Permits, and how to check a plumber's licence on the City site

Independent guide · sources checked October 6, 2026

Two checks protect you more than anything else: that the plumber holds an active Philadelphia licence, and that the right permits are pulled and posted before anyone digs. Both can be checked for free on City websites in a few minutes.

What a permit is

A permit is the City's permission for the work, and it is what brings a City inspector to check it. L&I says "you need a permit for plumbing work," including installation, alteration, renewal, replacement and repair.[source] Small jobs are exempt: "minor repairs with the same material," removing and re-installing toilets, and "stopping leaks and clearing stoppages."[source] Repairing or replacing a defective lateral, trap or service line is not one of those exemptions.

• Who applies: the property owner or their authorized agent, which includes a licensed master plumber.[source] In practice, ask the plumber to pull the permits and show them to you.
• Who must oversee the work: "A licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work." The master plumber must have an active licence, be current on City taxes, and "have current insurance on file with L&I."[source]
• More than one permit is normal. Depending on which pipe failed, the job needs an L&I Plumbing Permit, a PWD Sewer or Water Connection Permit, or both; street work also needs Streets Department permits.[source][source] See the permit table on the repair types page.
• Posted before work starts. The City says that once you hire a contractor, "make sure that they have the required permits from L&I and have posted those permits on your property before they begin work."[source]
• No permit, real consequences. PWD's manual says a master plumber "who starts work without securing the proper permits" may have their licence suspended or revoked.[source]

How to check a plumber's licence: step by step

The City says plumbers "must have a Philadelphia trade license."[source]

1. Get the details from the estimate. Ask for the company name, the master plumber's name and the licence number in writing.
2. Open the City's L&I Contractor Lookup: li.phila.gov/Contractor-Lookup. The City says it lists "all actively licensed contractors in Philadelphia and any licensing violations they have."[source]
3. Search for the plumber or company and open the record.
4. Check four things: the licence is a plumbing licence; it is active; it has not expired; and the name matches the estimate. If the names don't match, ask the plumber why before you sign.
5. Check the suspended and revoked list on the City's suspended contractors page.[source]
6. After you hire, check the permits. Use the L&I Contractor Permit Lookup, or search your address in the City's Atlas tool, which shows permits and violations by address.[source]

What a licence check can't tell you

An active licence means the City lets that person do and oversee plumbing work. It doesn't tell you their price, their schedule, or how good their work is. That's why the City suggests more than one estimate and recommendations from people you trust.[source] Our questions to ask a plumber help you compare.

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