Hiring a plumber
How to check a plumber's license (state by state)
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Ask for the license number, then look it up on the licensing board's own website for your state, or your city or county where licensing is local. Check that the license is active, that the name matches the company on your estimate, and that the license class covers the work. Our state pages link to each official lookup.
Who licenses plumbers
Most states license plumbers through a state board, often with separate journeyman, master and contractor licenses. A few states leave plumbing licensing to cities or counties, so the license you need to check may be local. Some states also license gas work, backflow testing or well drilling separately from general plumbing.
That's why there's no single national lookup. The reliable route is the official board for the place where the work is done.
Checking a license in five minutes
Get the number in writing
It should be on the estimate, invoice or truck. A company that won't give it is a red flag.
Find the official lookup
Use your state page below. Avoid third-party lookup sites; they can be out of date.
Check status and class
Active, not expired or suspended, and a class that covers the job. Gas line work, for example, can need a separate endorsement.
Match the name
The licensed person or business should match the company you're hiring, not a different name.
Ask about permits and insurance
Permitted work is inspected. Ask who pulls the permit and ask for proof of liability insurance.
Red flags
- Cash only, large deposits up front, or pressure to decide on the spot.
- No written estimate, or an estimate with no description of the work.
- "You don't need a permit for that" on water heater, gas, sewer or repiping work, which commonly require one.
- A license number that belongs to a different company or has expired.
What a good estimate includes
- The work described clearly, including materials and the fixture or equipment model.
- Permit and inspection costs, and who arranges them.
- Warranty terms on labor and parts.
- What happens if they find something unexpected, such as rotten subfloor or a broken sewer line, and how that's priced.
License lookups by state
Each state page names the licensing authority and links to its official lookup, with notes where licensing is handled locally.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Is a handyman allowed to do plumbing?
Rules differ by state. Many states allow only minor repairs, such as replacing a faucet or toilet, without a plumbing license; water heaters, gas lines and new piping usually require a licensed plumber and a permit.
What's the difference between a journeyman and a master plumber?
A journeyman is licensed to do plumbing work; a master has more experience and can typically pull permits and supervise. Exact titles and rights vary by state.
General information; codes vary by location. See our editorial standards.