Which states don't license plumbers?
Six states have no statewide plumbing licence. In those states a plumber licensed in one town may have no standing at your address — and there is no state board to check with.
Free to call. We route you to an independent licensed plumber in your area — PlumbLinker does not perform plumbing work.
The short version
Plumbing licensing is a state power, and states took very different paths. Most run a licensing board. A handful delegate the whole thing to cities and counties. Two license plumbers through their health departments. One does it through fire safety.
Most homeowners assume a plumbing licence is a plumbing licence. In six states there is no such thing at state level:
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
New York
Pennsylvania
Wyoming
In these states, verification happens at city or county level. A licence from a neighbouring municipality may not permit work at your address, and there is no single database to check. Ask which jurisdiction issued the licence, and confirm it covers where the work is happening.
Six states that regulate plumbing unusually
| State | Regulated by | Why it's unusual |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Department of Public Health | Not a contractors board. Plumbing is regulated as public health protection, and Illinois has some of the strictest requirements in the country. |
| Arkansas | Department of Health | Same logic as Illinois — a legacy of plumbing being treated as disease prevention rather than construction. |
| Vermont | Division of Fire Safety | Licensing sits with the Department of Public Safety rather than a trades board. |
| Oregon | Two separate bodies | Individuals license through the Building Codes Division; the business registers separately with the Construction Contractors Board. A licensed plumber at an unregistered firm is a gap. |
| California | C-36 classification | A general B contractor licence does not cover plumbing over $500. The classification matters more than the licence. |
| Florida | Certified vs. registered | Certified licences are valid statewide; registered licences only work in specific jurisdictions. |
All 50 states and DC
Who licenses plumbers where you live. Each state links to its own page with verification detail and local failure modes.
| State | Licensing | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State license | Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board |
| Alaska | State license | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection |
| Arizona | State license | Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) |
| Arkansas | State license | Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section |
| California | State license | California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) |
| Colorado | State license | Colorado State Plumbing Board |
| Connecticut | State license | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
| Delaware | State license | Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners |
| District of Columbia | State license | DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades |
| Florida | State license | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) |
| Georgia | State license | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master Plumbers |
| Hawaii | State license | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board |
| Idaho | State license | Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Plumbing Board |
| Illinois | State license | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Indiana | State license | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Plumbing Commission |
| Iowa | State license | Iowa Department of Public Health, Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board |
| Kansas | No state license | Local city and county licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
| Kentucky | State license | Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing |
| Louisiana | State license | Louisiana State Plumbing Board |
| Maine | State license | Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Plumbers' Examining Board |
| Maryland | State license | Maryland State Board of Plumbing |
| Massachusetts | State license | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters |
| Michigan | State license | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Plumbing Division |
| Minnesota | State license | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry |
| Mississippi | Mixed | Mississippi State Board of Contractors, plus local municipal licensing |
| Missouri | No state license | Local city and county licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
| Montana | State license | Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Board of Plumbers |
| Nebraska | No state license | Local city licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
| Nevada | State license | Nevada State Contractors Board |
| New Hampshire | State license | New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification |
| New Jersey | State license | New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers |
| New Mexico | State license | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division |
| New York | No state license | Municipal and county licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
| North Carolina | State license | North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
| North Dakota | State license | North Dakota State Plumbing Board |
| Ohio | State license | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Oklahoma | State license | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board |
| Oregon | State license | Oregon Building Codes Division and Construction Contractors Board (CCB) |
| Pennsylvania | No state license | Municipal licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
| Rhode Island | State license | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation |
| South Carolina | State license | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Contractor's Licensing Board |
| South Dakota | State license | South Dakota Plumbing Commission |
| Tennessee | State license | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce and Insurance |
| Texas | State license | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) |
| Utah | State license | Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) |
| Vermont | State license | Vermont Division of Fire Safety |
| Virginia | State license | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors |
| Washington | State license | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) |
| West Virginia | State license | West Virginia Division of Labor |
| Wisconsin | State license | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) |
| Wyoming | No state license | Local city and county licensing (no statewide plumbing license) |
How to verify any plumber, in any state
- Ask for the licence number before work starts. A legitimate plumber gives it without hesitation.
- Check it with the issuing authority — the state board, or the city if you're in one of the six states above.
- Confirm it's active, not expired or suspended.
- Confirm the classification covers the job. Gas fitting is frequently a separate credential from plumbing.
- Confirm the name matches the company on your invoice.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance separately. A licence is not insurance.
Compiled from state licensing authorities and public statutory records, August 2026. Licensing requirements change — always confirm with the authority directly before hiring. This table is free to cite, quote or reproduce with attribution to plumblinker.com. If you're a journalist and want the underlying breakdown, email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Which states do not license plumbers?
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Wyoming have no statewide plumbing licence. Licensing in those states is handled by cities and counties, so requirements vary by jurisdiction within the same state.
Does a plumbing licence work in another state?
Generally no. Licences are state-issued and rarely transfer, though some states have reciprocity agreements with neighbours. In the six states without state licensing, a licence may not even transfer between towns.
Which state has the strictest plumbing licensing?
Illinois, Massachusetts and Minnesota are commonly cited as the most demanding. Illinois is also unusual in licensing plumbers through its Department of Public Health rather than a contractors board.
How do I check a plumber's licence?
Ask for the number, then verify it with the issuing authority — almost every state board offers a free online lookup. In states without state licensing, check with the city or county where the work is happening.
Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed plumber?
In most licensed states the contractor is the one breaking the law, not you. The practical risk to you is different: denied insurance claims, failed inspections, and problems disclosed when you sell the property.
Plumbing emergency right now?
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