Do Plumbers Have to Be Licensed in Georgia?
Short answer: yes. In Georgia, a plumber needs a state license to work on your plumbing for pay. And the rules got tougher this year.
Anybody with a truck and a wrench can call himself a plumber. That does not make him one. Georgia law sets a clear line between a licensed plumber and a guy who "does a little plumbing on the side." Here is what that line looks like, what changed in 2026, and how to check a plumber before you let him in the door.
Yes. Georgia requires plumbers to hold a state license. A plumbing company must have a licensed master plumber working for it full time. Only licensed master plumbers can advertise plumbing work. The license is issued by the state, not by your city or county.
- Georgia requires a state license to do plumbing work for pay.
- There are 3 licenses: Journeyman, Master Plumber Class I, and Master Plumber Class II.
- A new law, Senate Bill 553, changed the license rules on July 1, 2026.
- Homeowners may do plumbing on a home they own or live in, but must still follow code and permit rules.
- You can check any plumber's license for free on the Georgia Secretary of State website.
Who Hands Out Plumbing Licenses in Georgia?
Plumbing licenses come from the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board. Inside that board is the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers. It runs under the Georgia Secretary of State.
One license covers the whole state. Your city or county can't add its own plumber license on top of it. But your city or county still handles permits and inspections. So a licensed plumber still has to follow local rules on the job.
The 3 Types of Plumbing Licenses in Georgia
Georgia has three plumbing licenses. Each one takes more time in the trade and a state exam with a passing score of 70 or better.
| License | What It Takes (2026) | What They Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | 1 year of full-time work under a master plumber, plus the state exam | Do plumbing work, but under a master plumber's direction |
| Master Plumber Class I | 4 years of full-time work, 3 of them as a licensed journeyman, plus the exam | Run the job and contract the work on homes, duplexes, and smaller commercial buildings |
| Master Plumber Class II | 5 years of full-time work, 4 of them as a licensed journeyman, plus the exam | Contract plumbing on any size building — no limits |
On July 1, 2026, a new state law (Senate Bill 553) rewrote Georgia's plumber license rules. The big change: plumbers now need more years as a licensed journeyman before they can become a master plumber. Journeymen licensed before March 1, 2025 still get the old, shorter path. For homeowners, it means a master plumber in Georgia has more field time than ever.
A Georgia plumbing license also covers gas piping — the gas lines that run from your meter to your water heater, stove, or furnace. That matters. A bad gas line isn't a leak you mop up. If someone is running gas line at your house, they need to be licensed. (More on our gas line repair and installation work.)
What About a Plumbing Company?
A plumbing business can't just hire helpers and go. Georgia law says any plumbing company — partnership, LLC, or corporation — must have a licensed master plumber connected to it full time. That person carries the license the whole company works under.
The law also says licensed plumbing businesses must show their license or registration number on their work trucks, on their ads, and on every invoice and proposal. If you can't find a number anywhere, that's your first warning sign.
Licensed Georgia plumbing companies are required to show their license or registration number on work vehicles, ads, and invoices.
Can a Handyman Do Plumbing Work in Georgia?
Georgia's license law covers installing, changing, and repairing plumbing in homes and buildings. A handyman without a plumbing license can't legally sell himself as a plumber or contract plumbing work.
We get it. A handyman is often cheaper, and he's already there hanging your shelves. But here's what you can run into when an unlicensed person does your plumbing:
- No permit. Work that needs a permit often gets skipped. That can come back on you when you sell the house.
- Insurance trouble. If a leak or gas problem ties back to unpermitted work, your insurance company may push back on the claim.
- No state backing. If a licensed plumber does bad work, you can file a complaint with the state board. With an unlicensed worker, there's no license to go after.
- Work that doesn't meet code. Georgia moved to a new plumbing code in 2026. Someone who isn't licensed may not know it. (Here's our breakdown of the 2026 Georgia plumbing code.)
Can I Do My Own Plumbing in Georgia?
Yes — with limits. Georgia lets a person do plumbing work on a home they own or live in without a plumbing license.
But there are two catches:
- You still have to follow code. Your work still has to meet state and local rules, including permits and inspections where your county requires them.
- It only covers you. This exemption is for you doing the work. It doesn't let you hire an unlicensed buddy to do it for you. The Georgia Attorney General has said so directly.
Swapping a showerhead or a toilet flapper yourself? Go for it. Moving drain lines, running new water lines, or touching gas? That's when it pays to call a licensed plumber.
A licensed plumber lays out your options and a clear price before any work starts.
How to Check a Plumber's License in Georgia
It takes about two minutes. Here's how:
Ask for the Number
A real plumber will give you his license number without a fuss. It should also be on his truck, ads, and invoice.
Look It Up
Go to the Georgia Secretary of State's license lookup at sos.ga.gov, pick Plumbers, and search the name or number.
Check the Type
Make sure it's a plumbing license and that it says active. A license in another trade doesn't count.
Ask About Insurance
A license and insurance are two different things. Ask for both. A good company won't mind.
Cash only. No license number anywhere. "We don't need a permit for that." "I work under my buddy's license." A price that seems way too good. Any one of these is a reason to slow down. (More tips in How to Find a Plumber You Can Actually Trust.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do plumbers have to be licensed in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia requires plumbers to hold a state license from the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers. Plumbing companies must have a licensed master plumber working for them full time.
What are the plumbing license types in Georgia?
There are three: Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber Class I, and Master Plumber Class II. Class I masters are limited to homes, duplexes, and smaller commercial buildings. Class II masters have no size limits.
Did Georgia's plumbing license rules change in 2026?
Yes. A new state law, Senate Bill 553, took effect July 1, 2026. It requires more years as a licensed journeyman before a plumber can become a master plumber.
Can a homeowner do their own plumbing in Georgia?
Yes. You can do plumbing work on a home you own or live in without a license. The work still has to meet code, permit, and inspection rules. You can't hire an unlicensed person to do it for you.
How do I check if a plumber is licensed in Georgia?
Ask for the license number, then look it up on the Georgia Secretary of State's license lookup at sos.ga.gov (choose Plumbers). Make sure it's an active plumbing license.
Sources
- O.C.G.A. § 43-14-13 — License requirements for plumbing contractors (effective July 1, 2026)
- O.C.G.A. § 43-14-18 — Display of license and registration number
- O.C.G.A. § 43-14-19 — Applicability of chapter (homeowner exemption)
- Georgia Secretary of State — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ
- Georgia Secretary of State — License Lookup
Licensed. Insured. Done Right.
Every job we do is done under a Georgia master plumber license — Georgia License #MP209554. We pull permits when the job needs them. You get a flat-rate price before we start. No surprises.
Call 770-847-GRIT Book OnlineTrue Grit Plumbing proudly serves Cartersville, Emerson, Euharlee, Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, Canton, Woodstock, and all of Northwest Georgia — Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Paulding, Floyd, Gordon, and Polk Counties.