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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Philadelphia?

Per section G102.1(3) of the Philadelphia Plumbing code, you must not employ the services of an unlicensed plumber for your project. This means that intended plumbers for your projects must have obtained the relevant plumbing licenses issued by the Permits and Licenses Center of the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The city's Permits and Licenses Center is responsible for issuing licenses to apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers who wish to operate in the city. Individuals applying for apprentice plumber licenses must be at least 16 years old and must also provide an employment certification issued by a licensed master plumber in the city. For a journeyman plumber license, the applicant must provide proof of having been registered as an apprentice plumber for not less than four years, usually in the form of a tax record reflecting employment in plumbing construction or proof of licensure in plumbing construction. In addition to this, the journeyman plumber applicant must provide evidence of completing an examination as stipulated by the Department. Finally, master plumber applicants are required to submit the following when applying for a plumbing license:

• A copy of the applicant's commercial activity license and tax identification number.
• Proof of obtaining requisite insurance policies.
• Proof of being licensed as an apprentice plumber for not less than four years and a journeyman plumber for not less than a year.
• Proof of completing a Philadelphia master plumber examination no more than a year before submitting a master plumber license application.

In addition to the requirements stated above, the master plumber applicant must comply with the Department's tax obligations and all additional requirements imposed by the Department. Before hiring plumbers in the city, you must make sure you confirm they have obtained the required licenses, and you can use the city's Permit and License Center L&I's online tool to do this. You can also confirm if your intended plumber's licenses have been revoked or suspended through the suspended contractor's directory maintained by the city's Permit and License Center.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Philadelphia?

How much you spend when hiring plumbers in Philadelphia depends on the nature of the work you are hiring them for. Also, additional factors that may affect cost include the permits required for the projects and the cost of materials that may be required. It is advisable to compare estimates from different plumbers in the city before picking the most suitable plumber for your budget.

A plumber in Philadelphia earns an annual average wage of $69,030. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Philadelphia compared with plumbers in other parts of Pennsylvania and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Philadelphia Building Code for Plumbing?

The Philadelphia Plumbing Code establishes a set of requirements to provide a reasonable level of safety, public health, protection to the life and property of Philadelphia residents. It also regulates and controls the design of buildings, installation of quality of materials, operation, and maintenance or use of plumbing equipment and systems. The code also applies to the erection, installation, alteration, addition, service, or maintenance of plumbing systems in residential and commercial buildings and structures. This is why you must only hire plumbers duly licensed by the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections for your intended projects.

Typically, licensed plumbers are conversant with the city's plumbing code provisions, which may help ensure you do not violate any relevant sections of this code. You can seek further clarification regarding the city's plumbing code, its requirements, and possible code violations from the Department of Licenses and Inspections by submitting an online request to 311 or calling 311 directly.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the Philadelphia Code?

Before commencing work, plumbers are typically required to obtain city-issued permits for any planned plumbing projects. The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, via its Permits and Licenses Center, is responsible for issuing plumbing permits for intended plumbing projects in the city. However, certain plumbing works in the city do not require plumbing permits, and these include:

• Minor repairs like the replacement of faucets, valves, and parts.
• Removing and re-installing toilets if no pipes or fixtures will be replaced or moved.
• Stopping leaks and clearing stoppages.

Either a project owner or a licensed master plumber can apply for plumbing permits in Philadelphia. To commence your application, you need to download and complete the EZ permit standard: plumbing permits without plans application form, which must include your detailed information and the complete scope of the intended project. It is important to note that you must confirm that your property falls within Philadelphia before applying for your permit. You can do this via the online portal provided by the city's Office of Property Assessment. You should also apply for these permits with the address provided by your property search on this portal. If your plumbing permit application requires plans, you must ensure it follows the city's plan requirements. You can submit your application in person at the city's Permit and License Center located at:

Note that you will be required to book an appointment before making in-person submissions. Alternatively, you can complete an application online and upload all required documents. If your hired licensed plumber is completing the application, they will be required to link their professional license to the online application account. In addition to this, the Department issues rough-in permits to enable you to install pipes before your full plumbing permit is issued, and these rough-in licenses are valid for 60 days. The same mode of application for standard plumbing permits can also be utilized when applying for rough-in permits in the city. You will be required to pay filing fees, surcharge fees, and permit application fees when submitting your plumbing permit applications online and in person.

Also, if your plumbing permit is approved, you will be automatically assigned an inspector and need to arrange for inspections with this individual. Note that inspectors are not automatically assigned when permit applications are submitted online, and you will have to request an inspector via the online portal or by calling the city's Permit and Licenses Center at (215) 255-4040. Once the inspection is completed, you will be issued a certificate of approval.

The processing time for plumbing permits by the city's Permit and Licenses Center depends on the application method used. For instance, standard plumbing permit applications usually take 20 days, while expedited plumbing permit applications are reviewed within five business days. If your licensed plumber is responsible for applying for your project's plumbing permits, you can use the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections permit lookup tool to confirm that all required permits have been obtained.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

When you have confirmed that your intended plumbers have been duly licensed, you also need to confirm that the area of specialization of the plumbers conforms with the projects at hand. Plumbers in Philadelphia offer different plumbing services to residents and other interested parties. Some of these plumbers specialize in residential or commercial buildings, while some only deal with plumbing equipment services and repairs, including their maintenance in residential and commercial buildings.

The average cost that homeowners in Philadelphia pay for plumbing services is between $175 to $450. Usually, these service costs are not inclusive of the permits and inspection fees. Below is an estimated cost associated with plumbing services in Philadelphia:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Philadelphia?

Generally, water leaks should be attended to as soon as possible to prevent water wastage. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wastage annually. Also, when you factor in Philadelphia water rates, which cost an average of $74 per 500 cubic feet for residential homes and $120 per 600 cubic feet for non-residential homes, it makes it essential to attend to water leaks within a short period.

Even though you may want to take the do-it-yourself approach, hiring experienced and duly licensed plumbers to resolve any emergency water leaks you may be experiencing is advisable. You can use the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections Find a contractor tool to get qualified licensed plumbers. You can also use third-party websites like Yelp and Better Business Bureau to find plumbers near you.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Philadelphia?

Master plumbers must provide proof of obtaining the required insurance when applying for plumbing licenses according to section G103.1 of the city's Plumbing Code. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 63 fatal injuries were recorded in Philadelphia in 2018, with falls, slips, and trips accounting for 15% of the total injuries. This makes it very important for you to hire plumbers with an active insurance policy that provides coverage for all work-related perils they may encounter on the job. Per section G103.2 of the city's Plumbing Code, all master plumbers duly licensed in the city must possess a certificate of insurance that includes the minimum coverage amounts for the following types of insurance:

• General liability: $500,000 per occurrence
• Automobile liability Insurance: $300,000
• Worker's compensation:
  • $100,000 per accident
  • $100,000 per employee
  • $500,000 policy limit

If the master plumbers fail to purchase insurance coverage, their licenses will be revoked or non-renewal of their license. To confirm if your intended plumbers have acquired the necessary insurance policy, contact the city's Department of Licenses and Inspection by submitting an online request to 311 or calling 311.