Licensed plumbers might be necessary for certain plumbing repairs
Licensed plumbers have education to back up their craft.
44 states require a plumbing license for big jobs.
Unlicensed plumbers can cause legal issues and code violations.
Verify licensing through your local licensing board.
Is it illegal to do plumbing without a license? The answer depends on the state and the work being done. Most states (44 of them, to be exact) require a plumbing license for big jobs, such as installing new plumbing lines or a tankless water heater, but most allow unlicensed plumbers to conduct simpler tasks, like clearing clogs from sewer lines and fixing a leaky faucet.
So, why do plumbers need an up-to-date license? Plumbing is serious work that deals with the basic functionality of a home. If a sewage line is poorly installed, for instance, it could back up and cause flooding, waterborne illness, or foundational degradation, among other issues. A plumbing license proves a certain level of expertise and minimizes the chances of poor workmanship.
Unfortunately, hiring an unlicensed plumber even for simple plumbing repairs and related jobs can be risky. Below, we’ll discuss just some of the risks involved with hiring an unlicensed plumber.
Plumbing is not easy. Even common tasks, such as snaking a drain, require specialized tools and years of experience. A plumber must pass tests and obtain certifications to keep a license, which helps ensure that they won’t damage your pipes in the process or complete a repair that fails in a short amount of time.
While the requirements vary state by state, most areas require plumbers to attend continuing education classes as part of their licensure agreement. For example, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Minnesota requires 16 hours of approved education classes every two years.
An unlicensed plumber doesn’t need to do any of that. They’ll dig into your yard or walls without having passed any tests or taken any classes. Sounds risky, right? After all, this is your home’s water supply or drainage we’re talking about here. And something as simple as sizing your plumbing pipes incorrectly could lead to extremely costly problems later on.
An unlicensed plumber may save you a few pennies, but who is on the hook for the added expenses if they miss something? The homeowner. If an unlicensed plumber leaves you with broken pipes, faulty taps, or—even worse—a half-finished job, you may have no legal recourse, and you’ll have to pay for the cost to repipe a house or fix other plumbing mistakes. If a licensed plumber does a bad job, you can contact the licensing board and lodge a formal complaint, so you have some recourse.
That’s a pretty big incentive to stay on the up-and-up.
Most states require plumbing liability insurance and a surety bond as part of the licensing process. This means that if anything happens to the plumber during the job, the surety company pays for injuries and damages. This insurance also covers any accidental damage to your property.
An unlicensed plumber may not have insurance of any kind, which could leave you vulnerable to some serious legal consequences if they get injured on your property or cause damage to your home. As a matter of fact, if the unlicensed plumber faces injury while performing a job on your property, they could actually sue you.
Also, it goes without saying that you’ll pay out-of-pocket for any property damage caused by an unlicensed plumber. Most homeowner’s insurance providers won’t cover the damages if they’re a result of negligence or an unlicensed individual carrying out the work. This could also ultimately affect the status of your property insurance plan and your homeowner’s insurance premium.
Many major plumbing jobs like plumbing a bathroom require various permits to ensure safety and adherence to local rules and regulations. A licensed plumber can get those permits without breaking a sweat. An unlicensed plumber, however, can do no such thing. In most areas, only licensed professionals can pull permits, which means your unlicensed plumber or handyperson may complete the work without getting the proper permits.
A scrupulous plumber will pass you on to a licensed competitor, but a not-so-scrupulous business will do the work anyway. Even if the work goes off without a hiccup, you could face code violations and fines following your next plumbing inspection for issues you might not even notice, including the following:
Incorrect copper piping type used for water supply
Potentially dangerous materials
Lack of pipe insulation where required by code
Improper fittings to connect piping
The wrong pipe sizes
Not only is it illegal for an unlicensed plumber to work in most states, but it’s also illegal to hire an unlicensed plumber to complete a job. If an unlicensed plumber mucks up the (literal) waterworks for your neighborhood, you could get fined, sued, or even hauled to court. Licensing forces a plumber to stay up-to-date on local laws, regulations, and policies. In other words, if an unlicensed plumber messes up, you could face legal consequences. If a licensed plumber messes up, you won’t.
The U.S. has some of the safest drinking water in the world. However, there’s still room for improvement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 7.2 million Americans get sick every year from waterborne diseases. Minimize the risk of contracting a waterborne illness by hiring a reputable and licensed plumber near you.
A qualified and licensed pro will ensure the proper placement of water-source piping, waste-source piping, gas-line piping, and equipment like backflow preventers to eliminate the chance of anything going to the wrong place. An unlicensed plumber may lack the necessary training to deal with these all-important tasks.
Not all plumbers have your best interests at heart. Avoid common plumbing scams by making sure your contractor is fully licensed. Licensed plumbers are much less likely to attempt fraud or a scam, as you could report them and they would face a steep financial penalty or lose their license.
Certified plumbers must pass a background check before they can receive their license, which is just another way you’re insulated from fraud, theft, and other crime. Hiring an unlicensed plumber means you never know who’s coming into your home, whereas there’s some guarantee that you’re not inviting a potential criminal or ill-intentioned individual onto your property.
Before signing a contract, check plumber licensing for the professional you’re considering hiring. It might seem a little complicated, but you really just need to know what to look for. Unlicensed plumbers typically have some warning signs—whether it’s poor reviews, no online presence, or an unwillingness to provide information about the company or individual plumber. The following tips can help you verify your plumber’s qualifications and ensure you get professional, safe, and legal plumbing work done.
If your contractor is licensed and insured, you can ask to see a copy of their license and insurance. If they refuse to show you, it’s a major red flag. A licensed contractor should have no issues proving their qualifications. Typically, they’ll carry their state license with them, and they’ll be able to produce an up-to-date copy of their insurance immediately.
Many cities and states have a registry of licensed contractors—you just need to know where to find it. For example, in New York City, you can verify plumber licensing on the Department of Buildings website. Arizona has an official Arizona Registrar of Contractors. In Alaska, you can check with the Department of Labor.
If you don’t know where to look, Angi’s contractor licensing tool can point you in the right direction.
Reputable plumbers often belong to trade organizations. Some are national organizations, like the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), or the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC). Others are local organizations like the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling (PHCC) of California and the PHCC Master Plumbers Wisconsin Association.
Search for these organizations in your area, and then reach out to them or use their online databases to search for your plumber.
Word of mouth isn’t a surefire way to find a licensed plumber, but it can certainly help. Ask your neighbors, family, and friends for referrals. You can even check online reviews. Before you hire a plumber, ask for a couple of references. If you don’t know where to start, search online for a top-rated plumber near you.
A typical plumber costs $45 to $200 per hour. If a price seems too good to be true, there’s usually a reason. Interview at least three contractors to get a sense of typical local prices. If one quote is significantly lower than the rest, it could be a red flag indicating that the work will be done by an unlicensed plumber or handyperson.
The states below are the only ones in the country that don’t require licensing for plumbers:
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
New York
Pennsylvania
Wyoming
While these states don’t have statewide plumber licensing laws and regulations, most municipalities within these states do require plumbers to be licensed. That means that, even if you live in one of these six states, your local building department might still require that you hire a licensed plumber.
No matter where you live, always check on the licensing status of a plumber before hiring them for a big job, if only to confirm the level of expertise for which you’re paying. Make a habit out of checking the licensing status of any potential contractor no matter where you live.
On average, hourly plumber costs range between $45 and $200, but this can jump 1.5 to 3 times more to cover the cost of emergency plumbers. A plumber's hourly rate will cover labor and typically varies based on the time, expertise, and materials needed for the project. Charging by the hour is the industry standard, but some plumbers may charge flat fees for routine fixes like clogged drains or low water pressure.
Hiring an experienced plumber is key to a successful plumbing project and protecting your home from potential damages. Improper plumbing maintenance and repairs can lead to problems with sewage, flooding, your home’s foundation, and more. The work of a licensed plumber helps guarantee not only experience and expertise but also quality work, insurance, and adherence to local rules and regulations. Note that working with unlicensed plumbers doesn't automatically negate experience—as six states don’t require plumbers to have licenses— but it’s a safeguard to consider.
