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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Richmond?

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation(DPOR) is responsible for licensing plumbers who wish to carry out any project or repairs in Richmond. This department offers three types of licenses for plumbers which are journeyman, master, and plumbing contractor licenses. Requirements for the journeyman plumber and master plumber licenses involve examinations, and plumbers who wish to take these examinations must meet certain requirements as defined by the DPOR based on the license type.

For the journeyman plumbing license, a plumber must provide any of the following:

• two years of practical experience in the trade and certification showing the fulfillment of a two-year program from either a trade/technical school or a community college;
• four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade;
• five years of practical experience in the trade and 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade;
• six years of practical experience in the trade and 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade;
• a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline related to the trade and one year of practical experience in the trade;
• ten years of practical experience in the trade, verified by a witness who observed the candidate's work in the trade

For the master plumbing license, the plumber must have:

• At least one year of experience as a licensed Journeyman or ten years of practical experience in plumbing, verified by a witness who observed the candidate's work.

For a plumbing contractor license, a Virginia Class A, B, or C license, which determines the monetary value of contracts/projects that may be performed, is required along with a master plumber license.

Operating without a contractor's license is a class one criminal offense in Virginia, and it attracts a fine of no more than $2,500, a jail term of no more than 12 months, or both. The statute of limitations for the crime of operating without a plumbing license, which is the time restriction for which a case may be brought against an offender, is one year.

You can confirm the licensing status of your plumber by making use of the DPOR's license lookup webpage or by calling (804) 367-8504.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Richmond?

The amount you will be charged for hiring a plumber is dependent on factors like the nature or complexity of the job, the cost of materials needed, and the intensity of the labor required for the job. However, obtaining and comparing estimates from various plumbers around you is a good way to ensure that you hire a plumber whose costs fit your budget for the plumbing job.

A plumber in Richmond earns an annual average wage of $50,960. Below is a breakdown of the Average hourly wages for plumbers in Richmond compared with plumbers in other parts of Virginia and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Richmond Building Code for Plumbing?

Richmond implements the Richmond Plumbing Code, which is a subset of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code that sets the standard for the construction of buildings and structures. This code is implemented to ensure that these construction and plumbing activities are done in a manner that maintains the safety of the residents of the city and the conservation of water and power. As such, it covers a wide range of regulations for the construction, repair, and maintenance of fixtures, faucets and fixture fittings, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, traps, interceptors, and separators.

As much as it is important to verify that your plumber is duly licensed, it is also essential to ensure that your intended plumber is conversant with and abides by the regulations provided in the plumbing code when carrying out fittings and repairs. To get more information on the plumbing code, you can contact the resources section of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development at (804) 371-7000.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Richmond Code?

In line with Section 30-1060 of the Richmond Code of Ordinances, plumbing works in Richmond typically require a permit before they can be carried out. However, not all plumbing work requires these permits. For instance, the installation of residential kitchen cabinets and the replacement of plumbing fixtures without water supply or distribution alteration generally do not require permits.

Plumbing permits are issued by the Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review (DPDR). Application for residential permits can be made through Richmond's Online Permit Portal (OPP), while commercial permit application can be made by submitting relevant plans using the city's OneDrive Portal. Application processing takes a maximum of three weeks, and permit applications are typically assessed in the order in which they are received. You can also visit the DPDR office at:

After the issuance of permits, the city's Bureau of Permits and Inspection carries out inspections throughout various stages of the project until completion. These inspections are done virtually or through a third-party inspection service, and they are carried out to ensure the safety of lives and compliance with the building code of the city. Inspection scheduling and inquiries can be made by calling the Bureau of Permits and Inspections' customer service line at (804) 664-4169 or via email.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Plumbers in Richmond are generally categorized by the kind of plumbing services they offer, which can either be commercial residential or service and repair plumbing services. Commercial plumbers are typically responsible for the installation or repair of plumbing systems in large facilities such as industrial structures, factories, and other similar structures, while residential plumbers are responsible for plumbing work within residential structures. Likewise, service and repair plumbers are responsible for the repair and maintenance of plumbing systems in both residential and commercial structures. It is important that you ascertain that the plumber you intend to hire is skilled in the area of plumbing service you require.

On average, homeowners in Richmond pay about $250 - $400 for plumbing services. Note that this figure does not include the cost of materials, permits, or inspection fees. Below is a list of the estimated costs of some plumbing services in Richmond:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Richmond?

Every plumbing problem should be treated as an emergency, no matter how insignificant it may appear. In many cases, these seemingly insignificant problems are usually a warning of worse problems to come. Burst pipes, blocked drains, running toilets, and water hammers are just a few of the usual issues that can lead to an emergency.

In the United States, over 10 percent of homes have household leaks that waste 90 gallons of water or more per day. With residents of Richmond City paying $1.31 and $1.25 per cubic meter for water and sewage charges respectively, it can be very costly to overlook plumbing problems in the house. While it is good to treat every plumbing problem as a matter of urgency, it can be a pain in the neck to get an inexperienced or unlicensed hand to handle these situations.

As such, it is shrewd to ensure that your plumber is both licensed and skilled to work on the problem at hand. You can find high-quality and trusted plumbers professionals around you by looking up third-party websites like Better Business Bureau and Yelp.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Richmond?

Plumbing is a hazardous occupation, and working at heights or in confined spaces typically increases the chances of an on-the-job accident happening. Other common hazards a plumber may face include asbestos poisoning, repetitive movement injury, eye injury, hearing loss, and extreme temperature injuries. This is why it is very risky to both the client and the hired plumber when the plumber is not insured.

As a result, you should ensure that the plumber you intend to hire is appropriately insured in order to protect yourself in the event of unforeseen events. This insurance can help cover the cost of treatment for plumbers who were injured while working.

Richmond makes provision for two insurance types for plumbers. These are the general liability insurance, which covers the plumber in the event of an injury or property damage, and the workers' compensation insurance, which is required for any plumber who employs more than two workers, including subcontractors. This particular type of insurance covers medical bills and lost wages when a worker is injured on the job. Note that even though general liability insurance is not required for plumbers, it is prudent to ensure that the plumber you wish to engage is fully covered. You should always request proof of this insurance and authenticate it with the appropriate insurance provider.