Local service guide
Aurora appliance installation: plan your hookup
Arrange appliance installation by sending the installer your model number, photos of existing connections, and measurements before you book. Ask them to separate the hookup from any plumbing, gas, electrical, or cabinet changes. Aurora requires plumbing and electrical contractors to have current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses on file with its Building Division. Confirm who will handle any required permits and inspections before setting the installation date. [1]
Define the work before choosing an installer
Describe the job in terms of connections and fit. For a dishwasher, send photos of the cabinet opening, water shutoff, drain connection, and electrical connection. For a washer and dryer, include the water valves, drain, dryer outlet or gas connection, and vent route. For a refrigerator with an ice maker, show the existing water connection. Photograph visible connections without opening electrical equipment or disconnecting gas fittings.
Give the installer the manufacturer’s installation instructions and ask them to confirm compatibility. Include the old and new model numbers and whether you want to change the appliance’s location. Ask who will resolve an incompatible connection or alter a cabinet opening. Include that work in the quote before delivery.
Compare quotes by what the installer will complete
Request an itemized quote for disconnection, placement, connection parts, leveling, testing, packaging removal, and appliance haul-away. Ask whether the installer supplies hoses, cords, fittings, and other required parts. Have them identify exclusions and explain how they will price additional work if they discover a problem after removing the old appliance.
Separate the delivery appointment from the installation agreement. Ask whether the delivery crew will carry the appliance to its final room, whether the installer will move it from the drop-off location, and who will remove the old unit. Share stairs, narrow doorways, parking restrictions, and building access arrangements with both crews.
Request a written quote for your address and appliance. Ask for the total, included parts, any permit or inspection charges, and the price of a return visit. Compare offers against the same scope so you can see what each contractor promises to finish. Agree on how you will approve extra charges before work starts.
Resolve trade work and inspections before delivery
Ask the contractor to identify changes to wiring, plumbing, gas piping, or the vent route before you finalize the schedule. For plumbing and electrical contractors, use Aurora’s contractor lookup and confirm that the Building Division has the required current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses on file. The city does not issue a separate plumbing or electrical contractor license. [1]
If you plan a new appliance circuit or an electrical conversion, ask the electrician to assess the proposed work under Aurora’s current requirements. The city states that it reviews and inspects new electrical permit applications under the 2026 National Electrical Code, effective August 1, 2026. Confirm the permit scope with the Building Division before scheduling the hookup. [3]
For work requiring permits, Aurora allows construction to begin after permit issuance and requires inspections at specified stages. Ask the permit holder to explain the inspection sequence. Leave work accessible before covering it, keep required permit cards and approved plans on site, and agree on who will arrange access and handle corrections. [2]
Prepare the room and agree on the handover
Measure the delivery route as well as the appliance opening. Include doorways, turns, stair landings, and space to open the appliance door. Empty the old appliance and nearby cabinets, clear a working area, and ask the installer how they will protect the floor. Tell them about a stuck shutoff valve, visible leak, damaged outlet, or other concern before the appointment.
Before the installer leaves, ask them to demonstrate the appliance using the manufacturer’s startup procedure. Agree on checks for water connections, drainage, leveling, door clearance, and model-specific mounting or safety hardware. Keep the invoice, installation instructions, and any inspection results together. Ask whom to contact if you notice a connection problem after the visit.
If you are choosing a dishwasher, compare capacity alongside efficiency. ENERGY STAR’s national criteria set water-use limits of 3.2 gallons per cycle for standard dishwashers and 2.0 for compact dishwashers. Standard models have capacity for at least eight place settings plus six serving pieces; compact models fall below that threshold. Check the opening and your household’s loading needs before selecting either class. [4]
National ENERGY STAR dishwasher water-use limits
Local details that affect your job
Verify plumbing and electrical credentials with Aurora
Aurora requires electricians and plumbers to have current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses on file with the Building Division. Use the city’s contractor lookup when selecting a contractor for connection alterations, and call 303.739.7420 for clarification about their status. Aurora does not issue separate plumbing or electrical contractor licenses. [1]
Account for the electrical code change
Aurora transitioned to the 2026 National Electrical Code effective August 1, 2026 and reviews and inspects new electrical permit applications under those requirements. If your installation includes a new circuit or electrical conversion, ask the electrician to confirm the design and permit requirements before ordering connection parts or scheduling the final hookup. [3]
Plan inspection requests around the city’s cutoff
Aurora takes telephone requests for next-day inspections through the Permit Center at 303.739.7420 during its listed service hours. Requests after 4:30 p.m. do not enter the next-day schedule; the city also sets a 4:30 p.m. weekday cutoff for email requests. Have the permit number, address and unit number, inspection type, and phone number ready. Agree with the permit holder on when to request inspection before scheduling work that would cover the connections. [2]
Match your installation scope to the next step
| Your situation | Arrange before booking | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement in the same opening | Installer review of model instructions and existing connections | Does your quote cover all parts and connection work for this model? |
| New circuit or electrical conversion | Electrician assessment under Aurora’s 2026 NEC requirements for new electrical permit applications | What work and permits will you include? |
| Plumbing connection alterations | Check the contractor’s required Colorado credentials on file with Aurora | Who will complete the plumbing work and confirm the permit scope? |
| Permitted work that workers will cover | Inspection sequence and access before covering the work | Who will request inspection and arrange any corrections? |
| Appliance delivery plus removal | Written division of responsibilities between delivery crew and installer | Who moves the new appliance into place and removes the old one? |
Your hiring checklist
- Send the new model number, installation instructions, opening measurements, and photos of visible connections.
- Describe any relocation, fuel change, cabinet alteration, or connection concern.
- Confirm who will complete each hookup and any separate trade work.
- Get an itemized total covering parts, testing, haul-away, and potential return visits.
- Confirm any permit and inspection responsibilities before setting the installation date.
- Coordinate delivery access, appliance placement, floor protection, and removal of the old unit.
- Agree on the startup demonstration and keep the invoice and completion documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every appliance replacement need a permit?
Confirm the permit question for your actual work. Describe any wiring, plumbing, gas, or other alterations to Aurora’s Building Division at 303.739.7420 before work starts. Ask the contractor to state who will obtain any required permits. The city provides building-code and construction services by phone. [3]
How do I check an electrician or plumber for this job?
Use Aurora’s contractor lookup and confirm the required current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses are on file with the Building Division. Aurora does not issue separate plumbing or electrical contractor licenses. Ask which contractor will perform the trade work included in your installation agreement. [1]
Can I count on a same-day inspection?
Allow time for inspection when arranging the finish date. Aurora grants same-day inspection requests based on justification and staff availability. Its next-day telephone and email scheduling rules include a 4:30 p.m. cutoff. Ask the permit holder to confirm the inspection arrangement before you book dependent work. [2]
What should I include when requesting a quote?
Include the appliance model, installation instructions, photos of existing hookups, cabinet or room measurements, and delivery access details. Specify removal of the old unit and any changes you want. Ask the installer to identify excluded work, required parts, and the process for approving additional charges.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.