Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in St Petersburg, FL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in St. Petersburg?

Plumbing licenses in St. Petersburg are issued at the state level by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through its Construction Industry Licensing Board to interested applicants who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Per Section 489.127 of the Florida Statutes, it is illegal to act in the position of a contractor or carry out contracting activities, which include plumbing, without being duly licensed by this board.

Unlicensed plumbing in St. Petersburg is punishable by up to a year in the county jail or a $1,000 fine, with stricter penalties on subsequent violations. Note that licensing exemptions are made for minor plumbing activities like unclogging drains and fixing broken pipes. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to hire a duly licensed plumber for any plumbing project that you wish to undertake.

The first step to becoming a licensed plumber in St. Petersburg is enrolling in a plumbing apprenticeship program, and interested parties that wish to do this must be at least 18 years old and have a high school degree. Enrolling for a plumbing apprenticeship in St. Petersburg can be done in two ways: either the applicants work independently, or they join a program through a trade school. This apprenticeship typically takes a period of four to five years to complete, after which the applicants will be required to pass a journeyman plumbing license examination before being issued a plumbing license.

You can confirm the licensing status of plumbers in St. Petersburg by using the online services portal provided by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or by calling this department at (850) 487-1395.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in St. Petersburg?

Getting a complete quote is one of the most essential requirements before hiring a plumber. A complete quote covers materials, labor, and miscellaneous expenses. It is often a good idea to get these quotes from at least three to four plumbers before settling on one. This allows you to compare the cost of materials and labor effectively and helps you select the plumber whose rates match the size of your budget. Note that a plumber's service fee can either be charged at a flat rate or an hourly rate, and it is important to get clarification on this before signing any contract.

A plumber in St. Petersburg earns an annual average wage of $61,100. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in St. Petersburg compared with plumbers in other parts of Florida and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the St. Petersburg Building Code for Plumbing?

Hiring a plumber who is conversant with the St. Petersburg City Code will help you avoid statutory penalties that come with code violations. This code was put in place to govern all plumbing activities that go on in St. Petersburg, and all plumbing work done in the city must align with it. As such, the plumbing code regulates the alteration, repair, installation, erection, relocation, and maintenance of every plumbing system in St. Petersburg. The code makes provisions for the safety of the life and property of the residents of St. Petersburg regarding their use of these plumbing systems by ensuring that the highest standards and quality of materials are used for these systems.

It is also important for you to be familiar with the code, as this will help you spot violations if they occur. The city's Building and Permitting Department is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the plumbing code, and this department can be contacted for further inquiries by calling (727) 893-7231.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the St. Petersburg Code?

Plumbing activities like repairing fixtures and valves, clearing stoppages, replacement of an existing fixture, and stopping leaks in the soil are all permit exempted in St. Petersburg. Permits for plumbing works done in St. Petersburg are issued by the Building and Permit Department.

Plumbing permit applications in St. Petersburg can only be done online. After filling out and submitting the online application form, applicants may print a copy of the completed application form for their own record purposes. Permits are typically created after the applications have been successfully reviewed, and applicants who need to provide plans for their plumbing project will be sent an email with instructions on how to do so. These plans are typically submitted, alongside a stipulated application fee, at the Building and Permit Department office located at:

The plumbing project can commence after a permit number has been issued. However, note that inspections may have to be scheduled before the project can be officially considered completed. These inspections can be scheduled online or by calling (727) 893-4101, following the voice prompts, and also providing an applicable inspection code. Queries related to permitting and inspections can be directed to the St. Petersburg Building and Permitting Department's help desk at (727) 893-7231.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Before hiring the services of a plumber, it is imperative to confirm if the plumber has the right skill level for the job. Plumbers in St. Petersburg offer a variety of services, like fixing faulty faucets, replacing faulty pipes in existing structures, or installing plumbing systems in new building structures. You need to certify that the plumber you intend to hire has the experience to offer the service you need. For instance, a journeyman plumber might be able to repair broken fixtures but unable to handle installations of plumbing systems.

Note that several other factors come into play when St. Petersburg plumbers provide quotes for their services, such as the nature of the job, the extent of the damage that the plumbing problem may have caused, the cost of materials for the job, and permit fees.

Listed below are some common cost estimates for plumbing services in St. Petersburg. Note that these estimates do not include permit fees:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in St. Petersburg?

All plumbing issues are regarded as emergencies, but some are more urgent than others. For instance, the urgency of a flooded basement or a burst pipe cannot be compared with that of a faulty faucet or leaky fixture. In the event of a plumbing emergency, the plumber's experience and proximity must be taken into consideration. Residents of St. Petersburg pay a minimum of $13.5 on water bills monthly; therefore, a timely response is required so as not to increase this bill further or the damage that these types of plumbing problems typically cause.

You can find qualified emergency plumbers near you through third-party websites like Google Review, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau. Note that you should always confirm that these plumbers possess valid licenses before concluding any hiring arrangements with them.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in St. Petersburg?

Before you hire any plumber in St. Petersburg, you should always find out if the plumber has valid insurance coverage. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 309 fatal work injuries occurred in Florida in 2019, with the construction sector recording the highest number of fatalities at 91 cases. Hiring a plumber with insurance coverage protects you from any monetary burden that may arise as a result of an injury on your work site.

You can verify the plumber's insurance coverage by requesting an insurance certificate and calling the insurance company to confirm its validity. Plumbers in St. Petersburg to obtain state-mandated workers' insurance coverage from the Florida Division of Workers Compensation (FDWC). The FDWC maintains a list of contractors that have active workers' compensation, and you can verify your plumber's coverage via this division's database or by calling (850) 488 - 2333.