Greeley council introduces contractor licensing ordinance, sets July 21 hearing

The Greeley City Council voted July 7 to introduce an ordinance expanding the city’s contractor licensing rules and to schedule a public hearing and second reading for July 21. The first-reading action on Item 19 would amend Title 22, Chapter 1 of the Greeley Municipal Code, shifting it from a chapter focused on heating, air conditioning and gas pipe fitting certification to a broader contractor licensing chapter. The consent agenda, which included Item 19, was approved 5-0 after council pulled a different item for separate discussion.

The ordinance would require local licenses for contractors performing construction, repair or remodel work in Greeley, including roofing, demolition, flat work and other trades, while keeping existing electrical, plumbing and mechanical licensing requirements in place. Staff said the changes stem from Council initiative 11-2025, which asked for code changes related to contractor licensing, specifically roofers, and that after a Feb. 10 work session the council reached consensus on requiring licenses for all contractors who perform work in the city.

Under the proposal, contractors would need to be licensed and in good standing before a permit is issued, and a separate permit would be required for each project. The ordinance also adds enforcement provisions making it a misdemeanor to complete work without a required license, continue work after a stop-work order, or work while a license is suspended or revoked. Work started without a required permit would trigger a permit fee set at twice the regular rate.

The measure creates or formalizes several license classes, including general, building, residential, specialty and roofing licenses, and continues state-linked requirements for electrical and plumbing contractors as well as city licensing for mechanical and gas pipe fitting work. The city says the licensing system is intended to protect residents and businesses and ensure work quality.

The ordinance also spells out several exceptions. Apprentices could work without a license only under the direct supervision of a licensed person, and employees working under a licensed general contractor would not themselves be treated as contractors under the chapter. Homeowners could still perform work on their own residence or accessory structure for personal use, and an owner could build one single-family dwelling without a contractor’s license if the owner occupies it for at least two years after the certificate of occupancy is issued.

If the ordinance is approved on second reading, it would take effect on the fifth day after final publication under the city charter.