STATE LICENSE
RequiredArkansas Department of Health — Plumbing …
The Arkansas Department of Health's Plumbing and Natural Gas Section, with the Committee of Plumbing Examiners, licenses master, journeyman, apprentice, and restricted plumbers under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-38-101 et seq. Under the September 2024 rules, a journeyman applicant needs four years of experience or its equivalent and a master applicant five years, with at least one full year as a licensed journeyman. Application fees are $125 (master) and $75 (journeyman); annual license fees are $200 and $75.
In any city, town, water, sewer, or gas utility district, plumbing may be installed only with a licensed master or restricted plumber in charge (§ 17-38-301(b)). Owners working on their own homes, minor repairs and stoppage removal, and certain rural agricultural buildings are exempt (§ 17-38-302). Licenses expire every December 31 and must be renewed by February 1. Commercial plumbing contracts of $50,000+ also need an ACLB license.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Ark. Code Ann. § 17-38-204 lets cities, towns, and water, sewer, or gas districts run their own plumbing permit, plan review, and inspection programs; § 17-38-104 lets ADH inspectors assist city code enforcement officers. Licensing itself is state-only.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Arkansas county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Master, journeyman, and apprentice licenses expire December 31; after February 1 a $5-per-month penalty applies.
Reinstating a lapsed license costs $325 (master) or $150 (journeyman) plus back fees and penalties.
Act 725 of 2021 lets qualifying applicants waive the initial licensure fee.
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Arkansas. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Working or advertising as a plumber without the required license or permit is a misdemeanor.
The Committee may assess civil penalties for violating the plumbing law, Board of Health rules, or license conditions.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Continuing-education hours required for master and journeyman plumber renewal (the 2024 rules require applicants to be current on required CE but the hour count was not located) · Exam vendor and per-exam fee beyond the application fee · Natural gas fitting rules for plumbers versus restricted gas fitter licensees
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.