Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Columbus, OH

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Columbus?

Section 4114.107 of the Columbus Code states that only a duly licensed journeyperson plumber can work in the city. Violating this code will result in fines of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 180 days, as detailed in Section 4111.99 of this code.

Plumbers who wish to provide their services to residents of Columbus are required to obtain licenses from the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Department and the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). Ensuring that a plumber you intend to hire has the necessary license grants you the confidence that your work can be done at the right quality and in compliance with the city's requirements.

The Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Department issues Journeyperson plumber licenses to qualified parties who meet the following requirements:

• They must have either attained a minimum of five years of full experience in installing plumbing services such as potable water systems or completed a United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training (USDOL, BAT) apprenticeship program
• They must have completed and passed the National Standard Journeyman Plumber - F25 written exam (conducted by an accredited agency) with a grade of at least 70%

Similarly, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) issues licenses for commercial plumbing contractors in Columbus. The requirements include:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States or be a legal resident
• Applicants must have experience of not less than five years in plumbing or be registered engineers with three years of experience in plumbing.
• Applicants have not been convicted of a list of disqualifying offenses
• Applicants must pass the plumbing trade exam administered by the OCILB
• Applicants must have a minimum of $500,000 in contractor liability coverage

You can verify the state-issued license of a plumber in Columbus via the eLicense Ohio Professional Licensure System portal. To verify city-issued licenses, you can contact Columbus's Department of Building and Zoning Services at (614) 645 -7433.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Columbus?

The fees for hiring a plumber's services in Columbus depend on the nature of the work, the cost of materials, and the fees for the required permits. For the best bargain before proceeding with your project, it is advisable to compare prices from at least three different plumbers near you.

A plumber in Columbus earns an annual average wage of $58,580. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Columbus compared with plumbers in other parts of Ohio and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Columbus Building Code for Plumbing?

Plumbing work in Columbus must be done in accordance with the Ohio Plumbing Code, which sets out the guidelines and regulations for the design, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, and maintenance of plumbing systems in the city. Hiring a licensed plumber is vital to guarantee the quality of your work and ensure the required compliance with the city plumbing code, as a licensed plumber will be familiar with this code.

Compliance with the city plumbing code also prevents potential penalties and civil punishments that are associated with code violations. You can contact the Columbus Building and Zoning Department for information on the city's plumbing code requirements at (614) 645-0082.

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

Section 4113.61 of the Columbus Code of Ordinances states that a plumbing permit is required for all kinds of plumbing work in the city. However, there are exceptions for some types of plumbing work, which include:

• Repair work not affecting sanitation, such as mending leaks in valves, faucets, or water supply pipes
• Repairing a broken water heater, fixture, or tank
• Flushing a house drain or sewer
• Freeing up a frozen pipe

The Columbus Building and Zoning Department issues plumbing permits in Columbus. To apply for a plumbing permit, download a Plumbing Permit Application, fill it in, and submit it, along with any necessary plans and designs for your project, to:

You can also apply for a plumbing permit online using the Citizen Access Portal. Note that you must register a user account before utilizing this portal. Once your permit application and any required plans have been submitted, these documents are reviewed for approval. Depending on the specific nature of your project, your plans may require review by additional departments. Plan review for commercial projects takes four weeks after submission, while plan reviews for family residential projects take approximately one week, and two sets of plans for the proposed project are typically required.

Note that for plumbing work in residential and commercial buildings located in multiple historic districts and areas in the city, a review of the proposed design is also required before obtaining the permit to begin work. After the review is concluded and the application is approved, a permit is issued, and work can commence.

Finally, it is important to note that once your project commences, it may require inspections to ensure that the work being done is compliant with the work details on the permit, plans, and plumbing code. Inspection requests can be made online using the Citizens Access Portal or by calling (614) 645-8235. To schedule requests for the next business day, ensure they are made before 4:00 p.m. on a business day. General permit and inspection-related queries can also be directed to the Columbus Building and Zoning Department at (614) 645-7433.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Plumbers in Columbus offer various plumbing services for residential, multifamily, and commercial properties. These plumbers are generally expected to provide services for new plumbing work, the repair of already installed systems, the maintenance of already installed systems, or emergency plumbing repairs.

However, it is vital to ensure that the skill set of your intended plumbers is adequate for your project before hiring them. For example, residential plumbers typically focus on residential property, while commercial plumbers are usually more involved in the plumbing work of non-residential facilities such as restaurants, factories, warehouses, retail buildings, and shopping malls.

Common cost estimates for plumbing services in Columbus include:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Columbus?

Plumbing problems typically require a rapid response. Seemingly small drips from faucets can add up very quickly, while clogged toilets, water heater problems, low water pressure, and other issues can be pretty inconvenient. Up to ten percent of households have leaks in their plumbing systems, leading to a waste of 90 gallons of water or more per day. With Columbus residents paying up to $5.46 per 500 gallons of water used, stopping these leaks as soon as possible is essential.

Some plumbing problems, such as water heater trouble, overflowing toilets, clogged kitchen sinks, and interior leaks, typically need a swifter response than others. Ensuring that the plumber you hire is close to your location and has the right experience and knowledge to fix your plumbing issue is important in quickly resolving emergency plumbing problems.

You can find a competent plumber near you using the Better Business Bureau portal to filter accredited plumbers in Columbus or Yelp's business review website. Note that before making the final hiring decision, you should always make sure to verify the license of your intended plumber.

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

Plumbers face numerous work-related hazards, so it is necessary to make sure that any plumber you hire is duly insured. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 158 fatal work-related injuries occurred in the State of Ohio in 2018, and three of these fatalities involved plumbers. To this end, plumbing contractors in Columbus are required to have a minimum of $500,000 in contractor liability coverage. This contractor liability coverage covers claims of damage to clients' homes as well as the costs of any injuries suffered during a project.

Before hiring the services of a plumbing contractor in Columbus, you should ensure they provide proof of their insurance coverage, and you should also authenticate this insurance coverage with the relevant issuing organization.