Operating authority
Getting your Colorado operating authority.
A carrier cannot legally run in Colorado without authority from the Public Utilities Commission, and cannot advertise for work without it either. The application is a regulatory filing, not a form.
Colorado law is blunt about this. C.R.S. 40-10.1-502 says a person shall not operate, offer to operate, or advertise services as a mover in intrastate commerce without first obtaining a permit from the Commission. Passenger carriers face the same bar under C.R.S. 40-10.1-302. Operating without it exposes a new business to penalties before it has a single customer.
Most applications are granted. The work is in getting the record right the first time, so the filing is not returned, and so a competitor who protests does not turn a two-week matter into a contested proceeding.
First question
Which authority you actually need.
The Commission regulates by the kind of service you provide, not by the size of your fleet. A carrier moving household goods needs a household goods mover permit. A carrier moving passengers for hire needs a passenger permit for the specific class of operation. A contract carrier serving named shippers needs a contract carrier permit.
The distinction is not academic. Each class carries its own insurance minimums, its own advertising rules, and its own renewal cycle. Applying under the wrong part means paying fees for authority that does not cover the work you do.
- Household goods mover permit, C.R.S. 40-10.1-502
- Passenger carrier permit, C.R.S. 40-10.1-302
- Contract carrier permit
- Common carrier certificate of public convenience and necessity
The filing
What the application involves.
For household goods movers, the Commission issues a permit on completion of the application and compliance with the financial responsibility requirements. That sentence in the statute is where the work lives, because "compliance with the financial responsibility requirements" means a filed insurance certificate in the correct form, at the correct limit, naming the Commission correctly.
Passenger applicants have an added requirement that catches people out. Under C.R.S. 40-10.1-302, each vehicle must have been inspected within the immediately preceding twenty days by a qualified mechanic, with a report attached showing the vehicle passed. An application filed with an inspection older than that is not complete.
Fees change. The Commission raised the household goods mover annual filing fee to $332.00 effective November 1, 2025. Check the Commission's current fee schedule rather than relying on a number from an older filing.
After the grant
What changes once the permit issues.
A permit is tied to specifics. It is not valid for business at any location other than those designated in the application, it is not assignable, and a mover may not conduct business under more than one name except as shown on the permit. Changing a name or a location requires notifying the Commission.
Permits renew annually. For household goods movers, the statute allows the Commission to refuse renewal where the applicant has not satisfied a civil penalty arising from an enforcement action. A renewal is therefore a compliance checkpoint, not a formality.
- Permit names the location and the name you may operate under
- Permits are not assignable
- Annual renewal, with penalty history reviewed
- Insurance must stay filed and current
When it gets contested
Protests and interventions.
An application can draw a protest from an existing carrier. That converts a routine filing into a contested case with a hearing schedule, discovery, and a record to build. It is uncommon for household goods and contract authority, more common where an existing operator sees new competition in a defined service area.
A protest is a legal proceeding with deadlines. The response is not to refile and hope, and it is not to start operating while the matter is pending.
Common questions
Questions this office hears
Do I need a PUC permit or a USDOT number?They are different regulators. The Colorado PUC regulates intrastate moves, meaning moves that begin and end in Colorado. The federal Department of Transportation regulates interstate moves. A carrier doing both needs both.
Can I advertise before my permit issues?No. The prohibition in C.R.S. 40-10.1-502 covers advertising services as a mover, not only performing them. Once permitted, every advertisement must also carry the phrase "CO PUC permit no. ---" and your physical address under C.R.S. 40-10.1-504.
How long does an application take?It depends on whether the filing is complete and whether anyone protests. A clean uncontested application moves on the Commission's schedule; a protested one runs on a hearing calendar. The office will not quote you a date the Commission has not given.
Sources
Where this page's facts come from
Every regulatory statement above is drawn from the following, so you can check it yourself.
- C.R.S. 40-10.1-502, permit requirements for household goods movers
- C.R.S. 40-10.1-302, permit requirements for passenger carriers
- C.R.S. 40-10.1-504, advertising requirements
- Colorado Public Utilities Commission, Household Goods Movers industry information
Talk to the attorney
handling your matter.
Law Offices of
Richard J. Bara.
Arvada, CO 80003
By appointment only. No walk-ins.
Consultations in person or by phone.