07/21/2026
Hiring a contractor? Don't skip these two critical steps! 🛠️👇
Before you hand over a deposit, make sure the contractor you hired is actually licensed with your local building department. Here’s how to check—and how to avoid a costly mistake!
1️⃣ How to Verify Your Contractor is Licensed
Search the Local Building Portal: Pikes Peak Building Dept or Head to your local city/county Building Department website and look for their "Contractor Lookup" tool. Make sure their status is listed as Active.
Ask to See the Permit: The easiest check? Look at the building permit. Cities won't issue a permit to an unlicensed or uninsured contractor.
🚨 Red Flag: If a contractor asks YOU to pull a "Homeowner Permit" for work they are doing, run! They are likely unlicensed.
2️⃣ Quick Check: Building Inspector vs. Home Inspector
People mix these two up all the time, but they have totally different jobs:
🏛️ Building Inspector (City/County):
Works for the local government. They inspect active construction or permitted work to enforce local building codes and safety laws. They have the legal authority to stop work if it’s done wrong.
🏡 Home Inspector (Private):
Works directly for you (usually when buying or selling a home). They give the entire house a top-to-bottom health checkup (roof, HVAC, wear-and-tear) to tell you what needs maintenance or repairs.
Bottom Line: A Building Inspector makes sure your new project is up to code; a Home Inspector tells you the health of the house before you buy it.
Save this post for your next home project, and share it with a friend who's remodeling! 📲
