Fall has a way of exposing every little thing the house has been politely ignoring.
The furnace makes a new noise. A window suddenly feels draftier. A roof repair moves from the “someday” list to the “before snow” list.
Before handing over a deposit, Centennial homeowners can save themselves money, time and potentially a considerable headache by doing a little homework first.
This week’s SMARTS rule:
Check the paperwork before the contractor starts the paperwork.
1. Make Sure the Contractor Can Legally Work in Centennial
A recommendation from a neighbor is useful.
A five-star review is helpful.
Neither replaces proper licensing.
Contractors and subcontractors performing applicable work in Centennial must be appropriately licensed. The City requires specific credentials for several contractor classifications, while electrical and plumbing professionals must also hold applicable state licensing.
Before signing a contract, ask:
Are you licensed to perform this work in the City of Centennial?
A legitimate contractor should be perfectly comfortable answering.
2. Ask Who Is Pulling the Permit
Do not assume the contractor is taking care of it.
Centennial requires permits for many common home projects, including work involving electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems.
That includes several projects homeowners may think of as routine replacements.
Furnace.
Water heater.
Air conditioner.
Roof.
Certain window and door replacements.
Gas-line work.
If a contractor is doing the work, the contractor should generally be associated with the permit.
Centennial says homeowners may pull their own permit only when they are performing the work themselves, occupy the residence and provide the required homeowner agreement.
That is an excellent question to settle before work begins.
3. A Permit May Not Delay Your Project as Much as You Think
Sometimes homeowners hear “permit” and imagine their new furnace sitting in a warehouse until Thanksgiving.
For several common residential projects, Centennial uses a One-Stop Permit process.
The City currently lists replacement furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, residential reroofs, certain windows and doors, gas lines and several other projects as One-Stop permits with an expected review time of approximately one business day.
So skipping the permit to “save time” may solve a problem that barely exists while creating one you definitely do not want later.
4. Roofing or Exterior Work Has a New Question in 2026
Centennial’s Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code became effective June 30, 2026.
The requirements vary based on the property’s wildfire-intensity classification and the scope of the project. Centennial currently contains Low and Moderate fire-intensity areas, with no High zones.
For existing properties, the rules can become particularly relevant to larger exterior alterations and roof projects involving 25% or more of the roof surface.
If you are considering significant roofing, siding, deck or exterior work, ask the contractor and the City what standards apply before choosing materials.
Buying twice is an expensive way to learn a building code.
5. If the Repair Is Really an Energy Problem, Check Assistance First
A cold house does not always mean the answer is immediately purchasing a new furnace.
Centennial directs residents to several home-heating and weatherization resources, including the Arapahoe County Weatherization Division, Colorado LEAP and the Energy Resource Center for qualifying households.
Depending on eligibility, programs may help with weatherization, energy conservation, heating costs or furnace-related needs.
Before financing a major repair, it is worth checking whether assistance is available.
The Centennial SMARTS Five-Minute Contractor Check
Before saying yes to fall home work, ask:
✔️Are you licensed in Centennial?
✔️Does this project require a permit?
✔️Who is pulling it?
✔️Does the project fall under newer wildfire-resiliency requirements?
✔️Are there assistance or efficiency programs I should check first?
Five questions.
A few minutes.
Potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of clarity.
Because the smartest home repair is not simply one that gets finished.
It is one that gets finished correctly the first time.
Save time. Save money. Live better.
That’s Centennial SMARTS.
34 Comments
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Helpful list, thanks! We just started shopping for new windows and had no idea wildfire codes were something to check. Good timing.
Bethany LinWe’re in the same boat with a big siding job. I called the city and they walked me through what counts for the new code. It’s a lot but better to know before signing anything!
I wish contractors would be required to hand over their permit number up front. Save a LOT of hassle for everyone.
Kind of anxious about all these codes but better safe than sorry. Permits are a pain but I’d rather be covered.
Absolutely, permits and codes can feel overwhelming at first, but taking these steps up front keeps projects safe, legal, and avoids bigger headaches later.
Our furnace made those noises too and it turned out to be nothing! Nice to see the article suggest possible assistance before you buy anything new.
Lisa S.Same here! I almost called someone until a friend told me about those assistance programs. Saved me from buying a whole new system when all I needed was a tune-up.
Centennial’s website actually makes it easy to check licensing. Used it last year for the deck project, so worth the few minutes.
Thank you for sharing your experience, the City's contractor lookup really does make the check quick and easy for projects big or small.
I’m surprised contractors don’t always pull the permits. Would’ve assumed that’s just part of what you pay for.
Five minutes for that check could save five weeks later. Been there…
Appreciate the info on new building codes for exteriors, most people only hear about that after it’s too late.
Thank you, we aim to spotlight those new code changes before they catch anyone by surprise, especially for big exterior projects like roofs or siding.
If you pull your own permits and DIY, just remember the inspections are strict. Saved us some money but it was stressful!
Mia H.Yeah, the inspectors don’t mess around. I had to redo a vent because it wasn’t up to code, but in the end I felt safer for it. Learned a lot.
Didn’t realize stuff like window replacement sometimes needs a permit. Makes sense but sounds like it sneaks up on people.
Samira P.Right? I thought window swaps were minor until my neighbor got flagged for not pulling a permit. Seems like even simple stuff adds up on repairs these days.
I get wanting to save money on permits, but cutting corners just means headaches when you sell the house later. Learned the hard way.
Anyone used the LEAP program before? Wondering if it’s pretty easy to apply.
Olga D.My aunt used LEAP last year. She said the paperwork wasn’t too bad and they replied pretty quick. Worth looking into if you qualify.
The checklist at the end is great, I’m printing it for my fridge. Too easy to forget something when you get a contractor quote.
The one-day permit turnaround is wild compared to my old city where everything was two weeks. Love how organized Centennial is with this stuff.
We're glad you noticed, the One-Stop Permit process was designed to keep projects moving, and a one-business-day turnaround is a real game-changer for many Centennial homeowners.
Roofing bids have been all over the place and not everyone mentioned wildfire code. I’ll bring that up next time. Thanks.
I always ask for their Centennial license number. If someone hesitates, big red flag for me.
Solid advice but I still feel like contractors make the whole permit thing a mystery on purpose. Ask twice!
Rick Z.Totally! Had a roofer dodge giving me clear answers about permits. Now I always double check with both the city and the company. Saves headaches later.
Wish I saw this before I replaced my water heater last year. Didn’t even know a permit was needed, oops.
crystal_jYou're not alone! We had no clue about the permit either until the city sent a notice months later. Ended up having to do extra paperwork after the fact.
All these programs for energy help… didn’t know those were out there! Gonna look up the weatherization folks, our heat bill is rough.
The permit process sounds way faster than I thought. I always figured it’d be held up for weeks so that’s reassuring.
Good reminder about checking contractor licenses. My neighbor got burned last year because the guy wasn’t licensed and the city had to get involved. Not worth it.
Maria L.That’s rough for your neighbor. We always ask to see their license before hiring anyone now, just to be safe. One extra question can save a lot of trouble!
Glad they mentioned the wildfire rules. I haven’t kept up with those changes but our roof is old so I’ll need to remember that when we finally tackle it.