Missouri plumbing license lookup: how to check and get a license
Missouri plumbing license lookup: who issues plumber licenses (local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners)), how to check one online, the license types, and 1,886 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors by county.
Do plumbers need a license in Missouri?
| Who licenses them | local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners) |
|---|
Missouri's Division of Professional Registration does not list a plumbing license, so plumbers are licensed by cities and counties such as the City of St. Louis. Ask your local building department which license and permit your job needs.
How do you look up a plumber's license in Missouri?
- Ask the plumber for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the official local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners) license search run by local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners).
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the plumber about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners).
How do you get a plumbing license in Missouri?
Licenses are issued by the local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners). Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official local (city/county); Missouri has no state plumbing license (e.g., City of St. Louis Plumbers and Drainlayers Board of Examiners) source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
How many plumbers are there in Missouri?
The Census Bureau counted 1,886 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors with employees in Missouri in 2023. The counties with the most:
| St. Louis County | 265 |
|---|---|
| Jackson County | 193 |
| St. Charles County | 105 |
| Greene County | 97 |
| Jefferson County | 85 |
| Clay County | 73 |
| Boone County | 64 |
| St. Louis city | 58 |
What do Missouri homes mean for plumbing work?
The median home in Missouri was built in 1978, 32% of households rent and 74% of homes are single-family houses. 50% of homes heat with utility gas and 38% with electricity.
How do you choose a plumber in Missouri?
- Ask for the license number and look it up yourself on the state or city license search. Licensing is set by the state in some places and by the city or county in others.
- Ask whether the job needs a permit. Water heater swaps, gas work and moving fixtures often do, and the licensed plumber pulls it.
- Get the price in writing: a flat rate for the job, or the hourly rate, the trip fee and how parts are billed.
- For emergencies, ask what the after-hours rate is before the plumber drives out.
- Ask who does the work. A licensed master can send helpers, but the license holder is responsible for the job.
Plumbers in other states
Sources: Missouri licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.