Licence classes in New Jersey
| Class | Scope |
|---|---|
| Master Plumber | The state plumbing licence issued by the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers; apprentice and journeyman experience count toward eligibility rather than being issued as separate state credentials. |
How to verify a contractor before work starts
- Ask for the licence number and the exact registered name it is held under.
- Check that name against the company on the estimate, the invoice and the vehicle.
- Check the status is current, not expired, suspended or revoked.
- Ask for a certificate of insurance issued to your address, not a policy number read out on a call.
- For gas, sewer, water-heater or repiping work, ask which permit is being pulled and by whom.
Which plumbing code applies
National Standard Plumbing Code Illustrated/2021, adopted as the New Jersey plumbing subcode by N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15 New Jersey uses neither the International Plumbing Code nor the Uniform Plumbing Code: N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15 adopts the National Standard Plumbing Code Illustrated/2021 as the state plumbing subcode. New Jersey's amendments delete the model code's administration chapter entirely, set roof drainage design rainfall at 6 inches per hour for the southern counties and 5 inches per hour for the northern counties, add requirements for combination domestic and fire water service piping, and adopt Appendix L for tiny houses.
Permits
Permits are issued by the local enforcing agency but the rules are statewide: under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A(c)(2) a defined list of minor work - like-for-like replacement of existing plumbing piping, replacement of an existing water heater with one of like capacity, drinking fountains and condensate drains in existing structures, and new fixtures in existing dwelling space that need no larger water distribution system - may begin before a permit is issued, provided notice is given to the enforcing agency beforehand and the permit application is filed within five business days.
Complaints
A New Jersey master plumber licence can be verified through the Division of Consumer Affairs licence verification search, and the Division of Consumer Affairs is the state body that handles complaints about licensed plumbers and about home improvement contractor registration.
PlumberNewJersey is not a licensed contractor
PlumberNewJersey is an independently operated referral service. PlumberNewJersey is not a plumbing contractor, holds no contractor licence, employs no plumbers and performs no plumbing work. Every job arranged through this site is performed by an independent, separately licensed professional who contracts directly with the homeowner.
Consumer protection
The Contractors' Registration Act and the home improvement contractor rules at N.J.A.C. 13:45A-17 govern home improvement work, with contract requirements at 13:45A-17.13, although licensed master plumbers acting within their scope are exempt from the registration itself.