Plumber licenses in
North Carolina
North Carolina licenses plumbers statewide.
Official search run by North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors at public.nclicensing.org.
What the license should say
In North Carolina you'll see one of these on a plumber's card, bid or truck:
- Plumbing contractor (P-I or P-II)
- Licensee who can contract for plumbing systems; requires two years of experience.
- Restricted limited plumbing contractor
- Licensee with a limited plumbing scope; requires 1,500 hours.
- Plumbing technician Class I or II
- Individual employed by a licensed contractor who installs, services or repairs plumbing systems.
- Fuel piping contractor
- Licensee for fuel gas piping; not needed separately by plumbing or heating licensees.
Hiring a company, not a person?
Any person, firm or corporation engaged in plumbing contracting for valuable consideration must hold a plumbing contractor license from the Board, which issues Class I (all structures) and Class II (single-family detached dwellings) licenses; technicians work under a licensed contractor (G.S. 87-21).
Doing it yourself
G.S. 87-21 covers plumbing work done for valuable consideration or on property intended for sale or rental, excludes drain cleaning and minor repairs, and contains no express exemption for an owner doing plumbing on their own residence (G.S. 87-21(a)(5), (c)).
Before you hire
- Contractor licensing in North Carolina (small-job limits, bonds, permits)
- How to check a license in North Carolina, step by step
- Before-you-hire checklist (one page, free PDF)
- File a complaint about a plumber (opens official site)
Keep this handy
We'll email you the one-page before-you-hire checklist, plus occasional tips on hiring safely.