How to Choose a Residential Electrician in Centennial, CO
Choosing an electrician is one of the more consequential home decisions you'll make. Bad electrical work doesn't just fail — it can fail dangerously, sometimes years after the job was done. In Centennial, Colorado, there are plenty of options, but knowing what to look for will help you hire someone who does the job right, pulls the right permits, and stands behind their work.
Verify the Colorado State License
In Colorado, anyone performing electrical work for hire must be licensed by the state. The Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), issues electrical licenses and maintains a public database of licensed electricians.
There are different license levels in Colorado. A Journeyman Electrician has completed an apprenticeship and passed a state examination but must work under the supervision of a Master Electrician. A Master Electrician has documented at least five years of experience in the trade, passed a more comprehensive state exam, and carries direct responsibility for the electrical work performed under their license. A Residential Wireman is licensed for residential-only work.
You can verify any Colorado electrician's license at dpo.colorado.gov or by calling the Colorado State Electrical Board at 303-894-2300. If an electrician can't give you a Colorado state license number, that's a red flag.
Make Sure They Pull Permits
In Centennial and Arapahoe County, permits are required for most electrical work beyond minor repairs — including panel upgrades, new circuit installation, EV charger installation, and electrical work in remodels or additions. A permit creates an official record that the work was inspected and meets Colorado's current electrical code (the 2023 National Electrical Code, adopted August 1, 2023).
Unpermitted electrical work is a problem when you sell your home (inspectors catch it), when you file an insurance claim, and when something goes wrong. A licensed electrician who is registered with Arapahoe County will pull the permit before work begins — not after, not never.
If an electrician offers to skip the permit to save money or speed things up, decline and find someone else. The risk isn't worth it.
Ask About Insurance
A legitimate electrical contractor carries both general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. Liability insurance protects your home if something goes wrong during the work. Workers' compensation protects you from being held liable if a worker is injured on your property. Ask for proof of both before work begins, and make sure the coverage is current.
Ask Who Will Actually Do the Work
Some contractors send a master electrician to do the estimate, then send an apprentice to do the job. There's nothing wrong with apprentices doing work — that's how the trade works — but you should know who is performing the work and that a licensed electrician is supervising directly. Ask whether the master electrician will be on-site or whether a journeyman will be handling the installation.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
What is your Colorado state license number, and can I verify it? Will you pull a permit for this work? Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation — can I see current certificates? Who will be on-site doing the work? What does the inspection process look like? These questions weed out the bad actors quickly.
Why Centennial Homeowners Prefer Local
An electrician based in Centennial knows Arapahoe County permit requirements, understands the inspectors, and can respond quickly for both scheduled work and emergencies. They're not driving from the other side of metro Denver, which means they're more accountable to the community they serve.
Mallard Electric — Your Centennial Electrician
Mallard Electric LLC is based in Centennial, Colorado. Owner Pedro Garcia is a Colorado-licensed Master Electrician (EC.0102845) who personally oversees every residential job. We are fully insured, pull permits on every applicable project, and do work that passes inspection every time. Call us at (720) 491-7215 for a free estimate.
