2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 12 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (§§ 12-1-101 — 12-315-310) › BUSINESS PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (§§ 12-100-101 — 12-165-113) › Article 155 - PLUMBERS (§§ 12-155-101 — 12-155-125) › Section 12-155-119 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Plumbing inspectors - qualifications - enforcement of licensing and apprentice-supervision-ratio requirements - rules - legislative declaration - definitions

(1)
(a)
The director is authorized to appoint or employ competent persons licensed under this article 155 as Journeyworker or master plumbers as state plumbing inspectors.
(b)
For purposes of conducting compliance checks specified in subsection (5) of this section, the director shall appoint or employ two individuals to conduct the compliance checks. The director may appoint or employ individuals who are licensed under this article 155 or may appoint or employ individuals who are not licensed under this article 155 but who demonstrate substantial prior work experience in the plumbing or construction industry. Individuals appointed or employed pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) shall limit their activities to conducting compliance checks of matters specified in said subsection (5).
(2)
State plumbing inspectors and individuals conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section may be employed either on a full-time or on a part-time basis as the circumstances in each case warrant. State plumbing inspectors and individuals conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section have the right of ingress and egress to and from all public and private premises during reasonable working hours where this article 155 applies for the purpose of making plumbing inspections, conducting compliance checks pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, or otherwise determining compliance with this article 155.
(3)
(a)
Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article 155 or who are certified as residential plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect residential plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article 155 or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.
(b)
Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article 155 or who are certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect commercial plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article 155 or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.
(4)
(a)
Plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education shall be certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization and possess a valid Journeyworker or master plumber license issued by the state. In addition, the plumbing inspectors shall possess the same qualifications required of state plumbing inspectors under this article 155, shall be registered with the board prior to the assumption of their duties, shall not inspect any plumbing work in which the inspector has any financial or other personal interest, and shall not be engaged in the plumbing business by contracting, supplying material, or performing plumbing work as described in this article 155. In addition, a plumbing inspector inspecting a medical gas installation shall hold the national inspection certification ASSE 6020 or recognized equivalent.
(b)
As part of their duties, plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education have the authority to verify the plumbing licenses or apprenticeship registration cards issued by the state for those people performing the plumbing work on a project and to verify compliance with section
12-155-124 (1)
.
(5)
(a)
Consistent with section
12-155-101
and the state's duty to safeguard the public health by ensuring that individuals who plan, install, alter, extend, repair, or maintain plumbing systems have the skills necessary to perform those tasks, the general assembly finds and determines that board enforcement of the licensing requirements in this article 155 and the limits on the number of plumbing apprentices a licensed plumber is permitted to supervise specified in section
12-155-124 (1)
is a matter of statewide concern and is essential to protect public health.
(b)
The board shall direct individuals appointed or employed pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section to:
(I)
Conduct compliance checks to ensure compliance with the licensing and supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements specified in this article 155 on projects throughout the state where plumbing systems are being planned, installed, altered, extended, repaired, or maintained, regardless of whether the permit for the plumbing work was issued by the board, an incorporated town or city, a county, a city and county, or a qualified state institution of higher education; and
(II)
Prioritize for compliance checks projects that provide or will provide critical services to residents of the state.
(c)
To ensure compliance with the licensing and supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, individuals appointed or employed pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section shall conduct compliance checks at projects throughout the state where plumbing is being performed to ensure that:
(I)
The individual performing the plumbing work is licensed as a master, Journeyworker, or residential plumber or is a registered plumbing apprentice being supervised by a licensed master, Journeyworker, or residential plumber; and
(II)
A master, Journeyworker, or residential plumber is complying with the limit on the number of plumbing apprentices the plumber may supervise per job site specified in section
12-155-124 (1)
.
(d)
Nothing in this subsection (5) affects the ability of a local government to permit or inspect plumbing or gas piping installations in any new construction or remodeling or repair located within the boundaries of the local government.
(e)
As used in this subsection (5):
(I)
"Local government" means an incorporated town or city, a county, or a city and county.
(II)
"Project that provides or will provide critical services" means a project involving the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any public structure, building, road, or other public improvement of any kind, including:
(A)
A public building;
(B)
A public school or institution of higher education;
(C)
An airport;
(D)
A train station or public transit station;
(E)
A hospital, nursing facility, assisted living residence, or other health-care facility licensed or certified by the department of public health and environment under title 25;
(F)
A renewable energy installation or a project of a utility regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to title 40; and
(G)
Any other commercial or multifamily residential public project specified by the board by rule.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 343,§ 20, eff. 7/1/2025.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 343,§ 19, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 483, § 5, eff. 1/1/2023.
Renumbered from C.R.S. §
12-58-114.2
and amended by 2019 Ch. 136, § 1, eff. 10/1/2019.
Amended by 2015 Ch. 118, § 8, eff. 4/24/2015.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 378, § 30, eff. 6/6/2014.
Amended by 2013 Ch. 280, § 11, eff. 5/24/2013.
L. 88: Entire section added, p. 590, § 14, effective July 1. L. 2013: (1) amended and (3) added, (SB 13-162), ch. 280, p. 1458, § 11, effective May 24. L. 2014: (4) added, (HB 14-1387), ch. 378, p. 1827, § 30, effective June 6. L. 2015: (4)(a) amended, (HB 15-1295), ch. 118, p. 359, § 8, effective April 24.
This section is similar to former § 12-58-114.2 as it existed prior to 2019.
2022 Ch. 483, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.