estimate is detailed, covers a written scope of work in plain language, includes permit fees and contingency, and is based on a real site visit and a real understanding of what the project involves. It should be accompanied by a clear explanation of what is and is not included.
A low bid that comes in significantly under other estimates is almost always a sign that the scope is incomplete, the contingency is insufficient, or the contractor is planning to grow the number through change orders once you have committed. You will get to the real number eventually. The question is whether you get there before or after you have signed a contract.
A Note on Lindy
Lars Lindquist is a licensed General Contractor in Denver with decades of field experience. Dave Lowrey, our Superintendent, brings 40 years of residential construction depth to every project we take on. Every project we build is permitted, inspected, and managed under Lars's license.
We are not the right fit for every project, and we will tell you that honestly in an initial conversation. But if you are looking for a team that can answer every one of the questions above clearly and specifically, we are happy to start there. Reach out and let's talk.
