Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Louisville, KY

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Louisville?

Louisville, and by extension, the State of Kentucky, does not allow any plumbing work to be done within its jurisdiction without a license. Plumbers in Louisville are licensed by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (KDHBC), and this department issues master plumber and journeyman plumber licenses. Intending journeyman plumbers or master plumbers must be at least 18 years old and be citizens of the United States or resident aliens with a right to work in the U.S. Before a license is issued, the individual must also complete an examination to be administered by the KDHBC. In addition to obtaining state-issued licenses, plumbers who wish to work in Louisville must register their plumbing licenses with the Louisville Metro Department of Codes & Regulations.

Any plumber who engages in plumbing without obtaining a license might be subject to civil action by the state or the city. Also, while hiring a plumber who is not duly licensed by the state does not have any direct penalties to you, it could be detrimental in the long run. For example, an unlicensed plumber might be unfamiliar with the city's building codes and cannot pull the necessary permits to complete your repairs or carry out the necessary work legally. You can verify that your intended professional has the required license by utilizing the license search and verification portal provided by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Louisville?

The price you will have to pay to fix your plumbing problem will depend on a couple of factors. Some of these factors include the type of work to be done, the cost of materials, and the duration of the job. When you are presented with a bid for a particular job, it is always a good idea to compare the prices given against two or more other bids from other plumbers.

A plumber in Louisville City earns an annual average wage of $58,930. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Louisville compared with plumbers in other parts of Kentucky and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Louisville Building Code for Plumbing?

The 2020 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations, and Code Book regulates the activities of plumbers in Louisville. It is important that you only hire plumbers who know the provisions of the codebook and adhere to it. The Codebook provides guidelines on licensing procedures, the type and quality of material to be used by plumbers, supervising authorities, installation plans and specifications, permits, and other related plumbing issues. Hiring a plumber who is not conversant with the provisions of the code could result in code violations. This, in turn, can result in not just the plumber being held liable and facing possible city-imposed penalties but you, the homeowner as well.

Ensuring you hire a licensed plumber is a good way to assure yourself that you have a plumber familiar with the city code. This is because, before a plumber can be duly licensed, they undergo examinations that test their competence as well as their familiarity and mastery of the state's plumbing code.

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

Under the 2020 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations, and Code Book, plumbing work in Louisville can only be carried out after the contractor or executor of the project obtains a plumbing permit. Although a plumbing permit will be required for most jobs, certain repairs can be carried out without a permit. These include the repair of leaks, cocks, and valves, as well as the cleaning out of waste and sewer pipes.

Plumbing permits in Louisville are issued by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (KDHBC). Licensed plumbers or homeowners may apply for these permits online using the Kentucky SmarGov portal, allowing eligible parties to make fresh applications and track old ones. However, users will be required to sign up before any application can be made. If you are unable to access the online portal, a permit may be obtained by downloading and completing a Plumbing Construction Permit Application, which should be sent to the Department at

You can verify a permit by visiting the permit search portal of the KDHBC. If you have any inquiries concerning the permit process or a permit application, call the department at (502) 573 -0397. Note that after the completion of your project, the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction may send inspectors to ensure that the work done was in line with the permit issued and complies with the Building Code.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Plumbers in Louisville offer a wide variety of services to residents of the city. These services include the installation and repair of plumbing systems, repairing leaky faucets, taps cocks, the unclogging of drains, and repairing or replacing faulty piping fixtures and fittings. You might need a plumber for routine maintenance of your plumbing system or minor repairs of a fixture or fitting. At other times, you might have a more serious plumbing problem on your hand, like a burst pipe, which, if not attended to immediately, might lead to other problems as well. With these in mind, it is important that you find out the specializations of any plumber you intend to hire and make sure that the plumber can handle the particular challenge you face.

Some cost estimates for plumbing services in Louisville include:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Louisville?

Plumbing issues are generally considered emergencies, and failing to fix these issues can result in extensive property damage and serious financial problems. In Louisville, just one drop of water per second adds up to 180 showers a year, which amounts to a lot of water wasted if you ignore that tiny leak. Likewise, bigger leaks, such as leaks the size of a pencil's width, can result in over 222,000 gallons of water being wasted in a year. These leaks might not seem like major emergencies, but when you consider the increase in your utility bill, dealing with any leaks you find as soon as possible might be a good idea. However, deciding on a plumber to use is not an activity you should rush, irrespective of the emergency.

Before hiring a plumber, you should also ensure that the plumber is well-equipped to handle your emergency. Being equipped to handle an emergency includes the plumber having the proper expertise for the task, locating your home within a reasonable time, and fixing your issue in one go. You can search for properly licensed emergency plumbers in Louisville using third-party services like the Better Business Bureau or Yelp.

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

As stipulated by the 2020 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations, and Code Book, all plumbers operating in Louisville must possess commercial general liability insurance with a value of no less than $250,000. These plumbers will also be expected to show proof of compliance with the state's worker's compensation and unemployment insurance laws to the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction. Hiring a plumber with proper insurance coverage is very important to protect yourself from unwanted and unforeseen accidents and mishaps.

If you engage the services of a plumber who is not properly licensed, you might end up being responsible for any injuries that happen while this individual is working on your project. Additionally, if there is no insurance, the costs of any damages done to your home may have to be borne solely by you. Consequently, you should ensure that you request evidence of a valid insurance policy before engaging a plumber.