How to Hire a Private Detective in Colorado

Colorado licensing at a glance

Colorado made private detective licensing mandatory in 2015. Licenses are issued by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Step by step: hiring in Colorado

1. Define your question. What do you need to know, and what decision depends on it?
2. Verify licensing. Look the detective up on the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Office of Private Investigator Licensure website rather than relying on a license number shown in an ad. Confirm the license is active and check the agency license as well as the individual's where both exist.
3. Agree on scope and cost in writing. Know what will be done, for how long, and what you'll receive.
4. Share what you know. Names, addresses, photos, vehicles and schedules save billable hours.
5. Insist on lawful methods. Colorado generally allows a participant to record a conversation (one-party consent). Detectives shouldn't hack accounts, pretext for records, trespass or track phones.

What affects the cost of an investigation in Colorado

Colorado spans 64 counties. Surveillance in a dense area like Denver may call for two detectives to keep a subject in view, while work in rural counties can involve more travel time. Records research that requires courthouse visits in several counties takes longer than searches available online.

Most surveillance is billed hourly plus expenses such as mileage; defined research tasks are often flat-fee. Our cost guide explains pricing in detail.

Questions to ask a Colorado detective

• Are you licensed for work in Colorado, and who will actually do the work?
• How often do you handle matters like mine in Colorado?
• How do you handle recording and tracking under Colorado law?
• Which county courts or records will you need, and how long will that take?
• What will the report include, and could you testify if needed?

More questions are in our list of 15 questions to ask before hiring.

Where we coordinate work in Colorado

Mooney & Boland coordinates investigations throughout Colorado, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins and Boulder. See private detective services in Colorado for coverage and services.

Local pages for Colorado communities:

Common questions

Sources

• Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Office of Private Investigator Licensure (official regulator)
• Justia: Recording Phone Calls and Conversations, 50-State Survey

Reviewed November 2026.