How to Hire a Licensed Plumber in Florida: What to Check Before Hiring

I’ve been called into bathrooms where everything is brand new—the tile, the fixtures, the finishes—but nothing drains correctly.

The homeowner has already paid for a remodel. Now they’re paying somebody to find out what went wrong behind it.

That’s why my advice on hiring a plumber starts well before you compare prices. Check the license. Find out who is actually doing the plumbing. Make sure they can explain the work, and get that explanation in writing.

I have more than 20 years of plumbing experience here and overseas, including remodels, repairs, underground sewer connections, gas work, land development, and water distribution. I’ve seen how much trouble the wrong hire can leave behind.

Here’s what I would check before letting someone work on my home.

“Licensed and insured” should be something you can check.

Ask for the contractor’s license number and look it up through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s license search.

Check that the license is current and active, that it covers plumbing, and that the contractor and business information match the company giving you the estimate. Review any disciplinary information available.

Florida has two main licensing paths: certified contractors can work statewide within their license’s scope; registered contractors are limited to the local jurisdictions where they hold the required competency license. If you’re unsure whether someone can work in your city, confirm with the local building department. Florida DBPR explains the licensing requirements here.

My opinion is simple: the number should be easy to find. I put mine on my website because customers should be able to check it.

Florida also requires contractors to include their license number on offers, bids, contracts, and advertisements. If a work vehicle displays the contractor’s name or contracting graphics, the number must appear with them. The law does not require every contractor to have a lettered vehicle. See Florida Statute 489.119.

A number on a truck is a starting point. Look it up.

General liability insurance is one of the first things I would ask about.

Florida requires active plumbing contractors to maintain at least $100,000 in public liability coverage and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Active licensees must also maintain workers’ compensation coverage or a valid exemption. Those are state minimum requirements. Source: Florida DBPR.

But checking a license and checking insurance are two separate steps. Ask for a current certificate of insurance and confirm the coverage with the insurance agent or insurer. Make sure the business name matches the company you’re hiring and the coverage dates include your job.

General liability and workers’ compensation serve different purposes. Liability insurance may respond to covered injury or property damage claims arising from the work; workers’ compensation addresses covered work injuries. The policy terms matter.

If the contractor says they’re exempt from workers’ compensation, ask for documentation. An eligible owner’s exemption applies to that person; it does not automatically exempt everyone working for the business. Florida’s Division of Workers’ Compensation explains coverage and exemptions.

On remodels, I’ve seen homeowners hire one person who says they can handle everything.

Sometimes that person knows basic plumbing. But plumbing goes beyond connecting a fixture. You have to understand drainage sizes, venting, distances, and which fittings belong in which location.

I’ve been called into remodels where an elbow intended for venting was installed in a drainage line. The bathroom looked finished, but the plumbing underneath had problems.

Once you find something like that, you have to ask what else was done incorrectly. Sometimes correcting the job becomes expensive because you can’t trust the work that’s already hidden.

I have experience in several areas of construction, but plumbing is my forte. That’s what I want homeowners to understand: different parts of a remodel need people who know those trades.

A small company can do excellent work. What matters is whether the people doing each part are qualified.

Before hiring, ask:

• Who is responsible for the plumbing, and under whose plumbing contractor license?
• Have you handled this kind of repair or remodel before?
• If I’m hiring a general contractor, which plumbing contractor will they use?
• Can you explain what needs to change behind the walls or under the floor?

You don’t need to know the plumbing code yourself. You should still get a clear explanation.

Ask whether your particular job needs a permit, who will obtain it, and whether permit fees and inspections are included in the estimate. If there’s uncertainty, check with your city or county building department before work starts.

Also understand that permits and inspections don’t always go smoothly.

In my experience around South Florida, different inspectors can raise different questions about how a code requirement applies to a job. Sometimes a plan needs clarification, a resubmittal, or a correction. Experience working in that city helps, but it doesn’t guarantee there will never be an issue.

An inspection correction deserves an explanation. Ask what was flagged, what needs to happen next, and whether it changes your cost or schedule.

Have that conversation before there’s a problem:

“If an inspector requires a correction, or you uncover damaged plumbing, how will you explain it and get my approval for any additional cost?”

The answer should be clear enough to put in writing.

For planned work, I recommend getting at least three estimates.

If two are close and the third is much cheaper, I want to know why. Did someone leave something out? Are they allowing for different materials? Do they understand how much work is involved?

Two similar prices give you a useful reference, but compare what each estimate includes. The numbers only mean something when the scope is comparable.

Always require a written estimate. At a minimum, I would want it to explain:

• What problem the plumber is addressing and what work is included.
• What materials or fixtures they will supply.
• Whether permits, inspections, access, cleanup, and restoration are included.
• The price, payment schedule, and any exclusions.
• How additional work and price changes will be approved.
• Any warranty or callback terms.

For example, if someone has to open a wall to repair a pipe, does the price include repairing the wall afterward? Ask before the opening is made.

Even an email gives you a record. If someone later describes a different job or a different price, you have something to refer back to.

One customer called me about drainage problems in a bathroom. Based on what I was seeing, I strongly suspected the sewer line was in bad shape and would need replacement.

The homeowner was hesitant to spend the money. I offered a sewer-camera inspection at no charge on that job so he could see what I was talking about.

The camera confirmed the condition of the line. He could understand why I was recommending the work instead of wondering whether I was trying to sell him something he didn’t need.

He knew the proposed cost before moving forward, and he was happy enough with the experience to leave a good review.

That doesn’t mean every job needs a camera or that an inspection should always be free. It means a plumber should help you understand the diagnosis. Depending on the problem, ask for photographs, camera footage, or a straightforward explanation of what they found.

There is no free work. Plumbers have to make a living, just like everybody else.

When I give a price, it reflects the time, materials, and experience I expect the job to take. Some of that experience came from years with my hands dirty, learning how to find a problem and solve it correctly.

I understand that homeowners have budgets. Asking questions about a price is reasonable. But if the only goal is to keep pushing the number down, something in that job may have to change.

A discount doesn’t automatically mean someone will cut corners. Still, if the price changes, ask what changed with it. Is the scope smaller? Are different materials being used? Is something now excluded?

I would rather have that honest conversation than leave a customer expecting work the price no longer covers.

Before you hire a plumber, verify the license and insurance, find out who is doing the work, and get a clear written estimate. Ask questions until you understand what you’re paying for.

You deserve plumbing that works after the new tile is installed and the tools are packed away. Choosing the right person before the job starts gives you a much better chance of getting it.