Hiring a roofer in Colorado

A roof is one of the few big jobs most people hire for only once or twice. After a hailstorm, you may have to do it fast, with strangers knocking on the door. A little checking up front protects you, and Colorado law gives you more protection than most people realize.

Licensing is local

Colorado has no state-level roofing contractor license. If a roofer says they're "licensed in Colorado," ask which city or county issued it. Licensing and registration are set locally, and each place does it differently. As of October 2026:

• Denver uses a two-step process: a supervisor certificate first, then a contractor license. Denver doesn't accept licenses from other jurisdictions.
• Aurora has a Roofing Contractor license that requires an ICC roofing certification. Contractors you hire must be licensed by Aurora.
• Colorado Springs and El Paso County go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), where roofing falls under the Building Contractor D (Specialty) license.
• Lakewood requires hired roofers to hold City of Lakewood contractor registration at 5H or higher.
• Fort Collins has a Roofing license for roofs steeper than 2:12 and a Roofing(+) license that adds low-slope roofs. Both require ICC certification, project verifications and a business license.

Your building department can tell you what applies at your address. Most let you look up a contractor's license online. The roofer should pull the permit in their own name; a request that you pull it yourself is a warning sign.

What Colorado law requires in the contract

Colorado's roofing statute, C.R.S. 6-22, covers residential roofing jobs over $1,000. Before any work starts, the contractor must give you a written contract signed by both of you. Use this as a checklist:

• The scope of work and the materials to be used
• Approximate start and completion dates
• Approximate costs, based on the damage known when you sign
• The contractor's full contact information: physical address, email and phone
• The contractor's surety and liability insurer, if applicable
• The cancellation and deposit refund policy, including your right to cancel within 72 hours of signing
• A notice of your separate right to cancel after an insurance denial
• If insurance is paying, a statement that the contractor can't pay, waive or rebate any part of your deductible
• In bold type on its face, a statement that your payments are held in trust until materials are delivered or a majority of the work is done

If a contract is missing these, don't sign it until it's fixed. The Colorado Roofing Association warns about paperwork labeled "estimate" or "authorization" that is actually a binding contract. Read anything before you sign it, especially at the door.

Your two 72-hour rights

After signing. You can cancel within 72 hours of signing for a full refund of your deposit.

After an insurance denial. If insurance is paying for the work, you can cancel within 72 hours after you get written notice that the insurer denied the claim in whole or in part. This doesn't apply to a denied supplement for damage that couldn't reasonably have been seen at the first inspection.

Send the cancellation in writing to the address in the contract. Email counts when sent. The contractor must return your payments within 10 days and may keep only the cost of work actually done in a workmanlike way.

Deductibles and public adjusting

A contractor paid from insurance may not pay, waive or rebate your deductible, or advertise that it will. If it does, your insurer may disregard that contractor's estimate. You or the insurer can also sue for damages.

A roofer also can't act as, or claim to be, a public adjuster. With a valid contract, a roofer may discuss the repair scope with your insurer on your behalf. Negotiating the claim itself is for you or a licensed public adjuster. See insurance in plain English.

Storm-chaser red flags

After big storms, out-of-town crews arrive to sell roofs door to door. Some are fine, many aren't, and they're often gone when a warranty issue comes up. These warnings come from the Colorado Attorney General, the Division of Insurance, the state's #NoRoofScams campaign, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Colorado Roofing Association:

• A roofer who "just happens" to be on your street, or has leftover materials "from another job"
• Pressure to let them on your roof before you've checked who they are
• High-pressure, decide-now pitches
• An offer to waive or cover your deductible
• No written scope or contract terms, or a contract without the trust language
• Asking for power of attorney or authority to deal with your insurer
• Out-of-town crews that set up shop right after a storm
• A form called an "estimate" or "authorization" that's really a contract

NICB's rule is a good one: if you didn't request it, reject it. The Attorney General says not to let unsolicited contractors inspect your roof at all.

Questions to ask

• Which city or county licenses or registers you here, and what's your number?
• Where is your local office, and how long have you worked in this area?
• Can I have your certificate of insurance? (Verify it with the insurance carrier directly, as the Colorado Roofing Association advises.)
• Do you carry workers' compensation as well as liability insurance?
• Will you pull the permit, and who will be on site?
• Is this a full tear-off or an overlay?
• What's your price per sheet for replacing decking?
• Are you certified by the shingle manufacturer, and which warranty will I get?
• Who handles cleanup, and how do you pick up nails?
• Can I talk to a few local customers from the last year or two?

Get three bids, and compare them fairly

The Attorney General's office recommends at least three bids. The BBB says to get an itemized written estimate. Make sure each bid covers the same scope: tear-off, underlayment, ice barrier, flashing, ventilation and decking. Our costs guide walks through a quote line by line.

Pay in stages as work is completed, and hold the final payment until the roof passes inspection and you're satisfied. The Division of Insurance also suggests favoring Colorado-based contractors and getting everything in writing.

Manufacturer certification

Shingle manufacturers run contractor programs that can unlock longer warranties. The BBB suggests asking about them. Certification is a useful signal, not a guarantee of good work. Ask which warranty the job qualifies for and get it in writing. Remember that most shingle warranties, including on Class 4 products, don't promise hail protection; see manufacturers.

Common questions

Does Colorado require roofers to be licensed?

Not at the state level. Licensing and registration are handled by cities and counties, such as Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Check with your local building department.

Can I cancel a roofing contract in Colorado?

Yes. On residential jobs over $1,000, you can cancel within 72 hours of signing for a full deposit refund. You can also cancel within 72 hours of written notice that your insurer denied the claim in whole or in part.

Is it legal for a roofer to pay my deductible?

No. C.R.S. 6-22-105 bars a contractor paid from insurance from paying, waiving or rebating any part of your deductible, and from advertising that it will.

How many bids should I get?

The Colorado Attorney General's office recommends at least three. Compare them line by line, not just on the total.

Where do I report a roofing scam?

Report it to Stop Fraud Colorado, run by the Attorney General's office, at 800-222-4444.