Roswell Plumbing Blog
How to Check a Georgia Plumbing License Before You Hire in Roswell
Georgia's plumbing license types, how to verify one in two minutes, and how Roswell's permits and Certificate of Completion protect bigger jobs.
Before You Hire
Two Minutes That Protect the Whole Job
Most Roswell homeowners never check a plumber's license. They find someone online, the truck shows up, the work gets done. Usually that is fine. When it is not, the problems are expensive: work that fails inspection, a water heater installed without a permit that an insurer later questions, or a gas connection nobody inspected.
Georgia makes checking easy, and the City of Roswell adds a second safeguard through its permit and inspection process. This article explains the license types, how to verify one, and what to ask for on the jobs where it matters most.
License Types
Georgia Plumbing Licenses at a Glance
Plumbing licenses in Georgia are issued at the state level, by the plumbers' division of the construction licensing board under the Secretary of State.
| License | What it allows | Typical requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | Plumbing work, typically under a master's supervision | Documented experience and a state exam |
| Master Plumber Class I (restricted) | Single-family homes, one-level dwellings for up to two families, and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet | At least five years of experience, including time as a licensed journeyman, plus an exam |
| Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) | All plumbing work regardless of building size | Same experience base plus commercial or industrial experience |
For almost every Roswell house, a Class I master plumber is fully qualified. Class II matters for large commercial buildings.
What to Do Before Work Starts
A short checklist for any plumbing job beyond a simple repair.
- Ask for the license number. Look it up on the Georgia Secretary of State's license verification site and confirm the name and status match.
- Ask whether the job needs a permit. Water heaters, gas lines, repipes, sewer replacements and remodel plumbing generally do in Roswell.
- Get the permit number. It lets you check the permit status and inspection results yourself.
- Ask for proof of insurance. A certificate showing general liability coverage is standard.
- Get the price in writing. Especially for planned work, before anything starts.
None of this should offend a professional. Good plumbers expect the questions.
Roswell's Permit Rules Do Part of the Checking for You
The City of Roswell's Building Division requires a permit before anyone installs, alters, repairs, replaces or converts a plumbing or gas system regulated by the construction codes. The City's own FAQ says plainly that water heaters require permits and inspections and that state licensing is required when a tradesperson does the work.
When the job passes final inspection, the City issues a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy, depending on the scope. The City itself suggests it may be in a homeowner's best interest to require the contractor to produce that document before final payment. That single step confirms the work was permitted, inspected and passed.
For a water heater replacement or new gas line work, ask about the permit before you agree to a price. A quote that leaves it out is either incomplete or skipping a required step.
Warning Signs
Red Flags Worth Noticing
Be cautious when someone offers a discount to skip the permit, asks for full payment in cash before starting, cannot produce a license number, or pressures you to decide on a large replacement on the spot during an emergency visit. Emergencies are real, but a burst pipe can almost always be stopped and made safe that night, with the bigger decision made after you have compared options.
Also be careful with names. Georgia licenses individuals, and a company should be able to tell you which licensed master plumber is responsible for its work and permits.
The same statewide licensing applies in neighboring cities like Dunwoody, although each city runs its own permit office, so the permit number will come from that city rather than Roswell.
After the Job
What to Keep When the Work Is Done
File the invoice, the permit number and the Certificate of Completion together. For a water heater, add the model and serial number and the manufacturer's warranty registration. For a repipe or sewer replacement, keep any camera footage and a sketch of where new lines and cleanouts were placed.
These records help with insurance claims, answer buyers' questions when you sell, and make the next repair faster because the next plumber knows what is in the walls.
Quotes
What a Good Written Quote Includes
For anything beyond a small repair, the written quote should name the work, the materials, whether a permit is included, what happens to the old equipment, and what cleanup or wall repair is part of the price. For a water heater, it should list the size and type of the new unit and any code updates, such as an expansion tank or drain pan. For a repipe, it should list the pipe material and how many openings are expected.
A clear quote protects both sides. It also makes it easy to compare two contractors fairly, which is hard to do when one price includes the permit and the other quietly leaves it out.
Red Flags
Warning Signs When Hiring a Plumber
Be cautious if a contractor cannot give you a license number, suggests skipping the permit to save money, or asks for full payment before any work starts on a planned job. Pressure to decide on the spot for non-emergency work is another warning sign.
None of those prove a problem on their own, but together they are worth a pause. A licensed plumber who pulls the permit, explains the inspection and puts the price in writing before starting is doing what Georgia's system expects.
Questions
Licensing and Permit Questions
The City of Roswell says water heaters fall under the plumbing and gas codes and require permits and inspections, and that state licensing is required if a tradesperson does the job. A handyman without a Georgia plumbing license should not be doing it for pay.
The City says a permit will not be issued to an owner who is neither a licensed contractor nor the occupant of the residential structure being altered. Owner-occupants may be able to permit their own work. Ask the Building Division before starting, and remember the work still has to pass inspection.
A journeyman plumber is licensed to do plumbing work. A master plumber has more documented experience, including time as a licensed journeyman, and holds either a Class I or Class II license. Master plumbers are typically the ones responsible for permits and for supervising work.
Sources for This Page
License classes and experience requirements come from the Georgia Secretary of State's construction licensing board rules for master and journeyman plumbers. Permit, owner-permit and Certificate of Completion details come from the City of Roswell Community Development building FAQ.
Written by the Roswell 24/7 Plumbing team and checked against the sources above. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.
Have Questions Before You Book?
Call and ask about permits, licensing and what your job needs.
Call (770) 214-4545