Plumber licenses in
Washington
Washington licenses plumbers statewide.
Search Washington plumber licenses (opens official site)
Official search run by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Plumber Program at secure.lni.wa.gov.
What the license should say
In Washington you'll see one of these on a plumber's card, bid or truck:
- Licensed Plumbing Contractor
- Business; all plumbing contract work must be performed by a licensed plumbing contractor under chapter 18.106 RCW.
- Journey Level Plumber (PL01)
- Individual qualified for all phases of plumbing construction; 8,000 hours as a trainee.
- Residential Plumber (PL02)
- Individual limited to single-family dwellings, duplexes and apartment buildings of no more than three stories; 6,000 hours.
- Residential Service Plumber (PL04)
- Individual limited to service, repair and replacement work in certain existing residential settings; 4,000 hours.
Hiring a company, not a person?
Plumbing contractor license from L&I with a $6,000 surety bond, general liability insurance and a certified plumber designated to L&I as the company's designated plumber.
Doing it yourself
RCW 18.106.150 does not require a license for plumbing work a person does at his or her residence, farm, place of business or other property owned by him or her.
Before you hire
- Contractor licensing in Washington (small-job limits, bonds, permits)
- How to check a license in Washington, 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.