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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in St. Louis?

Per Section 105.9 of the St. Louis Plumbing Code, no plumber can legally undertake any plumbing project across the city without an appropriate and valid plumbing license. Accordingly, undertaking plumbing projects without the requisite license is an offense punishable with a maximum fine of $500, a maximum jail term of 90 days, or both a fine and imprisonment, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.

The St. Louis Building Division handles the issuance of plumbing licenses across the city, and these licenses are categorized into master plumber, journeyman plumber, interim journeyman plumber, plumber apprentice, and experienced plumber apprentice licenses. Interested individuals seeking to obtain a plumbing license are generally required to satisfy applicable licensing requirements, submit a completed application form, and pay the required license fees.

However, licensing requirements vary by license type. For example, a journeyman plumber license applicant must acquire training in the plumbing field and have a minimum of five years of experience as a plumber apprentice or acceptable equivalent experience. This equivalent experience includes a degree in civil or mechanical engineering from an accredited college or university, with three years of practical plumbing experience under the supervision of a master or journeyman plumber.

Likewise, a master plumber license applicant must satisfy the licensing requirements for becoming a journeyman plumber and further acquire at least five years of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber. A detailed outline of the city's licensing requirements and licensing fees for plumbers is provided in Table 111 of the St. Louis Plumbing Code. Further inquiries on plumbing licenses and related matters can be directed to the St. Louis Building Division at (314) 622-3313. Interested license applicants can contact this Division to request a license application form.

Finally, residents who want to confirm if their intended plumber is duly licensed or registered can contact the Building Division at the above-mentioned phone number and make the relevant inquiries.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in St. Louis?

The hourly charge rates of plumbers in St. Louis City typically depend on certain factors, including the plumber's skill or experience, the nature of your plumbing project, and the required materials and labor to undertake this plumbing project. While the charge rate for your plumbing project may vary, you can find out the average rate by comparing bids from multiple plumbers. With an idea of the average rate for your project, you can avoid unreasonable rates and prepare a workable budget.

A plumber in St. Louis City earns an annual average wage of $75,980. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in St. Louis compared with plumbers in other parts of Missouri and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the St. Louis Building Code for Plumbing?

The St. Louis Plumbing Code contains several rules that regulate the use, installation, alteration, relocation, and replacement of plumbing systems within the city, as well as all plumbing-related matters. Particularly, this Code states the mandatory minimum standard for plumbing materials, the health standards for plumbing works and controls the use of plumbing systems, fixtures, and fittings across St. Louis. These plumbing systems, fixtures, and fittings include water supply systems, sanitary drainage systems, vents, storm drainage systems, medical gas systems, and nonpotable water reuse systems.

The provisions of this Code are mandatory, and failure to comply with them during your plumbing work may result in an order from the St. Louis Building Division to stop the plumbing work and pay fines. As such, it is essential to hire a plumber who understands the Plumbing Code and is aware of the provisions relevant to your plumbing work. If you have inquiries regarding this Plumbing Code or need assistance with understanding some provisions, you can contact the St. Louis Building Division at (314) 622-3313.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by St. Louis Code?

Per Section 107.1 of the St. Louis Plumbing Code, you must ensure the procurement of the relevant plumbing permits before you commence your plumbing project. However, permit requirements may be waived for certain plumbing projects, including:

• Stoppage of leaks in drains, waste, water, soil, or vent pipes, provided the drain, waste, water, soil, or vent pipes are not replaced with new material and
• Repairing leaks and clearing of stoppages in pipes, fixtures, and valves, provided these pipes, fixtures, or valves are not replaced or rearranged.

Generally, only licensed master plumbers or master drainlayers are eligible to apply for a plumbing permit in St. Louis. However, homeowners of single-family units may be eligible if they meet specific requirements. Some of these requirements include occupying the dwelling unit where the plumbing work will be performed and purchasing the necessary equipment for the plumbing work.

The St. Louis Building Division is responsible for issuing plumbing permits, and permit applications can be made online through the city's external permitting website or in person. Applicants who prefer to apply for plumbing permits in person can do so by visiting the Division's Office and making the necessary inquiries at:

This office is open for in-person visits from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more inquiries on plumbing permits and related matters, you can contact the Building Division at (314) 622-3313 or check out the Division's plumbing permit webpage.

Note that after procuring a permit for your plumbing project, you must schedule inspections with a Building Division Official at various stages of the project. The relevant stages are typically stated during the issuance of your plumbing permit. You can schedule an inspection online through the city's external permitting website or by contacting the Building Division at (314) 622-3313. Also, if you have any inspection-related inquiries, you can contact this Division at the aforementioned telephone number.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

St. Louis City plumbers offer different plumbing services, depending on their area of specialty, their client's plumbing needs, and the scope of their license. Therefore, it is essential always to ensure that the plumber you intend to engage has the necessary skills and holds the requisite license relevant to your plumbing work. For example, apprentice plumbers can only perform minor plumbing repairs, and any service they offer must be under the supervision of a master or journeyman plumber. Conversely, master plumbers can offer a wide range of plumbing services, from plumbing installations to alterations, and without supervision. Accordingly, the charge rate for a plumbing service will also vary, depending on your plumbing needs and your intended plumber's license type.

Nonetheless, below are some common plumbing services in St. Louis and their estimated costs:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in St. Louis?

Several homes across the country lose over 90 gallons of water daily due to plumbing problems like household leaks. If ignored, this wastage can worsen and lead to other avoidable expensive issues like home interior damage and inflated water bills. Therefore, residents are advised to treat any plumbing problem as an emergency and seek emergency plumbing services. Common household plumbing problems that can cause bigger problems include burst water pipes, clogged toilets, and leaky gas pipes.

When seeking emergency plumbing services, you can utilize consumer websites like Better Business Bureau and Google Review to find plumbers near you. These websites let you find plumbers by location and check out each plumber's recent reviews from previous clients. This way, you can find competent plumbers and determine if your intended plumber has the requisite skills. However, also take steps to ensure that this plumber has the license to perform your type of emergency repairs. You can do this by contacting the St. Louis Building Division at (314) 622-3313.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in St. Louis?

Per state law on labor and industrial relations, plumbing contractors in St. Louis are required to maintain workers' compensation insurance before obtaining or renewing their licenses. This insurance ensures that their workers are financially protected from the costs of dealing with work-related injuries. However, besides ensuring your intended plumber maintains active workers' compensation insurance, it is also crucial to ensure this plumber maintains general liability insurance. General liability insurance protects you from personal liability for accidents or injuries that occur to anyone due to your plumbing project. With more than 37,000 non-fatal work-related injuries reported among plumbers across the country in 2019, it is particularly crucial to ensure that you are insured from such liabilities.

Before engaging a plumber, you can confirm if your plumber maintains workers' compensation and general liability insurance by requesting that this plumber provide proof of insurance coverage. You can further confirm this plumber's workers' compensation insurance by contacting the St. Louis Building Division at (314) 622-3313 and also confirm this plumber's general liability insurance by contacting the licensing company from which the plumber claimed to obtain insurance coverage.