Arvada, CO Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2018 International Plumbing Code, §18-386
- Contractor license
- Class VI-P, master plumber required (§18-74(a)(6))
- License term
- 3 years, or state license expiration
- Permit rule
- Required before work, §18-39(a)(3)
- Owner exemption
- Owner-occupants exempt from license, not permit
Summary
Arvada enforces the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted by Section 18-386 with Appendices B through G, for all plumbing work in the city. A city permit is required before plumbing installation begins under Section 18-39, and only a state-licensed master plumber may hold or supervise the Class VI-P contractor's license needed to pull that permit.
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 31-16-101 et seq. and the Arvada City Charter, the International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition, including Appendices B, C, D, E, F, and G, published by the International Code Council, 4051 Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, is hereby adopted by reference and incorporated into the Arvada City Code.
The 2018 International Plumbing Code shall be known as the "I.P.C." or the "plumbing code" and may be cited and referred to as such.
(Ord. No. 4738, § 11, 9-14-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
also applies within Arvada, and controls over a conflicting city-only amendment. Permits for plumbing work follow the same general rule as every other technical code: Section 18-39(a)(3) makes it unlawful to install, alter, or repair a plumbing system without first obtaining a city permit, and Section 18-390 ties plumbing permit expiration to the same 180-day rule set in Section 18-39(f). , with proof of that state license provided to the city. Unlike most other contractor licenses, which expire after one year, Section 18-75(a) lets the plumbing license run for three years from issuance or until the state plumbing license expires, whichever comes first.
An owner-occupant performing plumbing work at their own home does not need the Class VI-P license under Section 18-71(a)(1), but the permit itself is still required.
Violations & Fines
Performing plumbing work without a valid city permit, or without the required Class VI-P license or an employed state-licensed master plumber, violates Section 18-39 and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both, up to the limits in Section 1-5 of the Arvada City Code, with each day of unpermitted work counted as a separate offense; the building official may also deny, restrict, or revoke the contractor's license under Section 18-37.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing code does Arvada use?
Who can pull a plumbing permit in Arvada?
How long does an Arvada plumbing contractor license last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
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