Colorado · State Reference
How Auctioneering Works in Colorado (No General State License Required)
Colorado does not require a general state issued license to work as an auctioneer. You can conduct personal property auctions in Colorado without a state exam or license. That said, Colorado has real, documented rules in a couple of areas worth knowing: real estate auctions and local municipal permitting.
What's Actually Required
- No general state auctioneer license is required for personal property auctions in Colorado.
- Real estate auctions have a specific rule. Colorado's Division of Real Estate requires that real estate auctions be conducted by a licensed real estate broker.
- Local permits can be substantial and vary significantly by city and county, so check directly with the municipality where you plan to hold an auction.
The Real Estate Auction Exception
An unlicensed auctioneer may still personally call bids at a real estate auction, but only in the presence of a licensed real estate broker. Control of the sale itself, meaning listing, advertising, showing the property, and writing contracts, must remain with the licensed broker throughout. An auctioneer who takes control of these responsibilities without a broker present is violating the Colorado real estate license law.
Source: Colorado Division of Real Estate, Commission Position 21, Auctioning Real Property: dre.colorado.gov
Local Permits: Why City Rules Matter
Requirements vary by city and county, and many cities and counties do not regulate auctions. As one concrete example, the City of Boulder requires an auction application filed at least two weeks before the event, a city business license, a $500 sales tax deposit, and a $1,000 annual surety bond posted with the city. A $200 late fee applies if the application misses the deadline.
Always check directly with the specific city or county where you plan to hold an auction, since requirements like Boulder's are not uniform statewide.
Why Education Still Matters Even Without a Licensing Exam
Colorado doesn't require a state exam, but the practical skills, meaning the chant, contract and consignment handling, ethics, trust account management, and running a profitable auction business, are what clients and buyers actually evaluate you on. Training also matters directly for the real estate carve out above: knowing precisely where an auctioneer's role ends and a broker's control must begin is exactly the kind of practical knowledge a structured auction education covers, and a novice is likely to get wrong.
Sources
- Colorado Division of Real Estate, Commission Position 21, Auctioning Real Property: dre.colorado.gov
- City of Boulder, Auction Licenses: bouldercolorado.gov/services/auction-licenses
Ready to build real auction skills, license or not? Missouri Auction School's Colorado course covers the chant, contracts, and business fundamentals, including exactly where the real estate auction line sits.
See our Colorado course →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to be an auctioneer in Colorado?
No, not for general personal property auctions. Colorado has no state level auctioneer licensing board or exam.
Can I auction real estate in Colorado without a real estate license?
Only in a limited way. You can personally call bids at a real estate auction without a broker's license, but only in the presence of a licensed broker and the broker must retain control of listing, advertising, showing the property, and writing contracts. You cannot independently run a real estate auction without a broker involved.
Do I need a local permit to run auctions in Colorado?
Possibly, and it can be more involved than you'd expect from a non licensing state. Some cities have detailed requirements. Many cities do not have any auction regulations. Boulder, for example, requires a business license, a $500 sales tax deposit, and a $1,000 annual surety bond posted directly with the city. Always check with the specific city or county where you're planning to auction.
If Colorado doesn't require a license, why take an auctioneer course?
Because the professional skills and business practices a quality education provides, including knowing exactly where Colorado's real estate auction rules draw the line between an auctioneer's role and a broker's, are what protect you from accidentally violating state law, not just what makes you better at the chant.